As many racing and modified car fans will have read, the past few weeks have been an up and down ride for Top Alcohol drag racing outfit Team APM and the Hambridge family.
Beginning with the break-in and theft of both customer and personal items from the family’s engine building and machining business (APM) and ending with Aaron’s recent appointment to the position of Crew Chief for Lamattina Top Fuel Racing (LTFR) for season 2011/12, speculation and conjecture as to the future of the race team and business is only natural.
The most recent announcement outlining Aaron’s new role as Crew Chief for LTFR, is a silver lining to what has otherwise been a pretty dreadful start to the year. The recognition of his talents as a tuner and the opportunity to compete at the pinnacle of the sport has long been a personal goal of Aaron’s.
That it has come so early in his drag racing career is testament to both his professionalism and ability to make a good car great, all while setting and resetting national records along the way. Aaron is both grateful and humbled by the offer to join LTFR and has already been announced, will join the team as Crew Chief at the commencement of season 2011/12, taking over from the accomplished and well-recognised Theo Pavlomanolakos.
Aaron will operate from the existing APM business in Smeaton Grange, NSW and while the job of preparing and maintaining a championship winning Top Fuel car is a massive task, APM and the Hambridge family will continue to operate engine building and performance machining services for its customers, albeit on a scaled back level.
Steve Hambridge, Aaron’s father and owner of APM said that while Aaron’s appointment to Crew Chief was a terrific opportunity and one the whole family relished, they were still a very long way from recovering from the immense hit the business took from the theft. Steve also wanted to make it clear that all commitments to customers affected by the recent break-in and theft would be honoured and that Aaron’s change of role in no way implied a change to their decision to stay open and keep trading.
In light of this decision, the entire Top Alcohol operation is now for sale and includes the car, spares, race transporter etc. Interested parties should contact APM directly on 02 46471181. Many people, including the entire Team APM family, are deeply saddened that Aaron’s racing season is over, especially considering his points lead and tremendous popularity with the fans. It is however the start of greater things and the long road to financial recovery for the 30yo family business.
Aaron, Steve, Carol and the entire Hambridge family wishes to give a huge thank you to everyone that has helped along the way including their tireless crew, generous sponsors, supporters, friends and fellow racers. Without the support of family, friends and the wider drag racing community, support that continues stronger than ever even now, none of the team’s myriad achievements would have been possible and they are forever grateful.
Aaron Hambridge and Team APM are proudly supported by the following organisations:
Fabre Australia www.fabre.com.au
NRE www.noonanraceengineering.com
Advanced Performance Machining www.teamapm.com
