This is my sister wearing the TEAM COLOURS she always cheers for me!
Thanks Emma!
The day started at about 6.30am we loaded up and went to Rye House Circuit.
It was a really rainy day not exactly what a cadet needs as his first race. However we had the first heat quite late, at about 11.00am due to a flood on the racetrack.
Everyone helped to get most of the water of the track but the water kept creeping back.
I started at the back as is customary for a novice, due to lack of practice and having only previously driven 5 times. (And this includes the driving test.) I tried to go as fast as I could but was slowly being left behind by these very experienced racers, it was all very exciting and at least I didn't come last.! (Second to last! but not last) I am a beginner just wait and see!!!!
The second heat started and again I was leading from the back it was going quite well until the second lap, when on the corner at the end of the back straight someone got into a tangle and I went straight into the back of the driver in front. This was very painful and I did not feel I could carry on as I took a good bruising to my sides and foot and the kart steering rod was also damaged.
The kart was repaired and I was looking forward to the final. My body did not feel the pain too much after a few minutes and I was feeling brave.
It turned out that the river that runs along the side of the track burst it's bank and more water came flooding onto the track. It was very deep and the race finals were cancelled.
So in general it was a very exciting day with plenty of action and water, I am now on school holiday and recovering from my foot injury, neck and side bruising but I'm looking forward to my next practice day and my next race.
Let you know how that goes.
Ant
Ps If the track keeps getting flooded I might take up Powerboat Racing!What do you think?
Where is the summer? Still at least its getting brighter!
We got to the meeting early and went through the signing in process, you get your numbers and stick them to your number plate (I'm Number 7)
After the Driver's Briefing where they tell you the latest news and what you should and should not do and so on.
The Practice starts.
You go out for about five minutes and its an opportunity to check your Kart and make any final adjustments (normally Carb and tyre Pressures).
My First heat went OK I managed to keep my place for most of the laps and it's a sign that I'm either getting better or everyone is getting worse. Eventually after a few more laps the race is over.
Second Heat again went all right in the beginning there was a bit of a pile-up and I managed to steer out of trouble and gain a few places out of it which I may add is quite a nice feeling for me. As the race progresses and I am coming up to Stadium bend(the fastest bend at the end of the straight)I am overtaken by one of the faster boys, as I come round again another one overtakes me there. You can guess the rest......
But I was getting some advice from the pits to try and defend my line, I did this and manage to save one place(but I actually feel sorry for the guy behind as he was in tears at the end of the race) still that's racing and he would have done the same to me in my position.
So the final came and we went out for the warm up laps that consists of two laps unless there is such a big gap between the ones in front and the ones at the back that we are asked to go round again.
Eventually we were all away as the lights turned to green I just kept my position and tried to keep out of harm for the first lap which is where most of the problems will happen as everyone tries to get the best position, sometimes coming of worse.
As the race developed I did not pass anyone and no one passed me a few dropped by the wayside and I held my place cant remember what place I came now but it's not important.
I wasn't Last.!!
I am away now for my summer holidays and will only race in September when I return.
Let you know how that goes.
Ant.
I have been back from holiday for a couple of weeks and am back at school now.
I had a days practice at Rye to get back into karting.
But now I had another race we set of at our usual time and went through the usual procedure of signing in, kart checks and drivers briefing.
The heats were to follow shortly after the practice laps were done.The weather was good in the morning and we got into our first heat, I managed to overtake a few karts again having started from the back, I was doing quite well and managed to hold onto my place until on the hairpin I span, due to a bit of over enthusiastic driving!! Luckily I managed to get quite a distance between myself and the drivers behind me and only a couple went past as I got on my way again. After a few more laps the race was over I was pleased with my performance overall and my dad said that was the best I had done so far and I was definitely improving although he said my racing line needs more work.
The second heat came along and we were all going round doing the warm up laps and it took a few times for everyone to get ready. The lights went green and I went for it again getting a few places from a good position on the first bend, this was followed by the left hander and approaching the hairpin where most drivers will spin out at some point in their races, it happened to a few more and I scraped by! Thank you very much!!.
I continued to give it all I could and was holding out but again these drivers with very good equipment were right behind me and I really had to concentrate to make sure I maintained my position but on the straight I was overtaken just as we came up to the flag. But I was still happy with what I managed and my dad was still smiling! thats a good thing.But the weather was beginning to change.
Third heat
It started to bucket down! the rain just kept coming and as you may remember we thought it was going to be a dry day and did not take my wet suit however we did have wet tyres and we managed to buy a wet suit of another competitor that had a spare that he had outgrown. So these were put on and we all lined up again.We did the warm up laps and were soon on our way, the water started to flood the track really badly and it was difficult for me to go around in the wet never having had any practice before, it was a spin here and a spin there as it was difficult to control in the very slippery conditions. My dad had told me to stay out of the puddles but there were too many and eventually my engine stopped and that was the end of my heat.
Final
Still raining and we went of, I was not having a very good time now as my kart started to cough and splatter and eventually coming to a stop after three laps, so it was my first D.N.F. (did not finish)
Never mind it was good experience and we are getting there.
See you in the summer.
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This is my sister wearing the TEAM COLOURS she always cheers for me! Thanks Emma!
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