Karting Corner

1 - Phew!

After what seems to have been a rather long break and organised jointly by Southern Car Club and Windsor Car Club for the first time, 'The Big Yin' was run at X-Treme Karting in Camberley on Tuesday the 16th and Thursday the 18th of March.

For those of you who don't already know, and don't recognise the new name, back in February Gary Salt formed X-Treme Karting and took over the track side of the business from our old pals Slipstream Racing - who continue to produce their PUKA kart chassis. To us it makes no difference but to Gary it means even more hard work - we wish him well.

Unlike our last race at Slipstream which was wet - indoors ! This time we were favoured with two conventional races when the snow blowers didn't materialise in time. But don't despair, there was still plenty to keep everyone busy.

Race 1 - the 16th of March.

The 'smaller' of the two races with eleven teams, but no less hotly contested for that. Race 1 saw a mix of old familiar names and a fair few new ones all looking for that elusive top spot. Trying hard to disguise themselves with (another) new name, Team A, the 'gentlemen' - although I use the term loosely - of Mercury Cars were soon showing their pace, setting their fastest time on lap eight - which held right to the end of qualifying to give them pole position. Several other teams also showed an early turn speed which they were unable to improve on. Chalfont Green Racing setting their best time on only lap 4, with HART M. C. and Josh's Racers setting their respective best qualifying times as early as lap 6.

By reversing the grid, the organisers gave Josh's Racers and The Four Skins - all five of them - their moment of glory as they led off into turn one followed by Conair and SHAfters - out to improve on their previous worst, last place, if they could. Three new teams made up the mid field, Oral Care, East Surrey College and Sucking Drops. The final four all being teams with previous form, HART M. C., Chalfont Green Racing, Team Jobby and of course Team A.

With just under twenty minutes gone Team A had swept past the rest into the lead, one lap up on Team Jobby, who had HART M. C. only 0.29s behind. Then came a tightly packed bunch of Oral Care, East Surrey College, Chalfont Green Racing, Sucking Drops and the Four Skins - all covered by just 3.5s with a definite gap back to Josh's Racers, SHAfters and Conair developing even at this early stage.

With sixty laps completed, Team A had pushed their lead to three laps but HART M. C. now held second - just - ahead of Chalfont Green Racing. Team Jobby in fourth weren't far behind nor indeed in front of East Surrey College. Josh's Racers had pulled up rapidly to sixth and Oral Care in seventh were swapping with Conair. Sucking Drops held on to ninth during their driver change , almost a lap up on SHAfters and tailenders The Four Skins were already eight laps down on the leaders.

After nearly an hour's racing, HART had cut Team A's lead to two laps but Team Jobby were back in the hunt only 2.5s behind with a comfortable 23s in hand over Chalfont Green Racing. East Surrey College still held fifth but were beginning to drift back into the clutches of Josh's Racers who were pulling away from Oral Care. Sucking Drops, SHAfters and Conair were having their own private race, still covered by less than 4s, and The Four Skins were beginning to get the hang of things, still last and 25s down but not losing so much time as before.

Coming up on half distance and Team A's lead had been further reduced to a single lap by HART M. C. (helped by a fuel stop and a couple of trips to the Doghouse) with Chalfont Green Racing a further lap adrift. Team Jobby, East Surrey College, Oral Care, Josh's Racers and Sucking Drops were all keeping well clear of each other a lap apart, the only real race being between SHAfters and Conair in ninth and tenth, these two being so busy that The Four Skins were slowly reeling them in.

Things soon got back to normal and with 150 laps completed, Team A had recovered to a three lap advantage over Team Jobby, but for sheer speed and consistency, no-one could match the leaders. Chalfont Green Racing was now 2s in front of HART M. C. who had a two lap advantage over 'best newcomers' East Surrey College, themselves enjoying a further two lap gap back to Josh's Racers.

Sucking Drops were up one to seventh at the expense of Oral Care with SHAfters now being chased by The Four Skins. - Yes! They finally got off the bottom to hold tenth some 6s ahead of Conair.

