Racing for Fun

Jake and Wayne Australian Champions

01/10/2011 11:01

After having a strong NSW State Championship meeting back in July, as well as consistent Club championship rounds with the New South Wales Speedway Kart Club, the Baines Racing Team of 14year old Jake and father Wayne went into last weekend’s Australian Title meeting quietly confident of doing well at the event.

The result could not have gone any better for the pair as Jake became the 2011 Junior National Australian Champion and Wayne followed this up by becoming the 2011 Australian KT Heavy Champion, a title which he successfully defended .

This was a two-day meeting across the weekend and on Saturday the qualifying heats were important to both drivers as they tried to gain as many points as possible in their endeavours to attain the best possible starting position in the feature race.

Heat 1 for Jake was a pole starting position and he went on to make the most of this advantage, led all 12 laps and picked up maximum points to get his title chase under way.

Wayne, on the other hand, had the worst possible start to his title defence by recording a DNF for heat 1, putting him right behind to eight ball.

In heat 2 Jake would start from position 11 on the grid and, after a race-long battle with Ayden Elliott, he would drive his way to a 6^th place finish.

Heat 2 had Wayne gridded 6^th and after some very spirited driving he would drive his way through the field to record a 3^rd place finish.

The 3^rd and last heat on Saturday was scheduled to see the highest points scorers start at the front of the field.

When the grids were posted Jake found himself coming from grid spot 2 making him 2^nd highest on points behind Jordyn Brazier. At the drop of the green flag, Jordyn went to the lead and Jake fell into 2^nd place and, after 12 laps, that’s how they would finish.

Heat 3 saw Wayne gridded in 6^th position again, his DNF in the 1^st heat really hurting him as he was now placed 6^th on points. As he did in heat 2, Wayne would again find his way to a 3^rd place finish behind Donald Stevens and Cameron Coghlan.

The overnight points tally saw Jake in 2^nd position and Wayne had worked his way up to 4^th after the bad start to the day.

Sunday was a glorious day weather-wise and the track was in perfect condition for such a prestigious event .

The drivers only had one heat to get points to take them to the front of the field for the final.

As Jake was 2^nd on points, he had to start from grid position 10. On the first lap he was caught up trying to miss an accident which saw him drop to the tail of the field, meanwhile points leader Brazier was also caught up in an incident which saw him taken out of the race. Jake recovered and went on to record a 7^th place finish and that would be enough to see him start pole in the Australian Title feature race.

The fourth heat for Wayne again had him coming out of position 6 and, again, he could only manage to make his way to 3^rd place. This would see him 3^rd on points and starting the feature from position 3.

Feature Time.

Jake was first on track and he was in the best possible position - pole. In the pits, Wayne and Jake spoke about how important it was to get the start and hold low in the first turn and coming off turn 2. Jake did just as discussed and was never headed from that point on. During the race Jake was able to complete 20 perfect laps to go on and record his first Australian Title. After receiving the chequered flag and doing his victory lap, he was meet on the in- grid by his very proud parents.

Now it was Wayne’s turn - Could he defend his title from position 3? Could he make it a father and son double? The answer to both questions was yes.

Just as Jake had done, Wayne was able to take the lead on the first lap of the race and then went on to lead all 20 laps making it a Baines Team Double.

Wayne takes the Chequered flag to retain his Title in KT Heavy

Later at the presentation, both Jake and Wayne thanked Parramatta Kart Warehouse, Hopping’s Mowers, Benson Racing Karts, Rams Race Engines, Stillshots, Showpiece Signs and DTO Raceware for their ongoing support .