Dixon returns to race in New Zealand

· Signing is a “MAJOR COUP” for Bakersfield Race Technologies.

· Dixon aims to settle quickly into new challenge

· No, not THAT Dixon, sorry!

 He’s not quite as famous as New Zealand’s own Indy champion, but Aussie Tom Dixon is looking forward to making some waves when he races at the final North Island round of the 2010 Asset Finance New Zealand Offroad Racing Championship.

Dixon and father Roly have raced in New Zealand before. Running V8 and turbo four cylinder class one (unlimited) race cars, the Australian pair ran at the front of the 2009 Taupo 1000 on both days of that iconic offroad race.

Roly Dixon said at the time he’d prefer to race in New Zealand to the massive road distances required to compete in the Australian championship.

Now the pair are back in New Zealand to race at the final North Island round of the national championship. Tom Dixon will drive the multiple title winning rear wheel drive Nissan Navara V8 of Gary Baker.

Baker says the team has pulled away from slavishly following the national championship and been looking for interesting new projects this year. After posting the ThunderTruck lap record at on both days at the 2009 Taupo 1000 and setting third fastest lap outright, he was keen to use the speed and strength of the Navara in other ways.

“We had a bit to do with these hard case Aussies at Taupo and we reckon they are pretty quick – so the idea of hosting them here and giving Tom a run in the big blue Nissan came fairly naturally.”

Baker will run the Dixons in his truck at the final North Island round of the 2010 national championship to be held in the north Waikato on Sunday September 26, Tom driving the Navara in all three heats and the all-in race at the end of the day. Baker’s team will organise accommodation and sort out club membership, entry fees and organisational costs so the Dixons can simply arrive at the event and enjoy a hard day’s racing.

The Dixon pair say this event is a reconnaissance with a view to further competitive outings here, and the prospect of leasing the fastest race truck at the Taupo 1000 was too enticing.

“Gary went very well at Taupo, and we were impressed that a rear wheel drive truck could post third fastest overall lap that year. So the chance to come try a Kiwi championship event in a competitive race truck was too good to pass up,” said Roly.

Tom Dixon is well aware that the unlimited class truck scene in New Zealand is dominated by the new four wheel drive supercharged V8 Nissan of South Head’s Raana Horan. But his approach is to gain valuable “chair time” in short course or stadium-style events with the aim of returning to do more.

“The Taupo 1000 is amazing. Toughest, meanest long distance race in the southern hemisphere. But we haven’t raced short course in New Zealand and Gary was good enough to offer this deal which is very much arrive and drive. How could we say no?”

The Dixons are also considering bringing their own vehicles across the Tasman for a more ambitious run at the New Zealand championship.

“After all, we can come here with our vehicles, race in very different conditions and have a great time for far less than it costs us in time and money to contest the Aussie series. And it’s all a good build-up for our next assault on the Taupo 2000,” said Roly.

Gary Baker says the trans-Tasman race ride is a chance for the Bakersfield team to do something “a little different” that helps put the sport on show internationally. The venture builds on the team’s outing at the Whitianga Festival of Speed, where they auctioned race rides on TradeMe with all proceeds going to the Camp Quality charity which helps children living with cancer and their families.

“We love this sport, and this year we are keen to give something back – whether it’s the race ride auctions or bringing the Dixons to New Zealand to race. It’s all about doing something a little different this year, and so far it’s been fantastic!”

The Meremere round of the 2010 Asset Finance new Zealand Offroad Racing National Championship takes place Sunday September 26.