Dual Australian Sprintcar Champion “The Bunbury Bullet” Ron Krikke has been officially announced as the Manager for West Australia’s assault on the inaugural USC Origin of Speed Team’s event.

Scheduled to be held at Valvoline Raceway on Thursday night, January 12, 2017 as a curtain raiser to the annual blue ribbon Scott Darley Challenge the night will feature teams racing with six drivers per team per state and a non-driving manager.

The manager’s role will be to place the various drivers on the night into their starting positions (grid positions will be drawn also by the respective managers) handle the commentary interviews on the night and be the public face of his/her team.

“We are working on securing managers who have an iconic profile and link to their state,” says VR Managing Director Steve Green, “in most cases they will be a former driver but we may also appoint a car owner, a sponsor or just a racing identity depending on their impact on Speedway Racing over the years. In this case, with Western Australia, it was a clear-cut decision to select Ron Krikke. Ron’s record in WA and on a national level speaks for itself. He’s a great character and a true West Aussie champion.”

Krikke himself was honoured to be selected.

“I’m pretty happy about this whole deal,” grinned the affable Bunbury legend, “the whole Origin of Speed concept sounds fantastic and it’s very humbling to be asked to manage the team. I’m looking forward to catching up with so many friends over on the East and leading the WA boys into battle. It sounds like it’s going to be a very competitive deal. There’s going to be a lot of State pride on the line.”

His list of achievements over a stellar career included two Australian Championships, three WA Sprintcar Championships, five USA vs WA Speedweek titles, seven times WA Sprintcar Racing’s “Fairest and Best” and is a Life Member of the Sprintcar Association of WA.

Ron retired from driving duties when Claremont Speedway closed in 2000 but he remained actively involved in the sport along with brother John Krikke as promoter of the Bunbury Speedway and the prestigious Krikke Boys Shootout (which enters its 20th year this year).

One of Krikke’s immediate duties will be to work with VR on the selection of the six-man WA Team and the election of a team captain.
More information on the WA and other USC Origin of Speed Teams will follow soon…