MILTON'S Terry Marchello has been involved in car racing for more than 30 years with considerable success.
But now he's decided to take things to a professional level and the whole family has jumped on board.
Terry has established MRTeam (Marchello Racing Team) and as chief engineer and driver aims to get three cars competing in the V8 Supercars Fujitsu Series as soon as possible.
The ultimate goal is the V8 Supercars Championship Series.
Enter Terry's sons Ryan, 21 and Reece, 19, both qualified mechanics who have been honing their driving skills in 'paddock bashers' and farm machines since they were kids.
The boys demonstrated plenty of skill during their first race meeting at Sydney's Oran Park last month and Terry says it's just a case of building on that potential.
Ryan and Reece took part in a number of practice sessions at Wakefield Park (Goulburn), Eastern Creek (Sydney) and Oran Park (Sydney) last year in preparation for the first round of the Independent Race Series (IRS) on January 15 and 16.
It was a first for the Marchello boys but sadly a last for Oran Park, which has now been closed to make way for residential development.
Ryan, competing in a VH Holden Commodore and Reece, in a VB Holden Commodore, which they rebuilt themselves, both found the track to their liking.
Ryan and Reece both qualified mid-field in the HDT Muscle Division.
While their 220hp Commodores handled really well cornering and under braking, they found they just couldn't compete for speed along the straights with some of the faster cars, racing with approximately 500hp.
To make matters worse, they were forced to compete on tyres suitable only for practice after the Yokohama race tyre shipment container was stolen from a Sydney port.
Their results, nevertheless, were extremely encouraging.
Ryan qualified 11th fastest out of 27 cars in the HDT Muscle Division with Reece not far behind in 15th.
Ryan maintained his good form in the first race of the Muscle Division, finishing 11th, while Reece having just achieved his personal best time, spun off the track popping two tyres off the rims.
While he wasn't able to finish the race Reece's fastest lap time was up there with the top contenders.
Ryan finished fourth in the HDT Cup feature race, which Reece was forced to watch from the pits.
Both drivers rounded out the day with strong finishes, Ryan crossing the line in fourth place in the first of the handicap races and Reece in eighth.
Reece turned the tables on his older brother in the fourth and final race of the day to finish seventh, Ryan crossing the line in 15th with very little rubber left on the tyres.
The boys enjoyed the experience but are now planning to upgrade their cars to at least 540hp in a bid to be more competitive.
It means they will miss the second round of the IRS and the first round of the Improved Production Racing Association championship, but a busy year looms from then on.
Terry, 50, meanwhile, is rebuilding the engine in his own car - a VS Holden Commodore - for the IRS Touring Car Challenge Series.
The Series features ex-V8 Supercars and Terry says he is looking forward to the challenge of getting back on the track, at this stage by mid year.
The team's new transporter, custom built to carry all three MRTeam vehicles, is expected to be ready at about the same time.
Terry has raced Improved Production in the past but admits that he hasn't done a lot in recent years because of business interests and family circumstances.
This will be his first time competing in the Touring Car Challenge Series.
But for Terry it's more about the boys.
He says they have already proven themselves on the track and the IRS and the IPRA will hopefully represent just the beginning.
"They are going to take it as far as they can take it," he said last week.
Terry will play a key role as mentor, teaching the boys everything he knows about car racing.
He also takes a particular interest in the development side of things in terms of design and performance.
Daughter Shannon Hoy has taken on the role of marketing and media manager while Terry's cousin Anthony Cafarelli will fill the role of team manager.
Unfortunately the Marchello family's foray into professional racing will mean Ryan and Reece won't be taking the field this season for the Milton Platypi because of the risk of injury.
The boys have also performed regularly over the past two years with The Dance Factory Academy and are also keen touch footballers and tennis players.
* More information about the team is available over the Internet at www.mrteam.com.au
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