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Ups and Downs for Broadwood Family Racing - posted 3 June, 2011
It has been a little while since we have been able to update everyone on the team’s progress.
Our rather large mishap at the Motorplex in February set the team back quite a bit. The motor required repairs and the front of the chassis was replaced by Geoff Murphy. With the generosity of some of our friends and competitors, Craig was able to still compete in the West Coast Series round at Northam and the state title in March. Craig ran well at Northam, running fourth late in the A-Main until succumbing with a flat tyre. At the state title, Craig qualified for the A-Main and surged forwarded from the back of the pack to take 7th place.
During this time, the team worked away getting the repairs completed and our car was ready for competition again for the Manjimup round of the West Coast Series in early April. Unfortunately, due to reasons beyond anyone’s control, the race meeting was cancelled. The team then turned attention back to the Perth Motorplex the following week. The car performed well, finishing all our races and mixing it up with the top runners. The team claimed a fourth place for the night on the track’s aggregate points system.
The final event for the season was the prestigious Bunny Burrowes Memorial at Narrogin Speedway. The heat races produced a mixed bag and we qualified mid-pack for the A-Main. We picked up some spots early in the race but were forced to retire with only a few laps remaining with a fuel issue.
The team’s results are summarised with a win (Perth Motorplex), three podium finishes (two at Perth Motorplex, Margaret River West Coast Series), four top-five finishes and eight top-ten finishes. The team is now going through preparations for the next summer season, beginning in around October. The team has sourced a second chassis and is in the process of preparing it for battle.
Ups and Downs for Broadwood Family Racing - posted 3 March, 2011
Broadwood Family Racing has experienced the highs and lows this season, and after the highs with an encouraging win, the lows have come through in the new year. Over the past few weeks, the team descended on Bunbury Speedway for the fourth round of the West Coast Series on February 12 followed the week after with a double header show at the Perth Motorplex, both run in conjunction with World Series Sprintcars.
Heat one at Bunbury resulted in an unfortunate DNF while battling mid pack before a solid fourth in heat two run at a frenetic pace saw the Valvoline Murphy slated for a 14th place start in the feature. A tricky wet surface greeted the pack at the green in the feature which saw the team slip right back early before methodically picking off car by car, to finish just shy of the top ten at the completion of the race, and compiling more points in the West Coast Series.
The team re-grouped mid week and set sight on the Motorplex. Friday night’s activities netted some par performances and the team took stock and made some changes for Saturday Night. The car responded with additional car speed, but during the second race of the night, after forging through to third from 10th starting spot, it all went pair shaped and contact with another car after some questionable driving sent the Long Range Automotive car hard into the concrete at full pace. The photo below illustrates the damage, the front end written altogether off, the motor injured. The team is now in a big race against time to be ready for the state title at Narrogin on March 12 with major chassis repair required.
After the State Title, the team will then return to the Perth Motorplex on April 2nd.
Broadwood Family Racing Takes Christmas Cup - posted 29 December, 2010
Broadwood Family Racing has returned to the Formula 500 winner’s circle, taking out the Perth Motorplex Christmas Cup on December 27. The Global Transport Logistics #5 was in top form all night to take out the event over Wayne Dymock and Steven Ellement in the triple challenge format that is decided on aggregate points for the night.
Race one had the BFR car slated for a rear-of-field start and from the get-go Craig Bottrell had the car marching forward to push forward to a 5th place finish. Race two was a reverse grid to heat one and had Bottrell greet the green flag from pole position. We opened up a lead early and took the win.
A fifth and a win meant the team was highest point scorer and earned pole position for the final ten-lap race. Dymock beat us to turn one but some early dicing had the Valvoline car back with the wind in our face, and headed off to take the final race and a satisfying win overall for the night.
The team will now take stock, and will return to the track on January 29 at picturesque Esperance Speedway for the fourth round of the West Coast Series.
Broadwood Family Racing on the Podium at Margaret River - posted 12 December, 2010
Broadwood Family Racing has backed up it’s strong run at the Perth Motorplex with another podium finish, this time at round 2 of the West Coast Series at Margaret River Speedway in the south-west region of WA. In wet, muddy conditions that threatened to call the meeting, the team earned an up-front starting position for the feature and capitalised to take third place after earlier battling for the lead.
The Valvoline Murphy was dialled-in well right from the get-go with hot laps but was unlucky to only take 5th place in heat one after starting from position six. Heat two had the starters schedule the BFR #5 from position four, but that didn’t last long, with Craig Bottrell splitting the front row and streaking away for a comprehensive win for the team.
Mother Nature then intervened and threatened the nights racing, but the track was later packed and readied by all the drivers to get the nights racing completed. A bad start on a very slippery track kept Bottrell in third before a big charge had the team into second and challenging hard with State Champion Steven Ellement for the lead. The battle was then decided with a lapped car helping Ellement get away towards the end of the 20-lap affair and also allowed Aaron Higgins to also slip past, with the team settling for a well-earned third place.
Broadwood Family Racing Runners-up at Kwinana - posted 1 December, 2010
Broadwood Family Racing has finally had a return of form at the Perth Motorplex, with a runner-up finish in the King of Kwinana over the weekend (November 27). The team rallied from any opening heat skirmish to take out heat two comfortably and qualified third for the feature. From the first corner we settled into second place and held our ground behind only current state champion Steven Ellement, to claim second place for the night's racing.
The team was well satisfied with the result, albeit one place short on aggregate points for the evening, however the setup was good on the Long Range Automotive Murphy and the motor strong, thanks mainly to the many hours in the shed during the week to have the car prepared well.
The team now looks to carry our form to the country where we now converge on Margaret River Speedway for round 2 of the West Coast Series this coming Saturday night, December 4th. A solid 20 plus car field has nominated which will mean some strong competition.
A Series of Firsts for Broadwood Family Racing - posted 19 November, 2010
Broadwood Family Racing’s summer season of Formula 500 recently kicked off over the past few weeks and it was series of firsts – some better than others, that the team encountered.
Opening night of the year at the Perth Motorplex in October had the team up front during our first heat and running well. That was until the team experienced its first ever engine failure with our Yamaha R6 – night over.
Our new back-up motor was installed and the team made the trip up the Coalfields Highway to Collie Speedway for the first time in over ten years to get some laps on the new motor and give everything a shakedown. The track was fast & tricky and kept the team on its toes, putting in some solid laps over the course of the night. An encounter with the back straight concrete while running well had the team thrashing to get ready for the feature where we somehow drew pole position. Unfortunately in the haste we missed the setup and struggled, but the objective to get some practise in and check out the new power plant was well achieved.
The team is also very proud to announce that Valvoline recently chose to continue its support of the team for its fifth consecutive year. Their support along with all our valued sponsors is very much appreciated. It would not be possible without them.
