Joblin brothers more than flag racers

The Joblin brothers, Scott and Simon, proved they're not just flag racers at the teams' champs at Arena Manawatu over the weekend.

The brothers led the Manawatu Mustangs to third place overall, with Scott Joblin in particular showing he'll be a Palmerston North Panther of the future.

In just his second season in superstocks, which followed a successful career in TQ Midgets where he won two national titles, Scott has already won the World 240 (Rotorua) and Global Challenge (Palmerston North) titles this season, but even he was surprised by how different teams racing is.

"I've sat in the stand and watched other years, but I can tell all those who sit there and think it's easy – it's not," he said.

"You need to keep track of what's going on around you and that's not easy with four other cars trying to destroy you."

Scott said he and brother Simon would be a lot better for their first team event, but he's taking time to let the hype settle before he looks further ahead.

"We've got the national champs final in two weeks and we'll spend time getting the cars ready for that."

The Joblins have come in for unfair criticism this season, from people who have no idea why they race in Palmerston North at the Robertson Holden Speedway, about being flag racers and although living in Stratford they are contracted to Palmerston North.

"We race here (Palmerston North) because this is where the competition is and we get looked after," Scott said. "I think we showed we can take a hit and give a hit as good as anyone else this weekend."

Scott said he was disappointed he was just 200 metres from leading the Mustangs to a semifinal place.

Instead of flying straight past a slow British Lions car, he got stuck behind it, spinning and allowing Craig Finnikin through for the Lions.

"It's just an experience thing and I'll know next time that it might be better to just go for it," Scott said. "But as I say, it's a lot harder when you're on the track doing it."

Scott said both he and Simon had found the crowd atmosphere incredible and the support they got from the other Mustangs' drivers, their crews and the crowd was amazing.

Former great Panthers driver and mastermind behind their four wins, Gary Parkes was impressed with Scott's first teams event and agreed he had all the attributes to be a top teams racer.

Their father, Russell Joblin, who runs the team, and won two teams titles with the Stratford Scrappers, in 1983 and 1985, had told them before the meeting that the grand parade, with 16,000 fans cheering, blowing air horns and ringing cowbells, would get the adrenalin going – and it did.

- © Fairfax NZ News