The fuel stops were now coming thick and fast - later than usual due to the karts being re-fuelled after practice - but with just under 45 minutes to go Team A were drawing further ahead of Team Jobby with Chalfont Green still third and HART M. C. now 0.48s behind in fourth. East surrey College were now three laps further back in fifth (still) a lap clear of Josh's Racers with Oral Care in seventh a comfortable two laps up on Sucking Drops who held a similar advantage over SHAfters with The Four Skins now drawing away from Conair in eleventh.

Fitness, technique and familiarity with the track were now beginning to show as over the next fifteen minutes, Team A stretched a further two laps ahead of Chalfont Green Racing who now led Team Jobby by 16s with HART M. C. snapping at their heels. The race for 2nd, 3rd and 4th was well and truly on. Realistically, East Surrey College, now five laps down in fifth, needed a miracle to make up any places but with only a lap in hand over Josh's Racers they couldn't afford to let up by much. Nor indeed could Josh's Racers with Oral Care less than 2.5s behind in seventh. Eighth placed Sucking Drops were now a further two laps down but well ahead of The Four Skins who had now demoted SHAfters to tenth - but only just - with Conair still bringing up the rear.

Into the last ten minutes and the organisers were considering a ten lap penalty on Team A - for nothing - but - we're almost nice guys and let them off after they threatened to punch our lights out. Some people just can't take a joke. The real race was still between Team Jobby, Chalfont Green Racing and HART M. C. who had all completed their driver changes and it was a straight(ish) race to the flag. Josh's Racers had demoted East Surrey College from fifth at their last change with Oral Care, Sucking Drops, The Four Skins, SHAfters and Conair holding formation at the back.

In the end, that's how they finished, with Team A showing everyone a clean pair of heels, Team Jobby got second ahead of Chalfont Green Racing and HART M. C., Josh's Racers held fifth, so long the domain of East Surrey College, with Oral Care, Sucking Drops, The Four Skins, SHAfters (one better than last time) and finally Conair completing the field.

Race 2 - the 18th of March.

Two nights later we were back for more! Two of the teams from Tuesday night even came back for a second slice of the action. Fourteen teams in all this time with six from in and around Sun Microsystems.

Needless to say, qualifying was a bit more hectic this time and in the absence of Team A - a lot closer, with the best times coming near the end of the session to put Windsor Lot on pole just 0.04s in front of the turkeys from Norfolk, 'N' Chance - another team which keeps trying to hide by changing it's name. Third up were Beckett-Ho Racing who had been firmly last until the Ho part (Eunice - see her competitors report) suddenly put them in second for a while - but could they make it stick. Madgic made fourth ahead of Sun Microsystems 1 and Pit Lane Totty who tied for fifth. Another new team, ISTECH held off Conair - back for a second go - by 0.01s - for seventh with Aaron Curtis in ninth. The top ten was rounded out by Morse Computers with Big Iron and R. O. Y. Close behind. The organisers were surprised to see HART RSS (HART M. C., also back from Tuesday) down in thirteenth and suspected some skulduggery was afoot, but X in fourteenth we could believe. And so to the start.

HART RSS were dealt with by splitting the grid and putting the top 5 at the back in reverse order. The others went in qualifying order - which buried HART (and X) right in the middle.

With almost twenty minutes gone, HART were showing their true colours by holding a one lap lead - with second to eleventh all on the same lap ! Norfolk 'N' Chance held a respectable 6s advantage over Pit Lane Totty with R. O. Y. And Big Iron following. Aaron Curtis was another team with a 'big' gap back to it's pursuers Madgic with Windsor Lot, Sun Microsystems 1, Morse Computers and Conair all covered by less than two seconds. X were showing well - for them - in twelfth, two laps down but one up on Beckett-Ho Racing with ISTECH not far behind.

After 60 laps, it was all change with Norfolk 'N' Chance in front, almost a lap ahead of Aaron Curtis - up from sixth - and early leaders HART RSS in third. Madgic had pulled up three places to fourth, but R. O. Y. And Pit Lane Totty were rubbing their bumper all the way round. The normally very competitive Windsor Lot were suffering a variety of troubles which were to continue for most of the night and were down in seventh just keeping Sun Microsystems 1 at bay. Conair were faring better this time, in ninth but still only one lap down on the leaders and well ahead of Big Iron and - surprise - X. Morse Computers was one of the losers at his point and had crashed to twelfth but were in no danger from Beckett-Ho Racing or ISTECH - now ten laps down on the leaders.

