From WSS
Nov 20, 2012
25-year-old Victorian Nick Lacey will aim to follow in the successful footsteps of both his father and grandfather when he contests the 2012/13 season of World Series Sprintcars.
The history of Lacey Motorsport can be traced all the way back to the 1950s, when Frank and Ray “Nippa” Lacey were Saturday night regulars at Tracey’s Speedway in Melbourne. The pair won their fair share of feature races at the venue, and in 1959, Ray would emerge the winner of the Victorian Championship on the same day his son Brett was born – an omen of things to come.
Brett Lacey, Nick’s father, migrated to Speedway racing in 1980 after years of motocross competition, and soon after began piloting sprintcars to great acclaim.
After a 3-year stint in America during the mid-eighties, Lacey would design and build his own custom sprintcar chassis, nicknamed “The Baretta”, and shortly after became the first individual to win an Australian Sprintcar Championship in a car designed and built by the driver, and finished the inaugural season of World Series Sprintcars second only to champion George Tatnell.
During Brett’s impressive 1987/88 season, Nick was born; virtually ensuring the youngster would have racing in his DNA.
Like his father before him, the youngest member of the Lacey lineage began his career in motocross. At the tender age of 9 Nick began sharpening his skills on a JR50 before progressing to a KTM60 and a YZ80. A string of high finishes and a 3rd at the Victorian Championship meant Nick would gain Junior Supercross Accreditation at the age of 12.
When he was 13, Lacey tried his hand at Go Karts, competing in Junior Clubman and Junior National categories. By 16, Nick was competing in Formula Australia, Clubman Light and Rotax Light categories, registering many podium finishes, three consecutive club championships and a Super 8 National Championship in Clubman Light.
When Nick turned 19, he joined the Formula Ford ranks, competing in the Victorian State Series. The youngster would briefly retire after one season to attend University and join the workforce.
Unable to escape the allure of motorsport, Nick would eventually fulfill his destiny in 2008, stepping into the cockpit of the V26 car and re-forming Lacey Motorsport.
The team competed at 25 race meetings for the season throughout SA and Victoria, achieving multiple top-ten A Main finishes and a qualification for the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic.
Since his rookie season, Nick Lacey has made himself known throughout the Eastern states, achieving 38 podium finishes and multiple feature race wins, including his first victory at Warrnambool’s hallowed Premier Speedway.
In 2011/12 alone Lacey recorded 20 top ten results, including a 7th place finish on New Year’s Day at Warrnambool, and 7 podium finishes.
When the WSS season blasts off on Boxing Day at Speedway City, Lacey will attempt to go one better than his predecessors by capturing a World Series Sprintcars Championship.
Stay tuned to worldseriessprintcars.com.au for all of the latest news regarding the 26th annual World Series Sprintcars Championship.