Model: 360 Sprintcar RRP $250,000 Engine: 360 cubic inch V8, producing 600+hp Weight: 680kg Chassis: Maximn

By Cpl Andrew Hetherington
Volume 11, No. 40, April 6, 2006


A SPRINTCAR team owned and run by a storeman at 10/27RSAR has taken out a major Australian title.

Cpl Ray Bartlett’s team, Ray Bartlett Racing, won the Australian 360 Sprintcar National Championship held at Murray Bridge Speedway South Australia on March 16-18, and for the next twelve months they’ll carry the title of Australia’s number one sprintcar team.

Cpl Bartlett said it was the first time his team had won a race and the championship final turned out to be a close contest.
“We started off on the front row, in second place, on the grid for the 40-lap championship race,” he said.
“For the first 34 laps we made up the top three with two drivers from Western Australia, and we hit the front with six laps to go.”

Just as Cpl Bartlett’s car hit the lead the two WA cars took each other out, and the race restarted with six laps to go.
“After the restart we had a guy from Murray Bridge right on our hammer for the final six laps.

“We won the race and the title with three car lengths between us and second place.”

He said winning the Australian Championship was hard work for the team and that it was a highlight for the team and their experienced driver Jamie Cobby .

“It was a huge win, but fairly tough stuff, from the moment we rolled the car out of the truck we had to be quick and had to build up as many points as we could so we could get a place in the main championship race,” he said.

“It’s now up to us to live up to the expectations of [other teams and the fans] as Australian champions,” he said.

Cpl Bartlett has owned and run his team for eight years and he said it could be a very expensive sport in regards to both time and money if luck was not on your side.

“The car is worth $250,000. We take enough parts to each race to completely rebuild it. We take with us two top and front wings, between 15-20 tyres, two 205 litre drums of fuel, three front ends with axles and a complete rear end including a diff.
“The sport is a never-ending pit for money,” he said.

“We have had a rough season this year before the championships. We have blown two motors so far at $74,000 each.”
The lowest cost for each weekend race is $1000 if no accidents occur.

Cpl Bartlett said prize money won at the championships would be spent on the car. In the past, the team has had sponsorship from Defence Force Recruiting, and the car has also been displayed at recruiting stands at Port Perrie and at the Clipsal 500 event in Adelaide.

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