What comes around - gets dizzy. With an hour's racing completed, Aaron Curtis had snatched the lead as the turkeys suffered a bad bout of fowl pest and slumped down the order. Second to eighth were still on the same lap, virtually tied together by bits of string. Pit Lane Totty had the dubious honour of holding second with Madgic, R. O. Y., Norfolk 'N' Chance, HART RSS, Sun Microsystems 1 and Conair all in line astern.

Despite setting the fastest lap of the race so far, Windsor Lot O' Trouble were going backwards, now down in ninth after another bout of kart trouble and barely 1.6s in front of Big Iron - who were catching them ! X were doing spectacularly well in eleventh well ahead of Morse Computers, Beckett-Ho Racing and ISTECH.

At half distance, Aaron Curtis - a new team to us - were holding on to first, chased by Pit Lane Totty and Norfolk 'N' Chance. Madgic were fourth with Windsor Lot (temporarily) up in fifth. Sun Microsystems, R. O. Y. and Big Iron were all pretty close and X no less, were up in ninth - is this a record? Another team who should have been doing better - HART RSS were dragging themselves around (slowly) in tenth but were well ahead of Conair and Morse Computers who were coming under intense pressure from Beckett-Ho Racing - and of course ISTECH was still there shepherding them all round.

One hour to go and suddenly Madgic appeared at the top, but Norfolk 'N' Chance and Aaron Curtis were still close and hadn't given up on the trophies yet. Pit Lane Totty were nearly a lap adrift in fourth but were still there if they had made their refuelling stop. R. O. Y. and Sun Microsystems 1 were drifting back slightly from the leaders but with the fuel stops under way everything was changing rapidly. Windsor Lot were back on the slide - those nasty people were being far too rough with their little kart - and Big Iron was still chasing them, just waiting on their next breakdown - it didn't take long. HART RSS had got past X, just, who were in turn just in from of Conair with Morse Computers and Beckett-Ho Racing in tow. ISTECH seemed to have found an extra loop of track the others hadn't noticed and RSS who needed to keep a watchful eye on X who were continuing to improve. Conair, Morse Computers and Beckett-Ho Racing were all still close and losing less time to the leaders now. Strangely enough, tailenders ISTECH had actually set a fastest lap only 0.06s slower than the leaders so the pace was in there somewhere if only they could get it out.

Things weren't quite over yet and with twenty minutes to go, Aaron Curtis still held the lead - but Madgic and Norfolk 'N' Chance had swapped places again. Sun Microsystems 1 were rising up the order as other teams were forced to make late driver changes but Pit Lane Totty were only 0.75s behind them in fifth. Big Iron, R. O. Y., Windsor Lot, HART RSS and X were all holding position but Morse Computers demoted Conair to twelfth with Beckett-Ho Racing a further lap adrift but eighteen laps UP on ISTECH.

Into the last five minutes and Madgic were definitely the late losers, despite setting the fastest lap of the race they were down now to fourth with Pit Lane Totty closing fast. Aaron Curtis were now 32s in front of Norfolk 'N' Chance with Sun Microsystems 1 up to third. Sixth was held by Big Iron with Windsor Lot still limping along in seventh, hotly pursued by R. O. Y. and HART RSS. X looked due their best finish ever but daren't relax with Morse Computers only 16s behind. Conair were fairly safe from Beckett-Ho Racing who could probably have stopped then and still not been beaten by ISTECH.

So in the end, Aaron Curtis came home almost a lap ahead of Norfolk 'N' Chance with Sun Microsystems 1 in third and Pit Lane Totty in fourth, Madgic losing out by only 0.42s. Big Iron held sixth ahead of R. O. Y. who had Windsor Lot 0.9s behind and were themselves only 2.64s in front of HART RSS. X could go home well please with their best ever tenth ahead of Morse Computers and Conair. Unlucky thirteenth for Beckett-Ho Racing and possibly another record for ISTECH - who set the fourth quickest lap of the race, and come home 33 laps down. Incredible.

The first four teams home in each race received their trophies and as far as I know everyone went home happy. Except maybe Windsor Lot but they don't count. Finally I would like to thank Gary, Jon and all the staff at X-Treme for two great night's entertainment. As the big guy says - We'll be Back ! Worrying thought Eh !

