Krikke MotorSport’s 2013-14 campaign has hit a snag
With a text message received yesterday from Tim Kaeding two scenarios played out at once.
Tim Kaeding was uncomfortable with what he had to announce to his ‘Boss’ Shane Krikke but the reasons were a life-long dream for him; TK was leaving Krikke MotorSport just 24 days out from their 2013/14 racing campaign with news from his American team owner that he would be contesting the full World Of Outlaws schedule and would be unable to commit to a full race season here in Australia.
To say that Krikke was gutted is a huge understatement. Airfares had been paid for, race suits had been made, merchandise had been created, hotrods had been signed, races had been confirmed, contracts had been signed and now the team had been left in the wake of the news and with very little time to find a new pilot before the start of race season.
“To say I am gutted is a huge understatement. TK and I have talked about this scenario of him doing the full World Of Outlaws all our off season, but he and his owner both said that it wouldn’t happen’ said KMS team owner, Shane Krikke ‘So yesterday when I got the message I wasn’t surprised to be honest, I was just majorly disappointed that we’d wasted so much time and money when we could have been working on a deal with someone else. And now we’re faced with the prospect of being just 24 days out from hitting the road and we’ve got the best of the best in terms of crew and race gear and no pilot to drive the hotrod.” “Of course I’m happy for TK that he’s getting to live his lifelong dream and become a WoO driver and he gets to chase the Championship, but it’s with a bitter pill to swallow as well.”
So now the race is on for Krikke to find someone with the calibre of driver that racefans have learned to expect to sit in the KMS Cool car.
They may have hit a snag but you can guarantee that KMS are still looking at this race season as their ‘Year of Redemption’… Now probably more so than ever!
Krikke MotorSport would like to thank their ongoing sponsorship partners: Toyota Genuine Parts, AJC Professional Coating Services, Cool Chassis, Maxwill Race Engines, Revolution Racegear, Mercure Hotel Parramatta, Mega Motors, PWR, Valvoline, BR Motorsports, A1 Digital Sign Shop, GT Fabrication, A.Lucas Spraypainters, Alberts & Vortex
Posted By: Mr. Highside on November 12 2013 at 10:03:22 PM
Krikke MotorSport’s 2013-14 campaign has hit a snag
With a text message received yesterday from Tim Kaeding two scenarios played out at once.
Tim Kaeding was uncomfortable with what he had to announce to his ‘Boss’ Shane Krikke but the reasons were a life-long dream for him; TK was leaving Krikke MotorSport just 24 days out from their 2013/14 racing campaign with news from his American team owner that he would be contesting the full World Of Outlaws schedule and would be unable to commit to a full race season here in Australia.
To say that Krikke was gutted is a huge understatement. Airfares had been paid for, race suits had been made, merchandise had been created, hotrods had been signed, races had been confirmed, contracts had been signed and now the team had been left in the wake of the news and with very little time to find a new pilot before the start of race season.
“To say I am gutted is a huge understatement. TK and I have talked about this scenario of him doing the full World Of Outlaws all our off season, but he and his owner both said that it wouldn’t happen’ said KMS team owner, Shane Krikke ‘So yesterday when I got the message I wasn’t surprised to be honest, I was just majorly disappointed that we’d wasted so much time and money when we could have been working on a deal with someone else. And now we’re faced with the prospect of being just 24 days out from hitting the road and we’ve got the best of the best in terms of crew and race gear and no pilot to drive the hotrod.” “Of course I’m happy for TK that he’s getting to live his lifelong dream and become a WoO driver and he gets to chase the Championship, but it’s with a bitter pill to swallow as well.”
So now the race is on for Krikke to find someone with the calibre of driver that racefans have learned to expect to sit in the KMS Cool car.
They may have hit a snag but you can guarantee that KMS are still looking at this race season as their ‘Year of Redemption’… Now probably more so than ever!
