FAYE and Ian Diven are a Burrill Lake couple who like to live life in the fast lane – especially if it involves tearing up racetracks all over the country in their Clubman sports car.
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2014 has been a highlight in Ian’s sprint racing career with a national and state title to his name.
Faye is no slug around the course either, finishing second in nationals and third at state.
The husband and wife duo travelled to Tasmania to compete in the Super Sprint Nationals on September 20 and 21.
Ian described super sprinting as, “a bit like qualifying.”
“You go out and you try to set the fastest lap in a series of sessions. It’s all about the fastest single lap time,” he said.
“Up to 15 cars can be on the track at the same time but they are all spaced out away from one another.
“You don’t actually want to pass cars, you don’t want to catch the car I front. You do want to chase him though because that can make you quicker.”
The couple said they are lucky they are of similar size as they can both compete in the Clubman.
In their first time in Tasmania the couple sped around the Symmons Plains track for the fastest time, with Ian claiming top honours and Faye a close second.
“Yeah, he’s faster. I drive like a girl. That’s my excuse and I am sticking to it,” Faye laughed.
“I have a bigger fear gland than he does.”
Ian jokingly added, “the day she beats me I’ll hang up my helmet.”
The Australian Championship has been running for seven years and Ian is the only person who has competed in all seven rounds.
And he has no indication of slowing down.
“I really want to get to 10,” he said.
It was the first time Ian has claimed a national championship after finishing second twice and one third place in previous years.
“The track was great and the people and competitors were really friendly,” he said.
“It’s like out annual holiday that we go to the Super Sprint nationals,” Faye added.
The couple finished their state racing season at the NSW Super Sprint Championships over the October long weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park’s South Circuit, where after seven rounds of competition, Ian finished first and Faye third in their class.
It was Faye’s best state result to date.
The couple put their impressive 2014 results down to the competition.
“The competition comes and goes, and this year we just happened to nail it,” Ian said.
Ian was lucky to take first place because the man who was leading the competition dropped out of the final round.
“I really didn’t expect to win it actually, I thought he was going to beat me,” Ian said.
“So I was up for another second [place] and then he didn’t turn up for the last round. So I went, ‘beauty, got this one in the bag.”
Despite the obvious rivalry on the track Ian said the competitors are all friends.
“There are always friendly rivalry but it’s the sort of competition where if he needed a nut or a bolt he’d help,” he said.
“That’s the sort of competition it is – you would held the guy who’s likely to beat you.”
Ian started racing in 2006 and Faye soon followed in 2008.
“I wanted to have a go. You can only sit there and watch for so long,” Faye laughed.
Ian said racing was something he had always wanted to do.
“I just could never really afford it,” he said.
“I always had this feeling that I wanted to go racing but I thought to go racing I needed a race car. And it wasn’t until I really got to my first proper event, and there are guys there in grandma’s Laser. And I thought, you know, you could drive anything it’s not about having a fast car it’s about you getting the best about the car you’re in.”
Ian’s Clubman is based on the Lotus 7, which was originally released in 1957.
Ian built the car from a basic kit, but it has been significantly changed since then, a condition Faye fondly refers to as “upgradeitis”.
Now the Arrow SEiW runs on a Toyota 1.6 litle valve engine with a five-speed gear box out of a Selica.
The engine make 120 kilowatts and weighs 600 kilograms.
“Which give it a Ferrari-like performance,” Ian said.
“Without the Ferrari price tag,” Faye added.
Faye and Ian are a part of the Clubman Drivers Club based in NSW with members all over Australia.
The couple thanked Arrow Sports Cars for their support.
“And our two sons Peter and Steven. Who drive down to Eastern Creek when we forget the car keys,” Faye said.