Ray Bartlett Racing

Only we would take a “Knife along to a Gun fight”, but that is exactly what we did for the first 2 rounds of World Series Sprintcars Speedweek. After overcoming some mid-week politics we fronted on Boxing day at Adelaide's Speedway City for night one. We really needed a dry slick track to be able to reduce the damage that would be done due to the horsepower difference between the 410ci machines verses our trusty 360ci car. “Murphy's law intervened once again though and the track was wet, hooked up and rough. It didn't help either when i forgot to check the “supp-regs for WSS and we fronted for time trialling with the incorrect compound left rear tyre on the car! What it meant was that the car Tim hot lapped was completely different 15 minutes later when he time trialled. But Tim and the crew worked hard all night and never gave up on making the car quicker every time it went out after that. We started at the back of the C-Main (13th) and within a couple of laps Tim was well and truly inside the top ten when the race was declared. It was called with 10 laps still to run and at the time we were moving forward at a great rate of knots, but that's motor racing for you – sometimes it works in your favour, other times it doesn't ! But over all it was a good night, Tim got some good laps in and we put a straight car away and the team was really looking forward to the following night at Murray Bridge Speedway.

Footnote – This was the first time this season that the Sprintcar and the AMCA were at the same venue. Although i never saw the “Centurion” (Bill Richards) drive all night, I heard he did a good job and also put the car away straight. So well done Billy – not bad for a “Senior Citizen”.

We fronted at Murray Bridge on the 27th with everything except luck once again on the track surface front. In actual fact it was an excellent racing surface, but not when you are giving away around 100 horsepower and about 200 pounds in weight. But to the teams and Tims credit, we weren't that far off the pace all night. Tim got through the heats well and we started out of 14th in the C-Main. 15 laps later Tim finished a solid 7th, not a bad job when you consider that all those behind us had the 410ci horsepower and weight advantage. But we put a straight car away again and Tim got some more quality laps in. So over all our Speedweek experience this season was a good one. Now we look forward to this Sunday in Mildura when we once again get to have a crack at the 360ci All Stars series. But this time on a level playing field, none of this having to start at the rear stuff !

To all those that followed us through Speedweek, I hope that you enjoyed it, and thanks for your continued support. This racing thing is meant to be a bit of fun as well as a challenge, and so far this season it is playing out that way.

On behalf of the race team, i wish you all a safe and happy New Year, and we look forward to seeing you at a race track soon.

Cheers

Ray Bartlett;)

On behalf of the entire Ray Bartlett Racing Team i would like to wish all of the teams sponsors, supporters and race fans a very merry Christmas.

We of course will be back in action with both cars at Adelaides Speedway City Speedway (Virginia) on boxing day. So if you can come out, we look forward to seeing you in the pits at the end of the nights racing.

Cheers

Ray Bartlett

 After what has seemed likes weeks in waiting – It’s time to set V8 Supercar Driver Tim Slade out amongst the “360 All Stars” this Saturday night at Murray Bridge Speedway.

The crew have worked overtime to get the car ready and give Tim the best equipment to showcase his talent at this event.

Bart Pascoe gave the car a spirited shake down at the Bridge a fortnight ago, and not only impressed all that were present with his outright speed, but more importantly he gave the SA 67 the “double thumbs up”. I would just like to go on record now as saying “when he gets the chance again later in the season, Bart is going to be one to watch in the Sprintcar. Trust me, for a bloke with limited seat time, this bloke can drive!

Anyhow, if you get the chance this Saturday night (11 Dec 2010) come up and watch the debut of Tim Slade in the SA 67 Sprintcar.

Cheers

Ray Bartlett

The little lady with the lead foot (Tegan) is back in action again this Saturday night driving the SA67 AMCA National at Adelaides Speedway City. Tegan did an awesome job on her first night out especially when you take into account that the first time she ever drove the car was to take it to the dummy grid for her first race. The smile on the "Centurions" (car owner Billy) face couldn't have been rubbed off with sandpaper afterwards.

Anyway the team is excited and looking forward to this Saturday night to watch Tegan go at it again. So if you are out at the track this Saturday Night be sure to drop down and get a signed autographed  card from Tegan.

Cheers

Ray Bartlett

If you want to get one last picture of the teams Sprintcar looking good before it hits a race track!  For the next week ( 28 Oct 2010 - 04 Nov 2010) the teams Sprintcar is on display at Adrian Brien Fords Saint Mary's showroom. Go in get your pics, if you want - buy a car (just make sure you tell them that you only bought it because of the Sprintcar, ha,ha,ha) Na seriously - If you are a Ford Fan, go in there. They have an awesome merchandise shop on the end of the showroom.

Anyhow hopefully we will see you at a race track soon.

Cheers

Ray Bartlett

The Ray Bartlett Racing team had it's launch at the Port Noarlunga/Christies Beach RSL on Sunday 24 Oct 2010.

Firstly I would like to thank the Port Noarlunga/Christies Beach RSL for hosting us. To the President of the Sub Branch (Gary Maynard) and all of his crew, a big thankyou for your efforts. To all the Sponsors and Corporate Partners that attended, thankyou.

To all the families of the race team and also to all the fans of the race team, thankyou for your attendance. Without your participation the day would have not been anywhere near as good as what it was. To our favourite photographer (Paris Charles), thanks mate for your efforts.

You can see the photo's taken by Paris in the websites Photo gallery. If anyone would like a copy of a certain photo then contact myself and i will pass your info onto Paris.

Anyhow i hope all in attendance had a good day, from all the feedback that i have received it appears that the day was well worth it. So now we look forward to going racing - Starting this Saturday night with Tegans first race at Speedway City in the SA 67 AMCA.

