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Jack Perkins (racing driver)
Encyclopedia
Jack 'Perko' Perkins is an Australian V8 Supercar
driver for James Rosenberg Racing
in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series. He is the son of Australian motor racing legend Larry Perkins
, in whose team Perkins Engineering, he drove between 2006 and 2008. Initially as an endurance race only driver in 2006, in 2007 Jack graduated to the full time drive in the #11 Perkins Engineering car, the number made famous in Australian racing by his father.
, ran a two-car Fujitsu Development Series racing program in 2006, leading to Jack getting the drive in the second #78 car, with Shane Price
getting the lead drive in #77. The cars were largely unsponsored, though had a clear association with the main series Jack Daniel's-sponsored Perkins Engineering cars. Perkins and Price were also immediately earmarked to drive the #11 Perkins Engineering car in the 2006 endurance races.
Price was generally faster than Perkins during the Fujitsu series, but Perkins managed to finish third in the championship standings, just behind Price, who was narrowly defeated by Adam Macrow
for the title.
In the Sandown 500, Perkins – together with Price – brought the #11 Jack Daniel's Commodore
home in 24th position, after Perkins qualified the car in 20th position.
Come the SuperCheap Auto Bathurst 1000
, Price took over the qualifying duties, and placed the car in 27th position for the race. Perkins started the race, which ended at the end of the first lap, when race favourite Mark Skaife
suffered a slipping clutch
off the start line, which caused his #2 Holden Racing Team
Commodore
to fall to the tail of the field. Perkins, arriving blind over the hump in Mountain Straight ploughed into the back of Skaife's ailing car, putting it out on the spot. Perkins limped around to the pits missing a front left wheel, and with an hydraulic brake line on fire. It did not continue in the race.
After the late and sudden departure of both Steven Richards
and Paul Dumbrell
from the team at the end of 2006, Perkins and Price were elevated to the full time championship drives for Perkins Engineering in 2007. While it was not ideal for the inexperienced Perkins and Price to suddenly find themselves racing in the main series, while developing new cars, the timing of Richards and Dumbrell's departure left the team without an opportunity to sign an experienced "name" driver, all of whom had committed contracts for 2007.
Perkins had a mixed season in 2007, with some outstanding results such as qualifying in the Top 10 at Winton Raceway, coupled with many disappointing race exits whilst running in strong positions. Although he was generally keeping pace with the more highly rated Shane Price
, Jack's performances behind the wheel were suffering towards the end of long stints behind the wheel. It was later found that Perkins was suffering from Type One Diabetes, as described further down in this article.
Perkins returned to the team in 2008 for the endurance races, partnered with Nathan Pretty – finishing 8th at Phillip Island, and 8th at Bathurst – and eventually to the full-time drive from the Indy Grand Prix round of the season onwards, after the slide of form and eventual dumping of Shane Price from the team. Price, who had already been dropped to the position of number two driver, following the arrival of Todd Kelly
at the beginning of 2008, was left without a drive. Perkins had already returned to competition in the 2008 Fujitsu Development Series, running a Mack
-sponsored Commodore
for Independent Race Cars Australia.
Although starting the series strongly in Adelaide, a mid-season slump saw his title chances slide. Seeking an improvement for the end of the season, the car was brought back into the Perkins Engineering workshops from the Bathurst round onwards. With better knowledge of the car, the engineers were able to help Jack to some better results, culminating in a race and round win at the final round at Oran Park
. The end result was a fifth placing in the championship.
The 2009 season was disappointing for Perkins. The new Kelly Racing team was the only four car team in the series and results were thin. By season's end team leaders Rick and Todd Kelly were beginning to gain results but results for Perkins and the team's fourth car did not come and Perkins was not retained into 2010.
Jack's continued strong 2010 form led to Paul Morris Motorsports team owner, Paul Morris, deciding to personally step down from his own driving duties at the Gold Coast round of the championship where he was scheduled to drive with Russell Ingall to allow Jack to take over the drive. This stirred the sports traditionalists as it re-ignited the famous "Perkins – Ingall" partnership which Jack's father Larry shared with Russell Ingall, which led to 2 Bathurst 1000 crowns. The two drivers worked well together and performed strongly at the event which led to Paul Morris deciding to sign Jack to compete in the 2011 Philip Island 500 and Bathurst 1000, again pairing with Russell Ingall.
for the 2010 endurance races. Perkins and Tim Slade finished the Phillip Island 500 in a strong fifth position equalling the team's best sprint race performance from earlier in the season.
