21 fastlane
of those ‘pinch me’ moments as I couldn’t’
believe I was back up on the podium 12 long
months after all of the emotion of January
2018.
“To me, it felt like I was putting a full stop
on a year which we would all rather forget
from a personal point of view.”
Like in 2018, the trophy presentation was
an emotional one for all involved with Team
Baker.
“It is funny how sometimes you see things
in your head before they happen – in the
days leading up to the event, I had dreamed
of standing on the podium with that Silver
Tree in my hand and I already knew what
I was going to do with it before they even
handed it to me; I was going to give it to
this year’s true champion: my beautiful
Audrey,” Baker smiles.
“She well and truly deserved it, for
everything she had been through over those
last 12 months – even though I have only
been along for the ride as a passenger, it is
an experience I wouldn’t want wished upon
my worst enemy.
“When it came to the speech, dreaming
of doing it and actually standing up there
in front of all those people were two
completely different things and once again,
it was tough to get the words out. and from the track, the packing and the
unpacking, the repairs during or between
events, but none of that ever seems to
matter when you are all set up and soaking
in every racing weekend.
“It would have been a whole lot tougher
though without my friend and all-round
good guy, Alan Ward, standing beside me for
support. I really have to say a huge thanks
to Alan: having lived through a similar
experience of his own, he knows firsthand
what our year has been like and has always
been there for Audrey and myself whenever
we needed it.” “We are always grateful to all of the hard
working volunteers and officials at the
tracks around the country and especially
Portland who are amongst the best out
there and it shows in the events they put
on.
In speaking to Baker, there is no doubt that
the sport of drag racing and the people who
play their parts within it are held close to
the hearts of his entire family.
“Like most other people involved in the
sport of drag racing, we do it as much for
the friends we make and the experiences
we create along the way as we do for the
trophies and the accolades,” he said.
“It is always a hassle and hard work getting
organised and also getting everything to
“It is also important to never forget the
people and businesses who have been
there to support you through the good
and the bad times. For us, that is Paul
Rogers Jr from Paul Rogers Performance
Transmissions, Wayne Cartledge from
RaceComp Motorsports, and Paul Agazzi
from VP Fuels Australia.”
For more on the 2019 South Coast 660, click
here.
Photos: Outlaw Images
Portland for the upcoming Summit Racing
Equipment Sportsman Series round, the