It was good to get out racing again after a frustrating 2014.  Mildura was back as a national event after a few years away from the Championship.  The weather and track were both great and lived up to the high expectations going into the event.

The track was a real mix of Sea lake, Hyden and Goondiwindi with the track changing as you went through various sections of each 100km lap.  The Sunraysia Club did an excellent job putting on the event and we were very jealous of Ivan Robertson’s playground!

For SMU Racing it was good to get back out there after the events of 2014 and get back on the race track.  Unfortunately we knew very early there were issues with the car not having its usual ‘mumbo’.  We played around with various things all weekend chasing the issue only to find when washing that car back at SMU HQ that a cam controller sensor wire had broken away from inside the plug.  Not enough to stop the car but a loss of grunt out of corners and around the track.  Good to find the issue!

Rentschy did another good job winning the event after young gun Tanner James came out with all guns blazing on the Saturday.  He will be exciting to watch in the future!  We managed a second for the weekend although a long way back and Aaron James in his Alumi Craft was in the third.  Luke Erceg did a great job in his Pro Lite to come in fourth.  600 kms took its toll on the field with a number of cars not quite getting there.

Tatts Finke Desert Race is the next race on the calendar and being the 40th year has attracted a bumper quality field.  HUGE!!  It will be good to get back to Alice Springs in what should be a fantastic event.

Hope to see you there and don’t forget to come and see the team at Scruitineering where the team will be giving away 2015 season posters.

Thanks to Randall from Dirtcomp for some great snaps from Mildura

STAY TUNED FOR MORE SMU RACING UPDATES AS WE HEAD TO THE ALICE

For NH14

The 2015 Australian Off Road Championship kicks off at Mildura next weekend and the SMU Racing team is looking forward to getting back into the thick of the action after a long layoff.

SMU Racing welcomes back partners for 2015 Shane Wilson Competition Engines, Albins Off Road Gear, HJC Helmets, Peak Lighting, Bowdens Own Premium Car care Products, Racer Imports, Shane Cottee Desert Prep, Race Paint and SNAP as the team look to gain valuable points at the season opener.  We thank each and every partner which makes a huge difference as we race throughout the Championship season.

The competition looks to be hot as does the Mildura sun which will mean dust, dust and more dust!   It is also nice to have a home state national event after not having one since the old Mildura, Donald and most recent 2012 Sea Lake event.

Shannon and Ian Rentsch will be looking to get that record breaking Championship in 2015 to take them to eight while there will be a number of teams out there that are hoping to ruin their party!  There looks to be a quality field as you would expect and with all roads then leading to Finke Desert Race with a record 140 truck and car field it looks to be a hectic start to the Championship for 2015.

Look forward to seeing all at Mildura next week. It should be a fantastic event with the town usually getting right behind this race.  Our team will be one less for the first time, with the Godfather normally directing traffic on race day, but we are sure he will be looking down making sure all goes to plan.

For those racing, a safe and enjoyable weekend and Good Luck!

See you at the track!

Something fun from our friends at TURN8 Photography…

SMU Racing is excited to announce that Bowden’s Own Car Care will continue as a sponsor of the team for season 2015.

The SMU Racing Jimco is always looking its best on race day, and last year had that extra sparkle thanks to Bowden’s Own Premium Car Care products.

Bowden’s Own have everything from Auto Body Gel to Body Detail to Tyre Sheen and Agent Orange, which is the famous safe and powerful engine cleaner and are proud to be sponsoring SMU Racing with their assault on the Australian Off Road Championship.

Director of Bowden’s Own Dan Bowden was excited, “SMU Racing is an Off Road team that is a great way to showcase our product to those who love playing in the dirt! The presentation of the vehicle and the team generally, is a fantastic fit with our premium car care range. Since the partnership began in 2014, we are proud to have the SMU Racing Jimco showcasing our products as they go head to head with the best in the Australian Off Road Championship. We wish the team all the best for the upcoming season”

SMU Racing driver Matt Hanson was equally thrilled with the continuing partnership, “Bowden’s Own are a quality product and one that we are proud to be associated with. The team takes great care in the way our car is presented before every race and using Bowden’s Own makes our job easier. We can’t wait for the 2015 season opener in Mildura where the SMU Racing Jimco will be looking the part and performing at its very best”.

For your local Bowden’s Own Care Premium Car Care dealer visit www.bowdensown.com.au/stockist or see Bowden’s Own Face book page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bowdens-Own-Premium-Car-Care/170351845740

After a solid two year journey SNAP have decided to cease as naming rights sponsor with SMU Racing for 2015 after a complete sponsorships review.

Driver Matt Hanson said whilst is was disappointing that SNAP were no longer involved it was time for a new chapter to begin.

“We had a great relationship with SNAP and SNAP had said that whilst they would like to stay involved, a budget review meant otherwise.  SNAP believed that SMU Racing had over delivered with exposure over the two year period which is pleasing and shows that the sport and our team are definitely getting great commercial presence as part of the Australian Off Road Championship”, said Matt

“It is exciting that we are now on the hunt for a dynamic partner for the upcoming season, where we can bring a brand to life and get some great exposure in so many different ways”, Matt added.

Anyone that would like further information or a custom proposal for 2015 can contact Matt direct.

A massive thank you to everybody for their kindest words, well wishes and support through this trying time.  It makes us very proud of being part of the Off Road Family.

We sent Dad off in the best way possible on Monday – a big thank you for everybody’s thoughts on the day.

To Ben Hutt – what a fantastic tribute to a great man.  THANK YOU

Neil Hanson

24 August 1945 – 19 October 2014

Rest In Peace

Sadly Neil completed his final lap today. He passed peacefully last night with family around him.

We greatly appreciate everybody’s support throughout this extremely difficult time.

He was much loved.

A time to celebrate his life will be finalised and communicated shortly.

Check out BE NUTTS great event vid from Coffs!!

Not long till Lockyer Valley season closer…..

SMU Racing’s run of bad luck continued at the Pedders Suspension Coffs Coast 400 when a rock through the sump of their SNAP SMU Racing Jimco’s engine just 200 metres into Lap one of the Event ended racing for the weekend.

Gaining a strong pole position after winning the prologue by 6 seconds to young gun Jack Rhodes, the team were looking forward to the challenges of the winding and technical track that lay ahead for the weekend.

However after a string of below par performances due to technical issues throughout the year, this one took the cake. About 200 metres into the race there was a shallow creek crossing, which after an inspection post race had a number of bricks and sharp rocks in the bottom. A number of cars had bash plate issues after going through this part of the track but a rock went clean through the bash plate piercing the sump and draining the engine of oil of the #3 car.

The team were able to save the engine but the weekend was over.

The team looks forward to the last round of the Championship in Lockyer Valley at the TJM Lockyer 300 after winning last year’s race and a second in 2012 when the team won the Championship at this track.

Thank you for all the support from everybody at Coffs harbour for a well-run event. A great crowd and an enjoyable race to be a part of.

SMU Racing would like to take this opportunity to thank its terrific partners for 2014:

Snap Print Design Websites, Jatco Engineering, Shane Wilson Competition Engines, Racer Imports, Shane Cottee Desert Prep, Race Paint, Dynamic Wheels and Tyres, Peak Lighting, Albins Off Road Gear, HJC Motorsports, Be Nutts, Jimco, offroadracing.com.au