. His place was taken by Marcus Marshall
for the final two rounds, as Marshall had had a stint with the team in the 2007 endurance races and was familiar with the team and cars.
Jack gained control over his condition in 2008 and after passing tests for his fitness to regain his racing licence from the governing body of motor sports in Australia
, CAMS, he returned to the track in the V8 Supercar Development Series
.
Perkins has become a spokesperson for Diabetes Australia
, and has held several events to raise money for DA, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He maintains personal sponsorship from Accu-Chek, manufacturers of blood sugar test equipment.
V8 Supercar
V8 Supercars is a touring car racing category based in Australia and run as an International Series under Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile regulations...
driver for James Rosenberg Racing
James Rosenberg Racing
James Rosenberg Racing is a V8 Supercar racing team owned by South Australian agricultural business identity, James Rosenberg. The team was re-formed in 2010 season with Tim Slade as the teams driver after a toe-in-the water year working with Paul Morris Motorsport in 2009...
in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series. He is the son of Australian motor racing legend Larry Perkins
Larry Perkins
Larry Clifton Perkins is a former racing driver and V8 Supercar team owner from Australia.-Career:...
, in whose team Perkins Engineering, he drove between 2006 and 2008. Initially as an endurance race only driver in 2006, in 2007 Jack graduated to the full time drive in the #11 Perkins Engineering car, the number made famous in Australian racing by his father.
Perkins Engineering
The Perkins Engineering team run by his father LarryLarry Perkins
Larry Clifton Perkins is a former racing driver and V8 Supercar team owner from Australia.-Career:...
, ran a two-car Fujitsu Development Series racing program in 2006, leading to Jack getting the drive in the second #78 car, with Shane Price
Shane Price
Shane Price, second generation racer Shane Price was born with petrol in his blood, being the son of multiple Kart champion Drew Price and nephew to female racer Melinda Price...
getting the lead drive in #77. The cars were largely unsponsored, though had a clear association with the main series Jack Daniel's-sponsored Perkins Engineering cars. Perkins and Price were also immediately earmarked to drive the #11 Perkins Engineering car in the 2006 endurance races.
Price was generally faster than Perkins during the Fujitsu series, but Perkins managed to finish third in the championship standings, just behind Price, who was narrowly defeated by Adam Macrow
Adam Macrow
Adam Macrow is a professional race car driver now living in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Starting in Karts in 1985 winning two National titles and ten Victorian titles...
for the title.
In the Sandown 500, Perkins – together with Price – brought the #11 Jack Daniel's Commodore
Holden Commodore
The Holden Commodore is an automobile manufactured since 1978 by the Holden subsidiary of General Motors in Australia, and, formerly, in New Zealand. In the mid-1970s, Holden established proposals to replace the long-serving Kingswood nameplate with a smaller, Opel-based model...
home in 24th position, after Perkins qualified the car in 20th position.
Come the SuperCheap Auto Bathurst 1000
Bathurst 1000
The Bathurst 1000 is a touring car race held annually at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia...
, Price took over the qualifying duties, and placed the car in 27th position for the race. Perkins started the race, which ended at the end of the first lap, when race favourite Mark Skaife
Mark Skaife
Mark Stephen Skaife OAM is an Australian motor racing driver. Skaife is a five time winner of the V8 Supercar Championship Series, including its predecessor the Australian Touring Car Championship. He is also a six-time winner of Australia's most prestigious domestic motor race, the Bathurst 1000...
suffered a slipping clutch
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
off the start line, which caused his #2 Holden Racing Team
Holden Racing Team
The Holden Racing Team is a Melbourne based motor racing team. HRT is the most successful V8 Supercar racing team in the history of the category, having won the drivers championship six times, and the series signature race the Bathurst 1000 seven times...
Commodore
Holden Commodore
The Holden Commodore is an automobile manufactured since 1978 by the Holden subsidiary of General Motors in Australia, and, formerly, in New Zealand. In the mid-1970s, Holden established proposals to replace the long-serving Kingswood nameplate with a smaller, Opel-based model...
to fall to the tail of the field. Perkins, arriving blind over the hump in Mountain Straight ploughed into the back of Skaife's ailing car, putting it out on the spot. Perkins limped around to the pits missing a front left wheel, and with an hydraulic brake line on fire. It did not continue in the race.