Krikke MotorSport would like to thank their ongoing sponsorship partners: Toyota Genuine Parts, AJC Professional Coating Services, Cool Chassis, Maxwill Race Engines, Revolution Racegear, Mercure Hotel Parramatta, Mega Motors, PWR, Valvoline, BR Motorsports, A1 Digital Sign Shop, GT Fabrication, A.Lucas Spraypainters, Alberts & Vortex
Really a classy release by Krikke Motorsports though after a really raw deal for them. I hope I get to head over to Australia someday.
This is a real tough deal all the way round. KMS want to run for the champoinship and so does Roth. Season overlap by a couple of weekends so he can't do both. It's a shame they can't run the WA WSS rounds earlier in the Dec or Nov like they used to. Would allow more US drivers to compete for the full season.
It sucks, but I don't think TK did anything wrong here. He needs to look after himself with the series that pays him his larger paycheck. If anyone is to blame it's maybe Roth for not putting this on the table earlier........but with that being said, he doesn't have to do that either. Just a crap situation for all parties.
It's a hell of a ride though! Be good to see Dolansky or someone like that jump in that car and kick some butt!
Posted By: oztaz1 on November 13 2013 at 05:55:20 PM
This release sounds like its only for the 1 (aussie title) weekend of Racing.
You are correct. This is at least a month or two old. Brooke has agreed to race for Krikke in the Tasmania races. I'm sure he would love to run the whole Aus. season, but I can not imagine him leaving his wife and two kids here while he's over there. Just a couple of weeks last year was tough.
What a raw deal for Krikke Motorsports. Happy for tk getting to run the full the WoO tour and "we'll see about that full season run w/WoO, maybe, maybe not, if season goes bad, they IS gone from the tour", BUT a text, really, a TEXT? tk has done great past couple years but he also has wrecked a lot of cars, ask Steve Kinser. I thought in this day and age a phone call to Australia was like calling across the street. F for failure for a great American driver, A+ for a great longtime Aussie sprint car owner.
Lawlessness + liberalism = HELL - NYC, Detroit, Chicago,
Seattle, LA Who the H runs those cities.
The Krikke family is among the most respected in all of Australia and have been for many, many years. You won't find a nicer group of 'mates' in the country, sucks for the news but they will bounce back!
I'm not going to judge this whole situation until I hear from TK on Winged Nation...to hear what exactly what transpired between Roth and TKTK and Krikke.
Congrats to Tim for finally getting the long deserved, Fulltime World of Outlaw ride. I'm guessing 50 wins in the past 3 seasons, and a KWS Championship (2011) for Mr.Roth finally got him to ok the move.
Shane Krikke should reach out to Danny Smith. Danny's getting up there in age but knows all the Aussie tracks very well and in that car could contest for wins and finish top 3 every nights. And he doesn't wreck a lot of equipment either. Danny could win the championship in that car with his consistency.
Posted By: MSPN on November 14 2013 at 10:44:33 AM
The Krikke family is among the most respected in all of Australia and have been for many, many years. You won't find a nicer group of 'mates' in the country, sucks for the news but they will bounce back!
I would venture to say TK probably won't be getting any more quality (if any) rides down under in the future.
Posted By: wbh16 on November 14 2013 at 01:57:57 PM
I would venture to say TK probably won't be getting any more quality (if any) rides down under in the future.
Why wouldnt he get any Quality rides in oz in the future??
The krikke deal isnt exactly A grade quality equipment. the local club guys have newer gear then this deal. it may look good on the outside but its 4-5 yr old motors & frames
Last year TK struggled early on in a unfamiliar car, asked for a change of chassis standard rail to the raised rail spare, it never happened till k madsen drove the car in the aussie title. When TK got back in the RR car he was a hell of alot faster for the rest of the season. Give your driver what he wants within reason & they will get the job done.
I thought he adjusted quickly to the cool chassis & long rod rear setup which is pretty poplular down here.
Telling KMS via text my not be the best way to tell your car owner, But krikke would fire your arse in exactly the same way.
