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;)