After the late and sudden departure of both Steven Richards
Steven Richards
Steven Richards is a New Zealand racing driver, currently competing in the with the team. He previously raced in the V8 Supercar series for Ford Performance Racing....
and Paul Dumbrell
Paul Dumbrell
Paul Dumbrell , is an Australian racing driver who currently drives for Rod Nash Racing in the V8 Supercar Championship Series...
from the team at the end of 2006, Perkins and Price were elevated to the full time championship drives for Perkins Engineering in 2007. While it was not ideal for the inexperienced Perkins and Price to suddenly find themselves racing in the main series, while developing new cars, the timing of Richards and Dumbrell's departure left the team without an opportunity to sign an experienced "name" driver, all of whom had committed contracts for 2007.
Perkins had a mixed season in 2007, with some outstanding results such as qualifying in the Top 10 at Winton Raceway, coupled with many disappointing race exits whilst running in strong positions. Although he was generally keeping pace with the more highly rated Shane Price
Shane Price
Shane Price, second generation racer Shane Price was born with petrol in his blood, being the son of multiple Kart champion Drew Price and nephew to female racer Melinda Price...
, Jack's performances behind the wheel were suffering towards the end of long stints behind the wheel. It was later found that Perkins was suffering from Type One Diabetes, as described further down in this article.
Perkins returned to the team in 2008 for the endurance races, partnered with Nathan Pretty – finishing 8th at Phillip Island, and 8th at Bathurst – and eventually to the full-time drive from the Indy Grand Prix round of the season onwards, after the slide of form and eventual dumping of Shane Price from the team. Price, who had already been dropped to the position of number two driver, following the arrival of Todd Kelly
Todd Kelly
Todd Kelly is a V8 Supercar racing driver, currently living in Melbourne, Victoria. He is the older brother of former V8 Supercar and Bathurst 1000 champion, Rick Kelly. He drove for the Holden Racing Team from 2003 until 2007, and Jack Daniel's Racing in 2008...
at the beginning of 2008, was left without a drive. Perkins had already returned to competition in the 2008 Fujitsu Development Series, running a Mack
Mack Trucks
Mack Trucks is an American truck-manufacturing company and a former manufacturer of buses and trolley buses. A wholly owned subsidiary of Renault Véhicules Industriels since 1990, Mack Trucks is currently a subsidiary of AB Volvo. The company's headquarters are located in Greensboro, North Carolina...
-sponsored Commodore
Holden Commodore
The Holden Commodore is an automobile manufactured since 1978 by the Holden subsidiary of General Motors in Australia, and, formerly, in New Zealand. In the mid-1970s, Holden established proposals to replace the long-serving Kingswood nameplate with a smaller, Opel-based model...
for Independent Race Cars Australia.
Independent Race Cars Australia
After bringing his medical condition under control, Jack competed in the Fujitsu V8 Development Series in a Perkins Engineering built car, but run by Independent Race Cars Australia in 2008, with a view to a return to a full-time drive in the main championship series in 2009.Although starting the series strongly in Adelaide, a mid-season slump saw his title chances slide. Seeking an improvement for the end of the season, the car was brought back into the Perkins Engineering workshops from the Bathurst round onwards. With better knowledge of the car, the engineers were able to help Jack to some better results, culminating in a race and round win at the final round at Oran Park
Oran Park
Oran Park may refer to:*Oran Park, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney in Australia*Oran Park Raceway, a former motor racing circuit in Sydney...
. The end result was a fifth placing in the championship.
Kelly Racing
Jack returned to the main V8 Supercar championship in 2009 behind the wheel of the #11 Kelly Racing Commodore carrying sponsorship from Dodo Internet. The deal was part of a merger and eventual takeover of Perkins Engineering by the new Kelly Racing. Jack's #11 car for 2009 was the car previously run by Todd Kelly at Perkins Engineering in 2008, chassis number PE047.The 2009 season was disappointing for Perkins. The new Kelly Racing team was the only four car team in the series and results were thin. By season's end team leaders Rick and Todd Kelly were beginning to gain results but results for Perkins and the team's fourth car did not come and Perkins was not retained into 2010.
