[Rowdy]

Kind of.

From Orrcon racing website

Gold Coast TAFE will partner with Larkham Motor Sport in a joint project to build a V8 Supercar.

State Member for Broadwater Peta-Kaye Croft announced today that automotive teachers and students at Ashmore campus will assemble the Ford Falcon V8 Supercar under the watchful eye of Larkham Motor Sport's highly skilled automotive technicians.


Mrs Croft said the joint venture between TAFE and the locally based V8 Supercar team was an excellent opportunity for students to be involved in the specialist field of V8 Supercars.

“Larkham Motor Sport is giving Gold Coast TAFE access to a new level of automotive training,” she said.

“I congratulate Mark Larkham and his team on preparing this terrific initiative.

“V8 Supercars are custom-built and use cutting-edge technology, design and production techniques. It’s ground-breaking technology and is rarely seen by many in the industry, least of all automotive students.”

The project commences in semester one, 2006.

Larkham Motor Sport team owner Mark Larkham is delighted to be a part of the joint venture.

“I am really pleased that we can provide an opportunity for the students of the TAFE to get some experience in such a specialty field such as V8 Supercars,” Mr Larkham said today.

“The project is designed to provide the students with a unique experience and an insight into the specialist technical aspects of the cars, which I trust will be good for their education.

“Our sport is about engineering excellence and a commitment to high quality workmanship and if we can play any small role in passing on some of those attributes to young apprentices it gives us a level of pride to do so.”

The body shell being used in the project is the one Larkham drove to victory on debut at Calder Park in 2000 in the famous Mitre 10 livery. Once complete the V8 Supercar will be returned to its former glory and be used for promotional work across the country by Larkham Motor Sport.

Working with students on the project will be former Gold Coast TAFE student and 2002 Queensland Training Awards Apprentice of the Year, Michael Flynn, who joined Larkham Motor Sport in 2000 and is now team head mechanic.

“A project like this is a great opportunity for apprentices to get a real insight into V8 Supercars and how the sport operates behind the scenes,” Michael said today.

“The education I gained from attending Gold Coast TAFE provided me with a great grounding for when I joined Larkham Motor Sport. I’m looking forward to working with students and teachers on this new project.”

Gold Coast TAFE acting director Deidre Stein said it was a credit to Gold Coast TAFE’s automotive staff that Michael had gone on to a top job with one of Australia’s highest profile V8 Supercar teams.

“Michael’s success is a testament to the first-class automotive training we provide at Gold Coast TAFE,” Ms Stein said.

“We’re also grateful to him for playing an important part in organising the joint project.

“We’re very appreciative of Larkham Motor Sport for supporting Michael and recognising the benefits of this partnership to our automotive staff and students.”