Baker wins Kev Baker Challenge

It was an emotional meeting at Blue Ribbon Raceway in Kalkee last weekend with the Limited Sportsman Kev Baker Challenge.

Kevin Baker, one of the founders of the Limited Sportsman class of speedway racing, died last month.

It is the second time the race meet has been run, but the first since he died. The meeting, with more than $3000 in cash, trophies and prizes up for grabs, was well supported by the drivers with 18 cars nominated.

Clint Baker, son of Kev Baker and event organiser, was thrilled with the support of the race.

“Dad was always about giving the battler a fair go. He would work on their cars, fix them, give them parts and keep their cars going. We were lucky enough to have him here for the first ‘Kev Baker Challenge’ last season and he would have been grinning from ear to ear to see the support that the race had this season,” he said.

The 10-lap heats were hotly contested with Jock Baker from Pimpinio winning all three of his heats and Kahn Aston from Mount Gambier winning one. Daniel Mcleod from Hamilton was the third highest point scorer during the heats which also put him at the back of the pack in the final.

South Australian title holder Mark Mcdonald failed to finish one of the heats, putting him in a starting position of 14th.

In the 25-lap final Chris Ansell of Hamilton led the pack for the first 10 laps. Jock Baker worked his way through the field to win from Ansell, Mark Mcdonald and Matthew Mccallum.