Paul Morris Motorsport
Perkins was without a drive for the 2010 season leaving him to pursue a role with Paul Morris Motorsport as a signwriter. This eventually led to a part-time return to the second-tier Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series in a spare PMM Commodore chassis with limited support from the main team. Perkins's performances in the second tier series where strong enough to earn him a call up to James Rosenberg Racing for the 2010 Philip Island 500 and Bathurst 1000, pairing with Tim Slade.Jack's continued strong 2010 form led to Paul Morris Motorsports team owner, Paul Morris, deciding to personally step down from his own driving duties at the Gold Coast round of the championship where he was scheduled to drive with Russell Ingall to allow Jack to take over the drive. This stirred the sports traditionalists as it re-ignited the famous "Perkins – Ingall" partnership which Jack's father Larry shared with Russell Ingall, which led to 2 Bathurst 1000 crowns. The two drivers worked well together and performed strongly at the event which led to Paul Morris deciding to sign Jack to compete in the 2011 Philip Island 500 and Bathurst 1000, again pairing with Russell Ingall.
James Rosenberg Racing
Perkins' strong performances in the Fujitsu series in 2010 led to a drive with James Rosenberg RacingJames Rosenberg Racing
James Rosenberg Racing is a V8 Supercar racing team owned by South Australian agricultural business identity, James Rosenberg. The team was re-formed in 2010 season with Tim Slade as the teams driver after a toe-in-the water year working with Paul Morris Motorsport in 2009...
for the 2010 endurance races. Perkins and Tim Slade finished the Phillip Island 500 in a strong fifth position equalling the team's best sprint race performance from earlier in the season.
Sonic Motor Racing
Jack signed a deal with Sonic Motor Racing to compete in the 2011 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series with support from Bob Jane T-Marts, Supercheap Auto, Acu-check and Castrol, using a BF Falcon built by Triple 8.Type 1 Diabetes
Shortly before the penultimate round of the 2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series, Jack was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes, which forced him to step down from the full-time drive of the #11 Perkins Engineering CommodoreHolden Commodore
The Holden Commodore is an automobile manufactured since 1978 by the Holden subsidiary of General Motors in Australia, and, formerly, in New Zealand. In the mid-1970s, Holden established proposals to replace the long-serving Kingswood nameplate with a smaller, Opel-based model...
. His place was taken by Marcus Marshall
Marcus Marshall
Marcus Marshall is a former Champ Car driver from Australia. Before that he raced in British Formula Three, where he was generally a running outside the top ten, but took a hard fought win in a wet race. He contested 12 races in 2005 for Derrick Walker's renamed Team Australia Racing...
for the final two rounds, as Marshall had had a stint with the team in the 2007 endurance races and was familiar with the team and cars.
Jack gained control over his condition in 2008 and after passing tests for his fitness to regain his racing licence from the governing body of motor sports in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, CAMS, he returned to the track in the V8 Supercar Development Series
Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series
The Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series is an Australian touring car competition, specifically the second tier series for V8 Supercar competitors. Competing vehicles are older than those utilised in the V8 Supercar Championship series and are run by smaller teams with lower budgets...
.
Perkins has become a spokesperson for Diabetes Australia
Diabetes Australia
Diabetes Australia is the third oldest diabetes association in the world, after the United Kingdom and Portugal. Originally established in the state of New South Wales in 1937, the organisation's head office is now in the nation's capital, Canberra...
, and has held several events to raise money for DA, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He maintains personal sponsorship from Accu-Chek, manufacturers of blood sugar test equipment.
