Engines fascinate him. From a young age he’d spend hours tinkering with them.

By his own admission Perry struggled a bit with some subjects at school. But his teachers knew what they were doing. When they were having trouble with their lawn mowers or wipper snippers, they’d bring them in for Perry to fix. Invariably, he’d find the fault.

Perry started as an apprentice mechanic at Manning Valley Motors in 2006, where his dad, Rick, is a senior technician. Earlier this year Perry, 19, was encouraged by his teachers at Taree TAFE, Brenton Kotz and Wayne Mills to apply to work with the pit crews at this weekend’s Telstra 500 V8 Supercar extravganza in Sydney.

He was among 60 applicants from around NSW. Twenty seven were successul. Perry’s one of them.

“It’s a real suprise,’’ he smiled.

“I didn’t give myself much chance. I can’t wait.’’

Perry will be working with the Kelly Racing team of Rick Kelly, Todd Kelly, Jack Perkins and Mark McNally.

He left for Sydney yesterday and will be on duty for today’s practice session and the event-proper tomorrow and Sunday.

The Telstra 500 will draw massive crowds to Olympic Park where the cream of Australia’s drivers will feature.

Perry will be in the epicentre of the action.

“I watch the V8s all the time,’’ he explains.

As luck would have it he’s been closely following the fortunes of the Kelly team. Now he’s looking forward to working even closer with them.

He said nerves won’t be a factor.

“I’ll just do what I’m told,’’ he reasons.

Perry’s had a few highlights already in his working life.

He’s been named the Repco Auto Electrican of the Year which was worth $1600.

However, earning the trip to the V8s trumps that.

Perry doesn’t know what, if anything, this week’s expedition will lead to, although he’s hoping it may result in a few more pit crew starts.

“I’ll just have to see what happens,’’ he said.

“We’re all very proud of what Perry has achieved,’’ Manning Valley Motors general manager Warren Ruprecht said.