Adam Spence (race driver)
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| Adam Spence | |
 RedBackRacing Team Owner
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| Born | 7 January 1975 Sydney |
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| Occupation | Race driver |
| Spouse | Emma Spence |
| Website RedBackRacing |
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Adam Spence (born in New South Wales, Australia), currently residing in the UK, is the team principal of the race team RedBackRacing. He is currently the team race driver. As a driver, Adam made his first mark in professional level motor racing in Targa New Zealand. To date has competed in three Targa Tasmania's, once in the now defaunct East Coast Targa and three times in Targa New Zealand.
Adam Spence has a long history [1] in Australian motor sport for the introduction of unusual French built race cars. The current car that the team use is a Renault Sport Spider Trophy of which two are know to be in Australia, both of which are owned by the team. The Renault Sport Spider Trophy is loosely based on the Renault Sport Spider but is purpose built with a full Aluminium chassis which gives the car tremendous strength. Additionally Adam has a Renault 8 Gordini which is currently being built for Classic Adelaide. The Renault 8 Gordini is an extremely rare 1968 rally car is a highly sort by events such as Targa Tasmania and Classic Adelaide.
Adam is also well known to other motor racing identities such as Jim Richards (race driver), Tony Quinn and Murray Walker having competed in many Targa event with them.
The team and Adam specifically have supported the Australian Quadriplegic Association (AQA) [2] enabling people with severe physical disabilities attain maximum independence. In 2006 the team donated $5000 AUD to the AQA for the support of people with spinal injury AQA Website.
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[edit] Targa Racing
Starting in 2002, Adam started Targa style racing, first competing in Targa New Zealand Official Website in a Fraser Clubman which ultimately proved to be the wrong styleof car for Targa racing.
The following year 2003 was spent on custom building a Mazda MX5 for the coming years. Again Targa New Zealand was the first major outing for the car which whilst competing in that event the team had a major accident putting the car precariously close to going over a cliff and of course with out a high placing in the event.
In 2004 the Mazda MX5 again competed in Targa New Zealand earning the team a First in Class [3]. Early in 2004 the team raced the RedMX5 in the now defunct East Coast Targa based in Sydney and country New South Wales again earling a well deserved First in Class.
The following year 2006 the team moved up to the premier Targa event, Targa Tasmania in a newly purchased Toyota MR2 Spider. The car performed better then expected and the team placed Second in Class (under two litre naturally aspirated) [4]. After this race the Toyota was sold to make way for a Renault Sport Spider.
The Renault unfortunately suffered mechanical failure in 2007 and the race was completed in the RedMX5 which due to the change of car the team recorded no placement [5] in Targa Tasmania 2006.
In 2007 the team had purchased another Renault Sport Spider for Targa Tasmania. The car performed without fault and the team finished Category Winners, Class Winners and the Targa Trophy Plate [6].
[edit] Circuit Racing
In 2006, Adam competed in the Island Magic race at Phillip Island. In this race dominated by v8 and turbo cars the Mazda MX5 performed extremely well to score a First in Class [7].
[edit] Karting
From 1996 through 2008, Adam has been competing in numerous 12 and 24 Kart event in Australia, the United Kingdom and Spain.
[edit] Co-Drivers
Several co-drivers have worked with Adam in these races, including:
- Jarrod Miller (NZ)
- Dave Colvin (AU)
- Steve Head (AU)
[edit] Team Members
Many other members of the team are based local to the races including:
- Lou Lezzi (AU)
- Justin Morgan (AU)
[edit] Career results
| Year | Race | Position | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Targa Tasmania | First in Class, First in Category | Renault Sport Spider |
| 2007 | Targa Tasmania | No Placement | Renault Sport Spider |
| 2006 | Targa Tasmania | Second in Class | Toyota MR2 Spider |
| 2006 | Circut Racing | First in Class | Toyota MX5 |
| 2005 | East Coast Targa | First in Class | Mazda MX5 |
| 2004 | Targa New Zealand | First in Class | Mazda MX5 |
| 2003 | Targa New Zealand | Highest placed Australian team | Mazda MX5 |
| 2002 | Targa New Zealand | No placement | Fraser (Lotus 7 Replica) |
[edit] Trivia
- Known as Elmo
[edit] References
All references are in-line.
[edit] External links
- Tasmanian Mercury
- Telegraph UK edition
- AQA Website
- Targa Tasmania website
- Targa New Zealand website
- RedBackRacing website
- MR2Targa website
- RedMX5 website
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