K[p] - Race Day 30th Dec

I can only look forward to 2 races a year in June and December. And using rental karts where its condition is totally unknown, you could get a lemon and end the race even before you begin. Really hope it rains, will even the karts out.

30th December is race day! Hope to end in the top 6 and get some prize monies.

2008 targets

it's almost there. Christmas is coming and a new year follow
soon after, so i guess it's not too early to set some form of
target for next year on the racing side.

1. finish constantly within the points.

2. lap 1.04 consistently. improved on the times is important,
so far my best as previously stated was 1.05+. hope i can shave
one second somehow.

3. one win. will be very tough, but a target and a landmark

am i looking forward to 2008 or what???!

=)

3rd race, good race. tyre is key. fitness is primary

this is my 3rd race which unfolded on 2 Dec 2007.

this round i had more prep. managed to do a bit training like
swimming and some push ups. especially after the last race,
i found that i had no stamina and strength to finish the race
of 25 laps. i simply just struggle to hold on to the steering and
limped to the end. i want to be different the next race, and i
had 3 weeks plus to do myself some justice.

oh, one secret to be shared here on the last race... i was
unprepared, Yes... i had problems breathing... i have very
little training... i have difficulty breathing... cos i forgot to open
the top vent of my helmet!! FFFFF

anyway, this race i was feeling ready. ready to race. ready
to take on my kart and the track.

qualifying for me was horrendous. 1.08+ ! rubbish timing!
am i not ready? i went backwards on a good lap. the rear
end of the kart was sliding a lot.. i know the tyres were near
its end but i wanted to use it up to heat 1 then change for the
final 15 laps

anyway, i tried to have another go in the qualifying, but alas,
they turned off the timing monitor! sigh.. i resigned to start
from quite far back..

heat 1
can't remember much, except my crash with the French guy
named GUY.. this Heat 1 was actually quite bad for me, as the
rear end was getting from bad to worse. every braking point i
had to be more gentle, which means people catch me up at some
corners esp most hairpins. i was overtaken by Guy, then i overtook
him back, then he took the place again but i was on hot on his
wheels. his kart was not behaving well too. at the last lap of the 10,
in the inner hairpin, he was looking where i was while turning...
bad mistake.
that put him into the grass, seeing that i throttle hard!
but Guy oh Guy, he did the same and spun in the middle of the
track leaving me no room to move. i knew i braked hard, spun
and crashed heavily into his kart.
my race, at the last lap was finished. my rib hurt a bit. but the
impact was great, and i thot i never say this but i'm glad i wore
my rib protector else i will have a few broken ones for sure!

damage: NONE! only the side pod was badly dented, but Sam
did a good job in put everything nicely back together before the
15 laps.

Tyres changed. four brand new ones were on. and i did 3 laps of
scrubbing in before the race start. Totally awesome grip. every
corners, the kart go in and exit the way i want, the way i know
how. i knew although i will be starting from quite the back of
the field, i am roaring to go.

Heat 2.
this is one of the best race i ever had yet. and the best race for
those who came and watched. reason: the front runners were
the usual suspect. the mid field were make up of quite a few
new racer, and i can be consider at the back of this field. but
behind me was what make this race interesting. Leo, Sam,
Steven, Ah Pao. 4 experienced and quick guys at the back as
some misfortunes befall on them on heat 1 as well.

when the race is a go, i went. had to start overtaking. but i
took my time. bidding for the best chance. do not want to be
knock out for some silly mistakes. i can't recalled exactly when
and where i overtook the ones in front of me. but i can remember
i no longer looked at the board that tells me how many more
laps to go. i was really focused and concentrated on the kart in front.
i was that determined. i was feeling ready, and now i feel ready!

my real race started when ah poa tried to overtook me for 4 laps
and cldn't do so. it started after we overtook tony. i covered my
line all nicely, and with better acceleration. i slowed in the corners
and quick on the straight. he had no answer, no chance to overtake
me. then last lap... i suddenly was quite fearful, as ah poa
actually mounted on to tony's kart at his 1st attempt to overtake...
i was fearful that in his frustrations and eager to overtake me in the
last lap, i allowed a small gap which he took with it expertly...
yes, i shld not be fearful and fight. but i want to finish the races in
2007, and in 2008, let's fight!

=)

No more fun kart, except in the rain - K[p]

Funny that Jon posted about karting in the wet. Traditionally, he hates to kart in the wet. But everyone needs to learn sometime or the other.

I have finally given up on the 80cc fun kart. The condition of these karts in Permas is very bad, still good for the occasional trill seekers, but definitely out for me. So is the 390cc, I took a kart last week and it would not turn left! The only fun kart left would be the so called road rat, a 6.5HP kart compared to the 5.5HP 80cc fun kart. But this kart is much faster, just slightly slower than the 390cc by prob around 1 or 2 secs, and much cheaper. Definitely value for money. Use them before their condition deteriorates.

Talking about wet karting. Now, i will just wait untill it rains, then jump into one of the road rat. Super fun. The wetter the better.