Career results
| Season | Series | Position | Car | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 2005 Australian Formula Ford Championship The 2005 Australian Formula Ford Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of Formula Ford racing cars.-Calendar:The title was contested over an eight round series with three races per round.... |
Australian Formula Ford Championship Australian Formula Ford Championship The Australian Formula Ford Championship is a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of Formula Ford racing cars. It has been held annually since 1970, originally as a national series, and later as the 'Driver-to-Europe' series... |
20th | Van Diemen Van Diemen Van Diemen International, Ltd. is a British race car manufacturer based in Snetterton, Norfolk, England.The company has a reputation for high-volume production runs of its cars, the most well-known of which is its series of Formula Ford chassis, which have been at the forefront of that class of... RF92 Ford |
|
| 2005 | Victorian Formula Ford Formula Ford Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing.... Championship |
9th | Van Diemen Van Diemen Van Diemen International, Ltd. is a British race car manufacturer based in Snetterton, Norfolk, England.The company has a reputation for high-volume production runs of its cars, the most well-known of which is its series of Formula Ford chassis, which have been at the forefront of that class of... RF92 Ford |
|
| 2006 2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series The 2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series was an Australian touring car series held for V8 Supercars. It was the seventh series held for second tier V8 Supercar teams. The season began on 24 March 2006 at Adelaide Street Circuit and finished on 10 December at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit... |
Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series | 3rd | Holden VZ Commodore | Perkins Engineering |
| 2006 2006 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2006 V8 Supercar season was the 8th running of the V8 Supercar Championship Series. It began on 25 March 2006 in Adelaide and ended on 10 December at Phillip Island after 13 rounds.-Race Calendar:... |
V8 Supercar Championship Series | 57th | Holden VZ Commodore | Jack Daniel's Racing |
| 2007 2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2007 V8 Supercar season featured the ninth V8 Supercar Championship Series which began on 1 March and finished on 2 December. This championship consisted of 14 rounds covering all states and the Northern Territory of Australia as well as rounds in New Zealand and Bahrain... |
V8 Supercar Championship Series | 48th | Holden VZ Commodore Holden VE Commodore |
Jack Daniel's Racing |
| 2008 2008 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series The 2008 Fujitsu V8 Supercars season was the ninth running of the Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series, the second-tier V8 Supercar series. It began on February 21 at the Clipsal 500 and ended on December 7 at Oran Park Raceway after seven rounds.-Race calendar:... |
Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series | 5th | Holden VZ Commodore | Independent Race Cars Australia |
| 2008 | V8 Supercar Championship Series | 29th | Holden VE Commodore | Jack Daniel's Racing |
| 2009 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series was the eleventh V8 Supercar Championship Series and the thirteenth series in which V8 Supercars have contested the premier Australian touring car title... |
V8 Supercar Championship Series | 26th | Holden VE Commodore | Kelly Racing Kelly Racing Kelly Racing is a team competing in the Australian V8 Supercar series. It is owned by John and Margaret Kelly, and made its debut in 2009. The team's current four drivers are 2006 V8 Supercar series champion Rick Kelly and 2005 Bathurst 1000 winner Todd Kelly , four time Bathurst 1000 winner Greg... |
| 2010 | Aussie Racing Cars Aussie Racing Cars Aussie Racing Cars is an Australian motor racing category. Essentially a motorcycle powered Silhouette racing car class, it was created by former Touring car racer Phil Ward, influenced by the American Legends category.... |
10th | Aurion-Yamaha | |
| 2010 2010 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series The 2010 Fujitsu V8 Supercars season was the eleventh running of the V8 Supercar Development series. It supported the 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series, beginning on 11 March at the Clipsal 500 and ending on 5 December at the Sydney 500 after seven rounds.... |
Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series | 13th | Holden VE Commodore | James Rosenberg Racing James Rosenberg Racing James Rosenberg Racing is a V8 Supercar racing team owned by South Australian agricultural business identity, James Rosenberg. The team was re-formed in 2010 season with Tim Slade as the teams driver after a toe-in-the water year working with Paul Morris Motorsport in 2009... Paul Morris Motorsport |
| 2010 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series was an FIA sanctioned international motor racing series for V8 Supercars. It was the twelfth V8 Supercar Championship Series and the fourteenth series in which V8 Supercars have contested the premier Australian touring car title... |
V8 Supercar Championship Series | 37th | Ford FG Falcon Ford FG Falcon The Ford FG Falcon is a full-size car produced by the Ford Motor Company of Australia since 2008. The FG series is the current model of the Ford Falcon and is the seventh generation of the car... Holden VE Commodore |
James Rosenberg Racing James Rosenberg Racing James Rosenberg Racing is a V8 Supercar racing team owned by South Australian agricultural business identity, James Rosenberg. The team was re-formed in 2010 season with Tim Slade as the teams driver after a toe-in-the water year working with Paul Morris Motorsport in 2009... Paul Morris Motorsport |