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…