First Score for Rampaging Bull!  

Canada has a new emerging power within NHRA’s TAD category and that notion was re-enforced last weekend during the NHRA Lucas Oil Regional race held at Cordova,IL……

That event included the breakthrough first victory for Manitoba’s Clif Bakx and his racing team when his driver Gord Gingles put “The Bull” A/FD into victory lane last Saturday night. 

And the car and team were convincing for sure.  They qualified #2 (5.348 secs at 269.19 mph) and followed that up with steady and consecutive 5.3 elapsed times throughout eliminations.

Clif Bakx's Manitoba-based injected nitro car won it's first NHRA event last weekend

Gingles, who formally raced motorcycles, collected his first NHRA “Wally” when he clubbed opponent Dennis Drath in a final round battle of injected nitro cars.  Gingles left first and then won going away with a 5.379 secs 267.96 mph clocking.

In earlier competition Gord had outgunned Matt Cummings and also invading Eastern Canadian powerhouse TAD racer Ken Perry to advance to the final round.

The win came in the middle of only the second season for the new team which is racing a Uyherea-chassied car (originally built for Shelly Anderson in TF).  Along the way the team has benefited from tuning guidance from both Les Davenport and Larry Miersch.

The TAD championship final saw Gingles leave first and win going away

“This Cordova event was the first on my own as tuner,” said car owner Bakx.  “I’ve been feeding off what I’ve learned in the past from both Les and Larry, along with fellow Manitoba racers Doug Doucette & Ken Murray.”

Coming into the Cordova event, the car had only dipped sub 5.4 secs once (a  5.399 secs)

“When that “34” showed up on the board in qualifying — we all had to look twice!” he continued.  “Then come eliminations ‘The Bull’ just kept pounding out thirties —  hoofin’ it down the track!”

“Winning an event like this is a bit surreal — as we have all been at this for such a short time,” Cliff added.  “It’s very gratifying as our entire crew has worked very hard, and sacrificed many hours of their personal time. I cannot say enough about the commitment that this car has seen.”

The winning Canadian team is also comprised of Rob Schultz, Scott Cusey & Dave Bakx.  Scott & Dave filled in at this event for two of he team’s regular crew, John Vermeer & Todd Bruce.

Bakx also added in his thoughts about the great comradeship in general within the TAD class. 

“I have met so many great people in the other Top Alcohol teams – many of which have helped us greatly with suggestions and advice.”

In 2011 the team was in test mode for most of the season hitting 4 regional and 2 NHRA national events.  In 2012 the team is planning on doing NHRA regional events only and will be at Topeka, Earlville and Noble races in the upcoming weeks.

Posted by:  Bruce Biegler

Photos courtesy of Barry Bergeron (Eagle Eye Photography)