2008 Baker Motorsport Christmas Message

Baker Motorsport end of year report 2008

What a year it has been, with so many events across Australia to compete in. I have travelled right across the country this year, competing in WA, Tasmania , Victoria , NSW and the ACT. Have only missed out on SA, QLD and NT.

There have been several highlights this year, one of the main ones being my first ever run at Targa Tasmania with Ray Julian in his BMW M3R. This is an event that I had always wanted to compete in, had taste in 2006 doing Rally Tasmania which used some of the roads. Another highlight of the year was running with Graeme Shaw in the gravel this time. We ended up with a year best of 1 st 4WD at the Cowra rally. Not bad for Graeme's 3 rd gravel rally and coming off a week on Tarmac at Targa West.

The biggest highlight though has been running with Tristan Kent in his first ever rally, not only did we finish the rally we won our class and set some respectable times on some great roads. Then to back it up with another great run at the Starmart rally, even on 3 cylinders and with no boost, finished in 10 th giving Tristan his first top 10 finish. Unfortunately it wasn't to be a good event for NatCap with a broken timing belt on the first stage.

I have codriven for quite a few drivers this year, quite a long list including Ray Julian, Graeme Shaw, Peter Jerie, Andy Crane, Derek Reynolds and Tristan Kent and in 8 different cars. Graeme and I ran in Maximum Motorsport Subaru WRX at Targa West as the new Lancer EVO X wasn't ready yet. The ride with Andy was great in the wet, struggling for grip in a few areas, but the Peugeot held up and we ended up coming home 2 nd in class.

There has been a multitude of different events this year, with the team helping out Shane Tanner in his circuit racing, officiating at several events. Having my first run as a zero car at the Rallye des Femmes with Tristan.

Had a good run with Derek Reynolds at the pace noted Akademos rally, the final round of the VRC. This was a good shakedown for us for the 2009 VRC in which we are aiming to complete the whole Championship. Derek will be again driving the ex Vandenberg EVO 5.

Shane has steadily improved in the mighty Proton Satria production car, with some good performances at Calder Park and then a steady drive to 8 th outright in the Wakefield 300 with Daniel Flanagan codriving. I was on the pit crew for the weekend, with Andrew and Tristan helping out as well. Andrew and Tristan have both decided that circuit racing is quite boring and are sticking to rallying.

The events I went and officiated at were the Oberon Rally in April, managed to get puncture on the way into the stage and on the way out as well. Had to borrow a wheel to get home. Took some video footage and few photos as well. Also did a road closure for the Southern Mountains Rally down near Bombala. Took plenty of video footage which is all up on youtube. The next officiating was at Rallye des Femmes, not only helped Mark do the road book, but did the event secretary job plus zero car codriver with Tristan in Mark's Evo 3.

As you can see it's been a busy year with codriving, and officiating but as you probably noticed there has been no driving for me this year. The Charade did do an event though, with Lisa Ridgley from Mix 106.3 driving the car at Rallye des Femmes. Unfortunately the bolt on the Crank pulley broke putting her out of the event after 4 stages, while she was in 6 th outright. We managed to get some good publicity leading up to the event which was very good for the team and the BMSC.

Well what does 2009 bring? A busy year, not just with competing but with committee's, commissions and panels as well. I will be on the NSW Rally Panel for 2009 as the webmaster, check out www.nswrally.com , also on the BMSC committee as Spokes editor. Will also be running an event for the club, this will be a round of the ACT series run on the 23 rd of May. Another thing involved in is the CAMS Alternative Energies Committee which I am honoured to be on, this is looking at where the sport is heading in the next 20 years, what efficiencies we can bring in.

Competition for 2009 will be the whole VRC with Derek Reynolds. ARC with Tristan Kent as well as ACT Gold Cup. Targa Tasmania and SA Tarmac rally with Ray Julian. Targa West and Mt Buller with Graeme Shaw in the EVO X, AMSAG gravel events with Graeme Shaw in the EVO 6.5. Hoping to have a few drives of the Charade as well, although might be a bit hard to pry it out of Andrew's hands after he drives it at Minidulla.

Andrew will be having his first run competitively as a driver at Minidulla with Lisa Ridgley codriving. Tristan and I will hopefully be debuting the TKM Evo at this event, also his father Mark will be having his first drive for a while in his own Evo.

I would like to thank all the people that have made this year possible, especially Andrew for so much help and support, also Claire for putting up with being a rally widow.

Also would like to thank our sponsors, NSW Bearing Supplies, Carco Exhaust and Automotive in Belconnen, Bold Hair in Scullin, RT Forklift Services and Solartec Renewables. Also to all our service crew over the year, with quite a few different helpers, thank you very much.

So bring on a great 2009, it's going to be a great year, especially as we have the WRC coming to NSW. Look forward to catching up with many of my friends in the rally community over the next 12 months.

Merry Christmas to all and stay safe.

 

Ray Baker