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Charlie Schwerkolt
- Thread starter kartman76
- Start date
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1. "Your knowledge and input is always welcome but please respect the team, the drivers and other members. Abuse or harsh criticisms will not be tolerated".
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Andrew Thompson has confirmed that he will be watching the 2011 V8 Supercars Championship Series from the sidelines next year. The Walkinshaw Racing team will downscale from two cars to one, selling its #10 Racing Entitlements Contract to Charlie Schwerkolt
its on speedcafe might be old news though and something might of changed
its on speedcafe might be old news though and something might of changed
Yap
New member
I went and bought it (was 3 pages and a bit hard to sit there and read the whole thing whilst the guy at the counter is watching you coz your the only person in the shop 
)
Bit of a rundown
Charlie was involved with DJR in a minor way since 2002 (gave him a forklift)
From the start of 2003 to the end of 2010 he only missed attending 2 races (Bahrain) as part of the DJR team
Saw all the poo hit the fan in the Wespoint / First Rock years when there was just no cash
Charlie wasn't first choice as a financial partner, Dick had tried others but it didn't work out, apparently the bank were days from shutting the doors, and because of the rush didn't have the contracts drawn up the right way to give him the ability to purchase Dicks share down the track
When he became a partner in 2008 things like the air con weren't working (as there was no money to fix it)
Dick and Charlie's relationship soured at the end of 08 when Dollar Bill left (who according to this wasn't paid a cent for 06 and 07, and only started getting paid once Charlie arrived), and that JC arriving basically split the team into 2 sides even back in 09
Tried to get Dollar Bill back to replace Steve for this year
Talks about how Adrian Burgess (and Charlie) built up a great network of guys
Was a bit pissed when JC didn't acknowledge him in his victory speech after the FPR / Pepsi deal died
If anyone wants a copy PM me and I can probably scan it and email it through
)Bit of a rundown
Charlie was involved with DJR in a minor way since 2002 (gave him a forklift)
From the start of 2003 to the end of 2010 he only missed attending 2 races (Bahrain) as part of the DJR team
Saw all the poo hit the fan in the Wespoint / First Rock years when there was just no cash
Charlie wasn't first choice as a financial partner, Dick had tried others but it didn't work out, apparently the bank were days from shutting the doors, and because of the rush didn't have the contracts drawn up the right way to give him the ability to purchase Dicks share down the track
When he became a partner in 2008 things like the air con weren't working (as there was no money to fix it)
Dick and Charlie's relationship soured at the end of 08 when Dollar Bill left (who according to this wasn't paid a cent for 06 and 07, and only started getting paid once Charlie arrived), and that JC arriving basically split the team into 2 sides even back in 09
Tried to get Dollar Bill back to replace Steve for this year
Talks about how Adrian Burgess (and Charlie) built up a great network of guys
Was a bit pissed when JC didn't acknowledge him in his victory speech after the FPR / Pepsi deal died
If anyone wants a copy PM me and I can probably scan it and email it through
Interesting to read Charlie's very myopic view of events as he saw them. Despite having his own agenda and intentions when buying into DJR, it seems that he did not make those intents clear on a contractual basis (thank goodness) if in fact he actually did have them at the time.
I can still recall him saying how he was purly a financial backer, was not about to impose his will on the team and was proud to help Dick out of a financial black hole. I can also recall hearing him very publicly make a similar statement to a few hundred gathered at the his first Team mates night as new part owner.
What is obvious is his pain at loosing "his" driver twice now.
While I do feel for Charlie, I'm more than happy to still have a team to support and that he was a gentleman enough to leave with honour, leave the team intact and in a fit enough state to continue when he could have demanded his ultimate pound of flesh, acheived little more than he has right now anyway, and seen our team's doors permenently shut.
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I can still recall him saying how he was purly a financial backer, was not about to impose his will on the team and was proud to help Dick out of a financial black hole. I can also recall hearing him very publicly make a similar statement to a few hundred gathered at the his first Team mates night as new part owner.
What is obvious is his pain at loosing "his" driver twice now.
While I do feel for Charlie, I'm more than happy to still have a team to support and that he was a gentleman enough to leave with honour, leave the team intact and in a fit enough state to continue when he could have demanded his ultimate pound of flesh, acheived little more than he has right now anyway, and seen our team's doors permenently shut.
.
DJRMAD
New member
Charlie is a multi millionaire business man. Make no mistake, when he left DJR he took what he could, re car 18 REC, and in the process of negotiation contributed to damaging the DJR brand to Dick's supporters and sponsors. I had a 1 on 1 discussion with him at Symmonds Plains two years ago and i came away with the clear impression that he and Dick were not the best of mates as everyone was led to believe. He saw an opportunity in DJR when Dick was pretty much broke, pounced and then set out to build Charlies race team, we are just lucky that Dick is a tuff old bugger and had no intensions of moving on or we would be cheering for Shwerkolt Racing.
As for Will Davison not getting paid, its normal for up and coming drivers (eg Moffat) to provide financial assistance to a team in exchange for a drive, Glenn Seton was clear in saying that Will was a paid driver and he was not, that was why he had to move over, all be it not happily.
My understanding is that Steve also was unpaid for a number of years, not through bringing sponsors to the team, but in order to assist DJR in surviving.
If Charlie's got something to say he should tell the whole "Folking" story,because all you get from looking back is a sore neck!
As for Will Davison not getting paid, its normal for up and coming drivers (eg Moffat) to provide financial assistance to a team in exchange for a drive, Glenn Seton was clear in saying that Will was a paid driver and he was not, that was why he had to move over, all be it not happily.
My understanding is that Steve also was unpaid for a number of years, not through bringing sponsors to the team, but in order to assist DJR in surviving.
If Charlie's got something to say he should tell the whole "Folking" story,because all you get from looking back is a sore neck!
While I agree that in a business sence Charlie was not about to agree to an exit strategy that saw him lose financially, I believe that he was magnanamous in the fact that out of pure bloody mindedness he could have broke down the team or even moved on with his REC and left DJR with only one car, or a number of other posibilities much worse,. . but he didn't in the end. I am grateful for that. And give Kudos to Charlie for his decision inthe heat and emotion filled end.
While i feel he brought it all upon himself by misreading the Johnson family and the passion that was their family business and life and that it might have been just another business for sale as so many Australian froklift businesses that he has assimillated have been, i do not feel any animosity toward him for that and I believe that he genuinely wanted what he thought was best for the Team while he was part owner.
I'm just happy that once again DJR has survived adversarial and trying times and come out still running.
Personally I would not have had any passion toward Schwerkolt racing as I do for DJR and would have been perhapt a generic Ford supporter if the outcome was that Charlie bought out the entirety of DJR. [bgn]
While i feel he brought it all upon himself by misreading the Johnson family and the passion that was their family business and life and that it might have been just another business for sale as so many Australian froklift businesses that he has assimillated have been, i do not feel any animosity toward him for that and I believe that he genuinely wanted what he thought was best for the Team while he was part owner.
I'm just happy that once again DJR has survived adversarial and trying times and come out still running.
Personally I would not have had any passion toward Schwerkolt racing as I do for DJR and would have been perhapt a generic Ford supporter if the outcome was that Charlie bought out the entirety of DJR. [bgn]
Yap
New member
I am sure I have heard Steve say that at one stage he went for a year (could of been more) just receiving payment from his personal sponsors somewhere either the Wespoint year or the year after
Care to elaborate on that Col?
4EVER17
New member
Well, you have to look after yourself first before you can look after anyone else..
And after hearing that Steve was getting SWA only raises my opinion of the MAN!
Go The Johnsons! One & All! [bw][bw][bw]