WARRNAMBOOL'S James McFadden was hoping to be getting his hands dirty behind the wheel of his Kasey Kahne sprintcar.
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But instead he is getting his hands greasy in his shed building, repairing and tuning racing engines in his self-isolation during the coronavirus pandemic.
Fellow star drivers in Corey McCullagh and Robbie Patton are some of McFadden's customers while a number of other teams have entrusted him with their engines.
And with his plans for 60 races in the World of Outlaws circuit in America on hold it gives him more time to indulge on one of his hobbies outside of racing.
"It started off as a job because I didn't have one and now it's more of passion," he said.
"I like to work with the guys and get them (the engines) driveable and work with them on how they want them to drive.
"It's a little bit of fun where I do little games with myself to personalize the engines for them."
The two-time Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic champion said the chance to run his little business from his shed is rare with most of his time spent on the road or at tracks racing across Australia and America.
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He said it was a refreshing change to keep him occupied while he waits for the green light to return to racing.
"I'm racing cars full-time and I'm in motels and on aeroplanes and it's a completely different lifestyle than a normal job," he said.
"You are going to bed at 3am and up at 9am and travelling. You never have a routine so to have a few engines to work on gives me that form of reality and of that normal 8-5."
When he is not working on engines McFadden is keeping himself in top shape for when he is called to join the Kasey Kahne team in the US.
"I have got a little home gym set up and I am going for runs and bike rides, nothing too crazy as I am not a big gym person," he said.
"But this break gives me a little time and there is no excuses not to do it. I have been getting outside as much as I can and trying to be active."
The 2019 Knoxville 360 Nationals champion said he was also keeping a positive mindset as he waits.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