Cheers

Ray Bartlett   

Ray Bartlett Racing

The Port Noarlunga /Christies Beach RSL Sub Branch RSL Sub Branch is proud to be associated with the Racing Team that will be launched at the Port Noarlunga Memorial Gardens adjacent to the Sub Branch located at the Esplanade, Port Noarlunga on Sunday 24th October2010. On behalf of the race team all are invited to come down at 12pm for the teams launch.

The decision to support Ray Bartlett and his team was an easy one to make with Ray Bartlett being a member of the Sub Branch and with the addition of Bill Richards a long term supporter of the Sub Branch and member of the Campbelltown (NSW) club on his visits from Sydney and his AMCA to the team.

The makeup of this team is in essence the support of the change that is happening not only within the RSL organisation but also the community, in recognising our service men and women of all generations

The combination of service to the Australian Army by both Ray and Bill combined is now in excess of sixty years, all in infantry with Ray still a Serving member of the army, a veteran of East Timor and more recently a Tour of Duty in Afghanistan . Bill spent almost forty years of his life in the army and is a veteran of two tours of Vietnam.

As President of the Port Noarlunga/Christies Beach RSL Sub Branch and on behalf of the members welcome this venture and wish the team all the success in the future. It really does fit the direction of this sub branch in “Supporting Warriors Of All Generations”

Gary Maynard.

Ray Bartlett Racing (Sprintcar) was formed in 1999 in Sydney NSW.

I was posted (Army) in Sydney at the time and the race team was actually a bit of an incentive to me after suffering a fairly major injury at work. If I was able to overcome my injuries (broken back in two places) and get back to work, then starting a Sprintcar team was going to be my reward. I have no real idea to this day what the actual thinking was behind this idea, but then again no one has ever accused me of being “really smart”.

So with the help of Bob Tunks (Tunks Speed Shop), in Sydney, I purchased an old Tognotti Roller along with an old 360ci motor, an old Isuzu Truck (Big Red Ted). Got some sponsors (Defence Force Careers, Ingleburn Hardware, Ingleburn News Agency & Penrite) and we headed up the highway from Sydney to Newcastle for our first race. My dad (Ernie) flew over from Adelaide to play crew chief for me, I had a couple of Army mates and my wife Vikki crew as well. We made the A-Main at our first race meeting (because heaps crashed out in the heats and were unable to go on, and we were still going), lasted 3 laps of the A-Main due to brake failure. But hey, we had achieved what I wanted to do – Go Sprintcar Racing………….

Season 1999/2000

Was spent mainly racing at Parramatta Raceway in Sydney, although we did venture over to Adelaide for the 2000 Australian Open Title (where we finished upside down and on fire in the C-Main).

Season 2000/2001

Was once again spent in Sydney racing at Parramatta. We Finished 18th in the B-Main at the 2001 Australian Title. But the highlight for the season would have to be the 12th in the B-Main the week before after coming through the C-Main at the $50,000 to win Gough & Gilmore race.

Season 2001/2002

After returning from active service overseas (East Timor) I moved the car and all my gear to Adelaide so I could race more at Speedway City. We made most A-Main events at the Speedway City “Thunder Down Under” series that season, highest credited finish being a 9th.

Season 2002/2003

Now that I was posted with work permanently to Adelaide, this was when I enlisted the help of former Sprintcar driver Jamie Cobby to help the team set the car up and give me a few pointers on driving. I still didn’t win anything, but we were faster and a lot more consistent throughout the season.

Season 2003/2004

Due to work commitments we raced very little throughout the season, but when we did we were fast enough to make me want to come back. It was about this time that I started toying with the idea of running as a permanent 360ci team in South Australia.

Season 2004/2005

Once again we raced very little, but when not racing I was chasing new Sponsors as well as parts from around Australia and Overseas to set the team up for season 2005/2006 as hopefully a 360ci front running team.

Season 2005/2006

New Sponsors on board (Saxon Engineering, Adelaide Coachlines, Brentons Mechanical Workshop, A1 Truck & Car Crash Repairs, PC Excavations, Starfire Pizza & Workpac) we started the season with 2 Maxim chassis, What I believed was a great little 360ci donk, possibly the worst idea for a paint scheme ever (Army Camouflage) & the last piece of the puzzle – A driver by the name of Jamie Cobby. After some initial set backs, and after only 5 races for the season – The Team won the 360ci Australian Title.

Season 2006/2007

As the defending Australian 360ci champions and carrying the 360ci number 1 on the now desert camouflage Maxim, we went on to win 9 A-Main events, and finished 2nd twice and 3rd once out of the 15 events that we competed as a 360ci team. The only real disappointment for the team was, whilst leading at Kalgoorlie in defence of the Australian 360ci Title, an electrical fault halted the car.

Season 2007/2008

The season started with a 410ci PM Race Engine’s power plant in a brand new Triple X chassis, and at Northline Speedway in Darwin. Unfortunately the only race that the team won for the season was a 360ci Speedway City club show, although we were in a position many times throughout the season for great results both with the 410ci & the 360ci motors, things just didn’t fall our way. Highlighted by the fact that we were half a lap in front with only 8 to go at the 360ci Australian Title again, when another electrical fault halted the car. The season ended with me being posted to Darwin due to work commitments.

Season 2008/2009

Ray Bartlett Racing was rested due to me running around in Afghanistan with work.

Season 2009/2010.

Home again, and with Jamie now driving for his own family run 410ci team. I had Allan Barlee drive the start of the season (He went on to win the Australian 360ci Title in his own car in March 2010), then after 7 years I got the chance to strap back into the 360ci car and finish off the season.