Competition eliminator racer Shane Baxter broke through to reset the national speed CC/AA record over 1000ft at the weekend’s Rowe Memorial at Calder Park Raceway.
While his record-breaking speed did not translate to event winning power on the day, Baxter says there is more to come from his operation as they look towards racing at Portland (January 20-21) for round seven of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series.
“To be honest I expected to set the record a long time ago, but I just never really had a chance to back it up before now,” said Baxter, who thanks Industrial Thermocouple Supplies, Duggan Balancing, Lakeside Automotive, Ice Ignition and Promatic for their support.
“Realistically it should have been a lot faster, but the hot conditions stopped that unfortunately – it was a good weekend though and easy enough, it should have been higher so I expect it will be reset again at the next 1000ft meeting.
“It was a good meeting, the track was good despite the hot conditions, but we just didn’t have the power to win – we had the power to break the record but not enough to win. We faced the number one qualifier in the second round and just had no chance.
“At Portland though we will have a little bit more up our sleeve – we are planning our attack on that event now and we should be able to run under the record there.
“I was a bit disappointed that we didn’t have the power on Saturday to go for the event win, the car was faultless all weekend, the crew did an excellent job and I was cutting probably the best lights I had ever cut all day but we just didn’t have it. It is not the end of the world – every day is a good day when you are drag racing!”
Part of the planning underway for Portland currently centres around whether the 56-year-old Lakeside Automotive owner from Beveridge (Victoria) will run the Altered he ran the record in at the weekend, or the dragster he is working on.
“We are well underway with planning for Portland and also the Nationals the next week at Calder Park Raceway, and we are weighing up which car we should run – the dragster or the altered,” Baxter explained.
“The Altered had a new wrap on it so we thought we would run it for the Rowe, the dragster should be ready by Portland. It will probably be the long car we run, but who knows, it could all change tomorrow!”
Round seven of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series will be held at Portland’s South Coast Raceway on January 20 and 21. For more information, visit www.andra.com.au and www.southcoastraceway.com.au.
– ANDRA Media Release
