22 October 2024
As the Tickford Racing Team geared up to chase down their third Bathurst 1000 crown, they received some strategically well-placed support from the ADF.
Helping to keep the Tickford Mustangs ‘fed and watered’ throughout the gruelling 1000km Mount Panorama motor marathon from October 10-13 were two of Navy’s finest, currently embedded with the Tickford Racing Team as part of the Navy Industry Outplacement Program.
Leading Seaman Briana Letta and Able Seaman Josh Baxter have been serving the Supercars team since January this year as part of the special development program for technical sailors.
Having already served in the Navy for nearly six years, Able Seaman Baxter said the outplacement program was a perfect segue to experience what life would be like outside of Defence, while still staying in service.
“I would say a highlight has been the ability to work and experience life outside of the Navy while still being within the Navy and receiving all of the benefits that come with it,” Able Seaman Baxter said.
For 12 months, the sailors are stationed with Tickford’s team in Melbourne for the purpose of receiving industry experience in the cutting-edge and high-pressure environment of Supercars.
Able Seaman Baxter believes the novel experience has helped him receive the transferable skills and knowledge to excel in the face of adversity.
“The ability to work under extreme pressure and all the things needed to make a team run, it’s a very intense, year-long posting,” he said.
“I’ve learned a fair bit, especially in the areas of aerodynamics and the precision work they need to do to ensure the car functions at a high-optimum level.”
'It’s a great opportunity to get exposed to other elements within engineering – the team does aerodynamics, they do manufacturing in house, testing and development.'
While playing key roles in the preparation of the team’s cars, the sailors also assist in car maintenance and repairs at track, travelling with the team to all Supercar events, which Able Seaman Baxter said has been the opportunity of a lifetime.
“There’s some amazing travel opportunities. I’ve been to almost every single state now, and I would have never had the chance to do that,” he said.
In addition to the adrenaline and excitement of being on the track at Australia’s premier motorsport event, Able Seaman Baxter has learned to innovate, which he believes will bring a tactical advantage as a marine technician.
With the Navy Centre for Innovation currently developing cutting-edge 3D manufacturing technologies for sailors at sea, the experience and ability to build things from scratch provides Able Seaman Baxter with a whole new mindset around what is possible on Navy’s warships.
“It’s a great opportunity to get exposed to other elements within engineering – the team does aerodynamics, they do manufacturing in house, testing and development,” he said.
“The majority of the car is built in house, so it’s a great opportunity to get exposed to a manufacturing aspect, as opposed to a box arriving and just installing what is in that box.”
The partnership between the Navy and Tickford Racing is now in its thirteenth year, with a new round of sailors to start from January next year.
