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 Western Wave Building Momentum!
Bruce Biegler - November 30, 2006
There was a second coming of sorts during the 2006 racing season for one of Canada’s most famous drag racers. Calgary’s Roger Bateman who enjoyed a tremendous drag racing career while racing with previous partner Bob Reynolds for many seasons, had for the past couple of years sat relatively idle on the sidelines. But as fate would have it Bateman would soon become part of an equation being written by Winnipeg-based Dentist Brian Friesen who first set out last year to create one of the top-rated Top Alcohol Funny Car teams in North America. During the spring of 2006 a connection was made and the results have been immediate.
Racing their NobelSmile.com sponsored Chevy Camaro, the Manitoba-based team, which also includes the tuning talents of legendary Ken Murray, has arguably assembled the most talented supporting staff overall on the Canadian Alcohol Funny Car racing scene. Despite a melding that took place only a few short months before, the end product has been both fast and impressive.
 The first indication of things to come may have been following an unexpected runner-up placing during the mid-summer NHRA Fram-Autolite Nationals at Sonoma, an event effort that should be considered as – preliminary. The team followed that up with a sensational late season flurry which saw them win one of the most prestigious single Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events on the tour (at Las Vegas Nov 5th) and then place runner-up during the NHRA AAA Auto Club Finals at Pomona the very next weekend. All of that holds well for the team’s chances in 2007 which we can report in a word as -aggressive.
“When Brian called me with his plan to put together this line-up I was immediately interested,” said Roger Bateman. “The plan was to field a competitive car this year and build on that for a serious car next season. But to be honest things came together a lot sooner then all of us expected.”
 “I think our victory at Las Vegas (over the quickest LODRS 8-car field ever) and Pomona R/U effort is just a peek at things to come. We’ve got some great momentum now and the team is jelling.”
Roger is particularly pleased to be working with Ken Murray who is one of the greatest engine builders and tuners ever produced in Canada.
“The first part of my career racing with Bob and Pat Reynolds was very rewarding and I have a lot of great memories,” he added. “Now I am working with another 30 year veteran. It’s really quite amazing how much we think alike – so it has been a real easy transition. I’m in a very comfortable place to go racing.”
 Amazingly, despite the team’s “Rookie status” in 2006 they finished 2nd in final points in NHRA Division 5 and 9th in the overall NHRA Lucas Oil World Championship chase. They also recorded the quickest times ever by a Canadian TAFC racing team including a super swift 5.611 secs. All of that should be considered as a set-up for the 2007 racing season.
“We are serious about chasing the NHRA World Championship title,” Roger affirmed. “That has been Brian’s idea from the beginning. He has assembled the best personnel he could have and I give him a lot of credit for that. Depending on how sponsorship pans out we plan to race at some 20 events next season.”
Roger did confirm that the team will also dip more frequently into the IHRA eMax National event tour next year. Ken Murray has been working hard on a Roots blower program and expectations are the team will be participating at a minimum all three IHRA Canadian national event dates.
(Bruce Biegler Photos)
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