Posted By: sennabestever on November 13 2013 at 12:59:26 PM
This is a real tough deal all the way round. KMS want to run for the champoinship and so does Roth. Season overlap by a couple of weekends so he can't do both. It's a shame they can't run the WA WSS rounds earlier in the Dec or Nov like they used to. Would allow more US drivers to compete for the full season.
It sucks, but I don't think TK did anything wrong here. He needs to look after himself with the series that pays him his larger paycheck. If anyone is to blame it's maybe Roth for not putting this on the table earlier........but with that being said, he doesn't have to do that either. Just a crap situation for all parties.
It's a hell of a ride though! Be good to see Dolansky or someone like that jump in that car and kick some butt!
I have to disagree with you.
According to the new release, Krikke said contracts have been signed, equipment purchased, team members assembled, merchandise ordered etc which leads me to believe that either Tim signed a contract OR gave his word that he would drive for KMS. Either way, it is a valid obligation for Tim. Tim broke the agreement or went back on his word. I understnad Tim's reasoning but Tim is the one at fault, PERIOD!
If I were a car owner, I would have my reservations about asking Tim to drive my car for any length of time.
Posted By: aussie28 on November 15 2013 at 06:05:13 AM
Why wouldnt he get any Quality rides in oz in the future??
The krikke deal isnt exactly A grade quality equipment. the local club guys have newer gear then this deal. it may look good on the outside but its 4-5 yr old motors & frames
Last year TK struggled early on in a unfamiliar car, asked for a change of chassis standard rail to the raised rail spare, it never happened till k madsen drove the car in the aussie title. When TK got back in the RR car he was a hell of alot faster for the rest of the season. Give your driver what he wants within reason & they will get the job done.
I thought he adjusted quickly to the cool chassis & long rod rear setup which is pretty poplular down here.
Telling KMS via text my not be the best way to tell your car owner, But krikke would fire your arse in exactly the same way.
You seem to have alot to say for someone that clearly knows jack s***. Was at the KMS shop a couple of weeks ago there is not one engine under 2 years old and more new parts than u could poke a stick at. 2 brand new frames and one left from last year. oh and as for what happened last year i dunno who you get your info off but u might wanna chat to someone that actually worked on the car not just hear say!! As for Shane Krikke.. he does buisiness a little more professionally than to fire people by text!
Posted By: aussie28 on November 15 2013 at 06:05:13 AM
Why wouldnt he get any Quality rides in oz in the future??
The krikke deal isnt exactly A grade quality equipment. the local club guys have newer gear then this deal. it may look good on the outside but its 4-5 yr old motors & frames
Last year TK struggled early on in a unfamiliar car, asked for a change of chassis standard rail to the raised rail spare, it never happened till k madsen drove the car in the aussie title. When TK got back in the RR car he was a hell of alot faster for the rest of the season. Give your driver what he wants within reason & they will get the job done.
I thought he adjusted quickly to the cool chassis & long rod rear setup which is pretty poplular down here.
Telling KMS via text my not be the best way to tell your car owner, But krikke would fire your arse in exactly the same way.
Ok,before you go & bad mouth our deal,you might want to research your facts first buddy!
our equipment is turned over every year,even tho it's all only done 20 to 30 races. TK started the year with FRESH car top to bottom,as has happened EVERY year for the past 10 years I have been there! As for the motors out of the 3 of them,the oldest was 4 years old,which was updated since then,as each motor only ends up with 8 to 10 races a year on it. Even that was sold at the end of last year,so now the oldest of the 3 is only 1 year old. In regards to the situation th TK at the start of last year,he's words were,he usually runs a raised rail back in the states,but he said he would give the standard rail a try since that was what we had. The only reason the raised rail was built for Kerry was because after speedweek we found the car had been tweaked in the rear from a crash.
As for all the other comments here,we knew from the stellar season he had in the states that this scenario could be a possiblity,& unfortunately it happened. And as for TK ever getting another ride in Australia?? He already has a ride here,& will always have a seat here ready to go!
and as for you Aussie28,get your facts right first before posting,please!
