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continued success and words simply can’t thank them enough.
“Thanks also goes to the ANDRA staff for all of their help – especially
Colin Brassington for the many late nights spent in my shed
inspecting my car and checking and sealing my engine! Finally, I have
to say thank you to my wife and kids – they support what I do and I
know they are always cheering for me when I’m away racing.”
CRAIG GEDDES
Competition Champion
When he claimed the 2017/2018 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman
Series Australian Title for the Competition bracket, Craig Geddes also
made history. By taking the title, he was the fi rst racer in Australia
to claim three back-to-back championships in the Competition class.
“To have won our third straight Competition Championship is an
amazing feeling, and something our team is very proud of,” Geddes
explained.
“We set that goal for ourselves early in the season, but then went to
the Grand Finals with a self-infl icted points shortage – we had decided
to run our new Cavalier Super Stocker at the Rowe Memorial in which
we won, but in the wrong class when it came to our championship
chase! We also decided not to run at the penultimate round in Perth,
as we were just too busy with work commitments.
“All of this meant that Ralph Lewis was way out in front of us on
points, but then he did not race at the Grand Finals and that left
Shane Baxter and ourselves to shoot it out for the title, all the while
navigating through a mega-tough Super Stock fi eld in the combined
SuperComp bracket.
“Thankfully for us, Shane red-lit early in the piece and we made it
through to the fi nal to seal the championship deal.
“It was a real privilege to stand up in front of our fellow competitors,
team members and supporters to receive the highest honours in
Australian drag racing at the Grand Finals.
“It really is an amazing sport – I still remember in the early 90s going
to watch every event at Heathcote and Calder with my now-wife
Amanda, dreaming about one day being in a position to compete in
any class – never did we think we could be so successful.
“This is not only our third back-to-back title, but our fi fth in total –
our fi rst came in the Super Gas bracket in 1996 and then we took out
Competition Eliminator in 2006 ahead of these last three (2016, 2017,
2018). From memory, in the 23 years we have been racing, we have
never fi nished outside of the top fi ve and we are pretty proud of that!
“We will be back for a full assault on Super Stock in the Cavalier next
season, and we would love to win a fourth championship in a row – I
guess some of the other competitors might have something to say
about that though!” he laughed.
“Our team and sponsors get on really well and always have a great
time at the track and away from it – it is a fantastic space we operate
in. It is important I think to really enjoy what we do on and off the
track, and our success shows that.
“Firstly, and most importantly I have to thank my family – Amanda
and the kids: Laura, Jesse, Charlie and Alexander.
“My team partners and crew Rob Martin, Michelle, Heppy, Ethan and
Ross also need to be recognised, as do my sponsors and all-round
good guys DecoGlaze Glass Splashbacks, Quicks Freight Express, JAX
Tyres Ballarat, The Cleaners Room, Lucas Oils, Ballarat Roadworthy
Centre, Laser Electrics Ballarat, CHS Broadbent Grain, Crane Cams,
Bullet race Engineering, Custom Engines, Patterson Elite Racing USA,
Protrans, Peter Ridgeway, Michael Marriot and Jamie Tanksley in the
USA.”
Photos by Outlaw Images and High Octane Photos
CRAIG GEDDES
Competition Champion