For the team’s machine shop manager Colby Anspach, that work is a blend of technology, precision engineering and the judgement that comes from years at the workbench and race track. Anspach has spent 18 years producing the parts, fixtures and solutions that support the team’s day-to-day race operations.
“Being a CNC machinist is a licence to create,” Anspach says. “You can pretty much come up with everything and anything in here.”
Although the workshop relies on computer-controlled machinery, the final result is not simply a product of software. Different machinists can approach the same component with different setups, toolpaths and jigging. The finished part carries what Anspach describes as a small amount of the operator’s “human touch”.
That detail matters in a category where small tolerances can make a difference on race day. The machine shop produces roughly 100 parts in a typical week, supplying components that can save time in pit stops, improve performance or give drivers a more tailored environment.
One example is a custom rear-vision mirror bracket, designed to alter the mirror’s height, angle and position. It may appear minor from the outside, but a change that improves a driver’s comfort or confidence can still contribute to performance.
The role extends beyond routine production. When Brodie Kostecki hit the fence at the Gold Coast last year, Anspach and the workshop crew were among the first to meet the car back at the team’s base. The group stripped the front of the car in about two hours before the repair effort moved into full pace.
That response reflects the collective effort behind the race team’s results. Departments may have separate responsibilities, but when the pressure rises, the workshop, engineering and race crews work together to find a solution.
For Anspach, the reward is seeing the broader contribution come together. The machine shop may be based away from the track, but every precisely made component, creative solution and extra pair of hands plays a part in the final outcome.
Watch the full video below:
WATCH: What it takes to get a Supercar on track – Episode 1
Follow Colby’s work on instagram via @djr_machineshop
This video series was produced in partnership with Personalised Plates Queensland. Create your own plates now.
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