A Trophy?! Where did that come from!!

Every other Sunday, we head up to Red Lodge Karting for  run by Mick French and co. It’s been a great way for Sam to build his experience and get seat time.

Team 4: Sam and Liam, 3rd place Cadet team
Team 4: Sam and Liam, 3rd place Cadet team

The typical format is three or four groups of drivers doing two sessions in Honda engined corporate karts (160cc for cadets and 240cc for the juniors) using the 700m circuit. The drivers are grouped by experience starting at grade 5 (newbies) with the target being grade 1 (race ready). Add to that sessions for owner drivers using the 1200m circuit, you then a have a great way to spend a Sunday (well we think so anyway…Mum and little sister not so keen!). It get’s better because in the afternoon there is endurance racing with teams of 2-3 drivers racing over 60-90mins with trophies for 1st, 2nd & 3rd placed teams in each class. The teams are chosen at random, mixing experienced and less experienced racers, so everyone has a chance of getting a trophy. More of that later.

 

This Sunday we headed for RLK with our engine-less kart, the plan being to bolt on a borrowed engine (thanks Rob). Our engine is heading to RPM for repairs hopefully (see previous post!). We did take delivery of another second-hand engine this week but as it came without a clutch or exhaust it wasn’t just a straightforward bolt on and go. The engine is a Select Parts (SP) average power 6.2hp (compared to our other engine at 6.004) with a new piston and rings, so should be a good one hopefully. Rob has it now to check and test before the next Club 2000 race on the 3rd Sept. Once we were signed on, we set about getting the engine on and kart ready. Our paddock buddies for the day were Freya and “Diesel” Dave Woodall (so called after an unfortunate mis-fuelling debacle at their first Club2000 race in July). After overnight showers, the track was damp, so intermediates were the tyre of choice, for session 1 at least. Owners drivers were first up today, helping us get 3 full sessions of 15 or so laps in before the endurance racing in the afternoon.

Session 1 then was a solid start. Off the dummy grid, Sam followed Freya for the whole session finding their way past slower karts. Sam did try and pass but just couldn’t make the one or two opportunities stick. Lap times were down on the damp track compared to warm dry conditions, in the 52’s average compared to the front runners doing 50’s. Sam was clearly trying hard to take on lessons about racing line and flow through the corners, with a wider entry to the 180 hairpin and later apex enabling better speed out plus overtaking opportunities. He was also trying hard not to lean into the corners motorbike style, instead staying upright or even leaning away from the turn. At least he’s listening!

After session 1 Dave and I thought we’d be clever, looking like pros by leaving the wheels off the karts because although the track was drying, it looked like rain was possible. Unfortunately what we hadn’t planned on was owner drivers being back on as group 3 after two of the corporate YoungStarz groups. That meant a flurry of activity to get slick tyres on to match the drying conditions.

After a few laps of the second session I could see Sam as not happy, the head shaking and banging of fist on steering wheel were the indicators. After the session he was insisting the intermediates go back on but that wasn’t needed, conditions were improving. The complaint was the kart wasn’t turning in as it should. It occurred to me tyre pressures may have been the issue because in the rush I hadn’t had chance to check the pressures on the slicks. In fact the rears were at 19psi and the fronts at 15psi, so the fronts probably were too low. So, we went for 20psi all round, ready for the third session.

Session 3 was indeed an improvement with Sam happier with the turn in and stability, times came down into the 50’s, would prefer 49’s and then 48’s but happy to have improved things. Next practice will be an Owner Driver day at Red Lodge next week, so assuming conditions allow, that will be the target, improving on times achieved in the Cadet B Final earlier this month.

Anyway, on to the endurance race! Having packed up our kart and kit, all the drivers headed for the briefing and to choose teams. With fewer drivers than usual the race would be just one hour and only two drivers or team, so nowhere to hide! Some very experienced front runners were getting partnered together, so Sam’s ambition for a Cadet podium was not looking good at all. Luckily Sam was buddied with Liam in Team 4, who it turns out already had a collection of trophies from previous races and who is now also an owner driver aiming for Club2000. Sam bravely opted for the first stint which included a few qualifying laps to establish the start grid position. He got held up quite a bit and so ended up just two place off the back of the grid. Freya on the other hand had a storming qualifying session to take 2nd on the grid! Amazing stuff! Sam made a confident start in the race not loosing out in the first lap, then he pulled out some brilliant laps gaining 4 places and banking consistent 39’s laps (700m circuit remember!) before the first driver change 10 minutes or so later. Liam was cool and improved the position further and at one point we were 4th overall and 2nd or 3rd Cadet. Sam’s next session was not so productive, although he managed to maintain his pace. He was upset to find he’d slipped to 8th overall. Liam battled through the final session and the took the chequered flag and by my calculation looking at the timing screens the boys had finished a creditable 4th in the Cadets. Well done Team 4!! We settled in the briefing room and Mick began reveal the results in reverse order from ‘most considerate team’ (last) upward. Mick got to “in 4th place with a total of 83 laps and a fastest lap of 38.xx…..Team 3… What!!! That means ….YES! Result! Team 4 came 3rd!! And importantly for Sam he gets his first trophy! Happy to admit I had a tear in my eye as Sam wrestled the trophy from Fiona’s hand. So pleased for him….”you see Sam you can do it!” A great confidence boost for the next Club2000 race.