2 - Sponsorship News

As many of you already know, we have been awaiting a decision from our 1998 sponsors Duckhams Oils as to whether they would be able to continue to support us this year. Unfortunately we have now been told that they will not be able to do so. We are looking for an alternative sponsor and if we are successful we'll let you know. In the meantime we race on.

3 - The Great Outdoors

Once again, Gavin has actually received actually some Competitors Reports. Remember, this is your chance to tell your version of events and say how you and yours fared.

The first report is from Marcus Butler of Madgic.

A fine event indeed - well organised, and a 'not-bad' venue for it. It has to be pointed out how exciting and close it all was, right up to the final lap. For 3rd, 4th and 5th places to be all decided within the last 2 or 3 laps - and to be within a fraction of a second at the finish over a 2 and a half hours race is pretty tight going.

My one criticism, which is more of an observation than a criticism was that the track was a pretty tight one (narrow), and with the amount of traffic out there, even the best drivers were getting stuck behind traffic for lap after lap - which effectively meant everyone was roughly going the same speed, with the major gains to be made by well timed (taken when in heavy traffic), efficient pit-stops.

Staying out of trouble was also an obvious winner. The statistics for this is that the faster drivers were lapping (when the track was clear) probably 4 seconds faster than the slower drivers; so over 250 odd laps (or whatever it was) you'd expect up to a 16 minute gap (nearly 30 laps) to appear between first and last place. The fact that the gap was nearer a tenth of this is I'm sure due to even the most competent drivers being easily baulked on that particular track (a bit like rush-hour on the M25, with everyone going 50 mph in the Fast lane, not being able to get past). A slightly wider and larger track I think would have helped separate the faster drivers, and would reduce the significance of random incidents, and slow pit-stops.

There was also a comment from Howard Urmenyi of Madgic. 'We wuz robbed.' Sounds like sour grapes to me. The second report is from Eunice Ho of Beckett-Ho Racing.

Conceived in cyberspace and capably captained by the eponymous (is that legal?) Phil, Beckett-Ho Racing was set to define new standards in single engined karting. Practice started with rookie driver John making his maiden voyage and realising that a brake pedal under the left foot isn't half as complicated as it sounded at briefing. After we got the kart warmed up we managed to get 3rd quickest, despite me stuffing it into the tyre wall within moments of getting into the kart. The marshal whose territory was the squashed tyre wall asked me if I was OK so many times, I began to wonder if he really meant was I OK handling all that raw power.

And so the race started. Our drivers drove with grace and expertise and admirably lost only one place, maintaining position throughout the evening. Less admirably we started 3rd from the back. History had repeated; like M. Schumacher at Suzuka last year, the sending to the back of the grid had denied us what was surely our race. "Sandbagging!" sniggered Gavin with a grin. "Ratbag!" I snarled with a fist. Luckily for Mr Edmiston, a session at X-Treme leaves me with all those muscles that only ever come out at kart races aching, so I was unable to reach Gavin's lofty chin. Sadly he'll be forgiven come May 16th.

And if you believe that...

Our third and final report is from Stephen Montgomery of Chalfont Green Racing. A 'new man' in karting circles, he seems to have got off to a great start.

Where as my two team mates have been racing for some time, Karting for me was a new experience and a good one at that. The other two being very competitive types put pressure on me during the final laps and I found myself in many a tight corner from which I had to steer my way out. Apart from the occasional 360-degree spin into the wall of tyres on the far hairpin I managed to keep the side up and found myself on the podium at the end of the evening. A good result after an evening of adrenaline, sweat and petrol fumes.

Being in a 3 man team was certainly testing, that with only a 20 odd minute rest between each drive you only just had enough time for a cheeseburger in between. I tried asking a few people about the best techniques for faster lap times. Most people just agreed that you need to spend more time with the foot down and work the rest out for yourself. It seemed to depend a lot on your own body weight as to how the car handled. I was often following another driver right up to a bend and then suddenly finding myself facing the opposite direction as they sped away. The tricky thing seems to be knowing your own speed and line and then being able to defensively block people from behind who are trying to take a quicker line. But in the end after all's said and done it was a great event and far more exciting than the North Circular traffic jam.