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.

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…