Author : Daniel Beard
Winsconsin based Sprintcar driver Kurt Winker just loves to race sprintcars.
Winker raced to prominence last year in Australia driving the Gough & Gilmour backed Genner
entry and was all set to go again this season when the Genner team had to withdraw their offer.
The Genner camp however put Kurt in touch with southwest Victorian car owner Geoff Clifford who
had run American drivers Bill Bailey and Mike Lauterborn in the previous two seasons.
Clifford's arsenal however only includes a 360ci engine and Winker knows that this will not cut the
mustard come the big races.
"I need to try and source a 372ci engine from somewhere!" pleaded Winker
"I am going to drive the car at Avalon tonight, but I am 100 pounds heavier than most cars, and I
have 100 horsepower less, so its going to be a struggle."
Winker is in no way begrudging Clifford, and together they are doing their utmost to try and find
someone who will offer them a powerplant for the upcoming races.
"We have rung a few people but are yet to get a hold of a motor."
"If we can find one, we would love to do the Kings Challenge and Classic with it!"
Winker was aware of the predicament prior to flying out, but there was no way this hard hitting
throttle stomper was going to stay home and do nothing.
"I just love to race!"
"I paid my own way out here, Im on nothing and as I say, we are going to do run Avalon tonight
with what we have got just so I can race a car."
Knowing of Kurt's plight, the Genner team have now offered Winker the ride in their car for the
$50,000 to win at Parramatta City Raceway in a fortnight's time.
"The Genners are great people. They invited me out for Louise's wedding and have put me in the
car for the Parts Plus $50,000."
So now all Winker needs is a motor to get him through the Classic, and if viable the Kings
Challenge.
You could almost say his desire to get some horsepower under his foot mirrors his desire to make a
name for himself back home.
"There are no tracks around Winsconsin, so I think I will have to relocate to either Ohio or
Pennsylvania if I can get a ride as they are both hotbeds of Sprintcar racing in the US."
His next comment then summed up exactly how he is feeling right now.
"I want it real bad! Ill do whatever I can to make it happen."
If anyone has an engine that they would be prepared to lease to Winker and the Clifford team for
the upcoming big races, please contact Kurt on 0438 595 806.