Next report after the Owner Drivers day on the 30th August…

 

First Club2000 Race @RedLodgeKarting

The Headlines:

  • Personal best fastest lap in the Final race…objective met!
  • Crash in second heat….You bent the kart Sam!
  • Lot’s of lessons learnt…Much more to learn!

Well we finally got here…our first proper race. After 2 years of practice, steady improvement and having completed training at YoungStarz, it was time to put everything together. It was a very early start leaving the house at 7am. I was probably as as excited as Sam who sat bolt upright in bed when I woke him at 6.30am. When we arrived at the circuit, loads of teams were already set-up including Rob who is helping us with our first steps. It turns out we still have lots to learn! Mechanic and driver…

Rob had already told me there were issues with the kart earlier in the week. It turns out the engine was knocking as result of oil starvation!

Lesson 1: You need 475ml of Joe Gibbs oil in the Honda engine, particularly if you go to a circuit with fast flowing corners like WildTraks (just over the A11 from Red Lodge)

Fortuntately Rob was able to lend us a strong T1 engine for the day. So Sam and I set about getting sorted, kart on trolley, fuel in etc. and getting our space under the awning with the other newbies. We then went to Sign On. Next problem…Sam forgot a kit bag containing gloves, neck brace and rib protector! A call home to mum who was asleep…and yes the bag was in the hall. AAARRGGH!! How do I get Sam to be more switched on an managing himself!!!Last time he forgot his race suit and had to borrow one of them. Anyway Mum and sister would rescue the day by driving over with the missing kit.

Lesson 2: We need checklists! For all the kit we need to take when karting. And preferably one bag for Sam with ALL his kit in one bag….not three as it is now!

The next step was the 3 lap tansponder check/ qualifying. Sam is on novice plates for up to six races, this could  be reduced but for now it’s 6 which is fine. After the  3 laps Sam came back saying the kart wa not as fast as before, he posted a fastest time in the session of over 54 secs and he was down to consistent 50.something laps in previous practice sessions. Rob reassured him the engine was capable of getting him into the top 10…so it’s down to the driver.

The first heat was then upon us Sam started in 22nd of 24 starters, so a full grid. No first corner or first lap dramas and he settled down keeping pace with the others at the back. He eventually finished in 23rd after politely waving karts through that he thought were lapping! Sam’s fastest lap was a 50.20 a personal best to that point, with half of his times in the 50.’s. So far so good, at this point we are not going for the podium, the target is sub 48sec.

Lesson 3: Don’t be so nice! Let the other drivers fight for their place, defend your position unless the blue flag is being waved at you. Otherwise you are giving up points!!

One observation Rob made during the first heat was Sam’s habit of leaning into the corner. He threatened to take his kart away and give him a motorbike!

Lesson 4: Lean the opposite way to the corner…right hand corner, lean out left. Somewhat counter intuitive but it will keep the kart more stable through corner and carry more speed

Lunch break came then, so a big break before Sam’s next heat. This was fun! The session was red flagged after a crash on the 180 hairpin, unfortunately Sam wasn’t able to avoid the stricken karts, crashed into them and bent his rear axle. The session would restart but even with fast work from Rob and others to bend the axle back to straight, we couldn’t get back to the grid in time. So no points there. Far from disappointed I think Sam was quite excited to be peripherally involved in the incident! Lot’s to talk to his buddies sharing the awning space.

The next heat saw Sam almost give up, finding himself at the back after gaining a couple of places on the first corner and then losing them. Then he had a good battle with his friend Freddie which saw them swapping places a few times in the early laps. Actually both had spins but Sam span off last which seemed to have a major impact on motivation after that.

Lesson 5: Never give up! The race isn’t done until the chequered flag and every lap is a lesson at this stage. Anything could happen further up the field, handing you more points. Note to self….How do you coach an 8 year old on the power of positive thinking when you are sometimes not the best at that yourself!

Sam picked himself up for the B Final. With only 8 starters in the final and Sam staring in 8th he was still gloomy and resigned to finishing last. However, the pole sitter crashed on lap 1 and then Freddie and Sam battled again, exchanging place a couple of times before Feddie finished the race in 6th and Sam just 2 seconds behind in 7th. The key thing though was Sam achieving his personal best fastest lap of 49.55 with half of his laps timed in the 49s. Brilliant!

Next Race…Saturday 3rd September….Can Sam get into to the 48s. The key apparently is finding the flowing line and smoothness…check this out…

The Hidden Secret Behind Driving Smooth

Welcome to CASE Motorsport!

Welcome to our blog, hopefully the blog will capture the highs and lows of our exploits in motorsport.

I’m Andrew and my son is Sam….both qualified petrol heads I used to rally and Sam is 2 years into his karting career.  I decided to start blogging about our adventures mainly to record what we’ve done but it also struck me, that I might be able to teach myself about how to build a website and blog….let see where this goes…