Ashley Bart Mission wrap up

Teen rookie is learning how tough TAD racing is

Ashley Bart driving the Gilmour Motorsports TAD found out driving and tuning in the tough TAD class is just that… tough!

After getting licensed two years ago at Frank Hawley’s school Ashley was making her competitive debut at Mission Raceway this past weekend. The Gilmour TAD is a new car for her and a totally new car for the Gilmour team. Their last ride caught fire two years ago in the trailer and burned to the ground. This new car is an ex- Marty Thacker ride that had gone 270 mph. The car proved it made lots of power on day one, when Ashley got to about 45 feet it smoked the tires like a fuel car.

The team put in a new clutch for the second qualifier Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, the same result happened only a bit further down track. On Both runs, Ashley did the right thing and lifted early. In the final session they backed the clutch way down and hoped it would not be as aggressive. It did get off the starting line and got to about 90 feet before tire smoke again hit the rear tires. Ashley peddled the car but it failed to hook up and she lifted around 300 feet down track. While the team goal of making a couple full runs down the track and working towards a competitive tune –up did not quite happen they did gain valuable experience and the do know they have a car making huge power. They will get ready for the Seattle Divisional event in three weeks, and then race a few events in their home province of Alberta, before heading back out west for the Seattle national and Mission National Open.

Ashley and team owners Ken and Darlene Gilmour and Cal Bellamy would like to thank all the crew including Ashley’s mom Barb and dad Rick, Gary Savage, Kim Steinhubl, Rob Webster, Brock Allaire, Del Lloyd and John Payne.