At the recent Desert Nationals at Alice Springs Inland Dragway, round one of the new 2024/2025 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship, Gary Baker took out a breakthrough win in Super Sedan to claim his first ANDRA Christmas Tree trophy.
“It feels great to finally claim a proper ANDRA Christmas Tree trophy,” said Baker, who has previously laid claim to having the first 10 second street car in Darwin and taken out club championships as well as two NT Titles in Alice Springs at the old air strip track.
“On Saturday qualifying started out well, the car was running nine-ones all day which was on par with what it normally runs, and then on Sunday the wind changed into a full-on head wind – as my HR is about as aerodynamic as a bus, it knocked the ETs back to nine-threes.
“In round one I had a good reaction against Tony Miskelly and got the win – this really had us pumped up, as we could see the stickers on his car that he is a Super Sedan champion.
“In round two I had a big sleep on the start line against Lukey Matthews and I got done, I had been paranoid about red lighting.
“This saw round three be do or die, a must win situation as I had one win and one loss – I cut a .002 reaction against Alex Gkroidis and got the win to put us back in the game and the final.
“In the final I got lucky with Alex red lighting, which is something I have done myself many times over the years in the finals.
“The Desert Nationals is a great event and this was true again this year, we met some really great people, and Alice Springs Inland Dragway and the track were just excellent – thank you to Sharpie and all of the CADRA crew.
“It definitely means a lot to me to take out the win.”
The 57-year-old prison officer from Darwin was introduced to the sport of drag racing by his dad and hopes to one day compete at Dragway at The Bend and Mildura’s Sunset Strip.
“He used to take me to the 33 Mile Drag Strip out of Darwin, which was a World War 2 airstrip, and I have loved it ever since,” Baker explained.
“I then started racing myself after the Hidden Valley Drag Strip opened up in the early nineties.
“I really like Super Sedan as it is an extremely competitive bracket, where every win is big when you don’t have the electronics like transbrakes, delay boxes and so on. It just goes to show that it is possible to get the job done.”
Baker was back on-track at Alice Springs Inland Dragway the very next weekend, taking out second place in the Red CentreNATS Heavy Hitters drag racing in the nine second bracket.
“I have definitely been busy,” Baker laughed.
“I want to thank Dan and Josie Hodgins for looking after my car at their home for nearly two months so I could compete in the NT Titles, Desert Nationals, and Red CentreNATS, they really are awesome people.
“I would also like to thank my son Billy; my mates Nick and Rodney; and my partner Ann-Marie for their support.
“Finally, I want to send another shout out to all in CADRA and the volunteers for all they do.”
The ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship now heads to Mildura’s Sunset Strip for the Sunset Nationals across September 21 and 22.
For event information, visit www.sunsetstrip.org.au
For more from ANDRA, visits www.andra.com.au
PHOTO OF GARY BAKER THANKS TO AMBER SIMMS PHOTOGRAPHY