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Friday, March 19, 2010

Shrinking Budget

After less than 3 months into the new year. I have already used up a big chunk of my budget.

If you all remember, I broke the clutch in December last year and decided to go for the '09 clutch. That and the cost of installing it took 25% off.

Then I had to replace the chain as it was elongated. That took 2.5% off.

First new set of tires for both races took 12.5% off. The 2nd set of tires I have bought is taking 11.2%.

Thats for a grand total of 58.3%.

And if I add in the miscellaneous like storage, petrol, track fees, race fees etc I have already used up a grand total of 69% !!!

And Karting is acknowledged as the cheapest form of motorsport? I guess when you have the means, somethings are cheap no matter how you look at it.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Race Two 2010

Settings are exactly the same. Just that during Qualifying, tire pressures are pumped high. Higher than what I have used before, but seems to have given me a good time.

Out of the 13 karters, only 2 front runners turned up for this race. James and Leo. And it would seem after Race One and this race, Allan is now running in front with his timing quite close to Leo's.

Prepared the kart by taking off and cleaned the power valve. May have used too coarse a sandpaper to clean it, the scratches are quite deep. Topped up the radiator and found it leaking from the top. May have been damaged by the hit from Allan Smith in Race One. Took it off for Jason to repair but he was too busy with Louis and Leo's kart, that means qualifying is out for me. Graeme heard about my predicament and he loaned me a radiator from his unused engine! Thanks bro!

Interesting Qualifying, went out for my usual 5 laps, came back in and saw I am 5th. Just 0.06 seconds off Jonathan in 4th. But the time was disqualified as i was underweight by 0.1kg! There was still 10 minutes left for Qualifying, I quickly took the prepared petrol from Jonathan's canister and topped up 3 liters and off I went out again. Doing an additional 4 laps with a timing of 53.52, exactly 0.2 seconds off my first timing dropping me to 6th. On reviewing the Qualifying Time sheet. Instead of 5 laps, I did 6! I was sure my fuel was enough even with doing 6 laps, but a lot of factor can contribute to that 0.1kg.

So I qualified with the same time as Graeme! We made a deal, he took the point and I took the position.

Heat 1. DNF!
After 4 laps, my exhaust broke! Luckily (Or unluckily), Jason had a used spare which he said has only been used a few times. That is another chunk off my racing budget for this year.

Heat 2.
Starts from 11th. And guess what, finished the race 4th. That was also due to Graeme, James and Ivan dropping off. Hit my fastest timing of 52.63 seconds on the 5th lap. That goes to show that the kart is able to hit a very good time. Now, its all up to the nut sitting between the steering wheel and the engine to do it consistently.