First trip in to Plentong for 2010
Got my new 2009 spec clutch delivered from Kartpartsuk. My old clutch was totally shot, had to be welded a few times before I can drive. Not only was the new clutch replaced, Jason also replaced all the fuel line to as he said, original Tony Kart.
Counted the chain used, was a 106 using 80 tooth rear sprocket. Same chain for 78 tooth sprocket. Looks like 106 is the sweet spot for chain now. Darn, I bought a 102 chain.
Adjusted brake position to reduce the lag. Meaning, when I step on the brake, there is less movement before the brakes actually does its work. Hopefully, it will give me a better feel on the brakes.
Adjusted throttle stop positioning as well. After the throttle is all the way down, I felt the cable can still be pulled a little more. So adjusted the stop nut so that the pedal can go down a bit more.
After that, it was just cleaning and cleaning. There is a citrus cleaner from 3M that looks interesting, will try it to see if it can clean out those tires marks.
Anyway, with the new clutch, does not mean its better. There are still a lot of reports on the 2009 spec clutch breaking. Have to re-look into my braking. Maybe the Rotax Max cant allow me to brake so hard like the other engines. Cant have this new clutch breaking on me this year. It took a 25% chunk off my karting budget for 2010.
Next Race. 7th February.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Buckmore Park
http://www.buckmore.co.uk/content.php/000
Was supposed to go for the Praction session sometime in July, but I have to cancel it due to my trip to UK being cancelled. Tough. I booked the Praction on a Friday, and I got the email on the following Monday from my company that my trip has being cancelled.
Anyway, what is a Praction? Well, its a Practise with Tuition given. You pay the same price, go round the track, but you get information on how you are driving etc. I managed to get to Buckmore eventually today, but there were no more Praction or 45 minutes session available anymore, and I had to settle for the 30 minutes session, meaning I lost some monies in the process as the booking is not refundable.
The track is well run, the karts are well maintained and it has metal bumpers which prevent damages to the karts as well as keeping the occupant safer. You could even adjust the seat forward or backward using a lever like in your own car. Wow. May be standard in UK, but from where I came from, where we have to prop cushion, its a wow factor. Before going to the track, you have to arrive 1 hour early to get fitted with driving suit, helmet and your timing device. Then shown a video on the dos and donts. The meaning of flags etc.
Then, it was another 30 minutes of waiting for the other session to finish, before its our turn. I say its really a waste of time waiting for 1 hour.
What can I say, have not driven a 390cc for such a long time, the chassis is really heavy due to the metal bumpers and the stuffs to make the sit move forward and backward, so you don't feel the kick when you accelerate like those in Plentong. Anyway, enjoy the pictures and my timing sheet.
Was supposed to go for the Praction session sometime in July, but I have to cancel it due to my trip to UK being cancelled. Tough. I booked the Praction on a Friday, and I got the email on the following Monday from my company that my trip has being cancelled.
Anyway, what is a Praction? Well, its a Practise with Tuition given. You pay the same price, go round the track, but you get information on how you are driving etc. I managed to get to Buckmore eventually today, but there were no more Praction or 45 minutes session available anymore, and I had to settle for the 30 minutes session, meaning I lost some monies in the process as the booking is not refundable.
The track is well run, the karts are well maintained and it has metal bumpers which prevent damages to the karts as well as keeping the occupant safer. You could even adjust the seat forward or backward using a lever like in your own car. Wow. May be standard in UK, but from where I came from, where we have to prop cushion, its a wow factor. Before going to the track, you have to arrive 1 hour early to get fitted with driving suit, helmet and your timing device. Then shown a video on the dos and donts. The meaning of flags etc.
Then, it was another 30 minutes of waiting for the other session to finish, before its our turn. I say its really a waste of time waiting for 1 hour.
What can I say, have not driven a 390cc for such a long time, the chassis is really heavy due to the metal bumpers and the stuffs to make the sit move forward and backward, so you don't feel the kick when you accelerate like those in Plentong. Anyway, enjoy the pictures and my timing sheet.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Changes
As stated in the profile. This blog used to be shared by 4 who enjoyed karting. As in anything with life itself, this blog is now only updated by me K[p].
Out of the 4, one has totally dropped out of racing.
I now share a kart (the Gillard) with Des, but with the impending birth of his 2nd child, I dont think I will see him in on the track for sometime to come.
As for the last one, he has decided to setup another blog in July 2008. You can find him at velocita-karting.blogspot.com. You can find more articles on that blog regarding starting to kart in Singapore/Malaysia. I am trying to add that link and others to this blog, you will know when I figured out how to do that.
Out of the 4, one has totally dropped out of racing.
I now share a kart (the Gillard) with Des, but with the impending birth of his 2nd child, I dont think I will see him in on the track for sometime to come.
As for the last one, he has decided to setup another blog in July 2008. You can find him at velocita-karting.blogspot.com. You can find more articles on that blog regarding starting to kart in Singapore/Malaysia. I am trying to add that link and others to this blog, you will know when I figured out how to do that.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
New Beginnings
Right. There were no updates for the pass few months. And I hope to change that.
I was away working in Norway for the last 6 months. And there was no karting at all, nada, zilch. But my kart was loaned out to a friend to race and came back with a blown engine which has already been repaired up to a tune of $1,200. My My My, no karting done, but still paying and paying and paying.
What I have been doing the last 6 months was a lot of reading. Reading up on kart setups. Reading up on the Rotax Max FR125 engine, which IS the engine on my kart. And during the repair, found out it is a year 2007 engine. Reading up on maintenance. Reading up on gear ratios. Etc....etc...
Now that I am back. I hope to apply those that I have read and learnt on my kart. There will be one more trip in August to London, which is smack right on the date of the 7th race of the season. Once I am back, I will have to run the engine in, and hope to prepare it in time for the 8th race in September.
In the meantime, I will think of what I want to acheive before this race, and immediately after that. I know I can drive fast, but I need to be more consistent. And also always learning ways to drive even faster. Priority is still in my driving and racecraft, and I will learn setup along the way.
I hope to improve this blog as well. Looks really stale to me. And I will use it as a record for all my races that I join.
Keep tune.
I was away working in Norway for the last 6 months. And there was no karting at all, nada, zilch. But my kart was loaned out to a friend to race and came back with a blown engine which has already been repaired up to a tune of $1,200. My My My, no karting done, but still paying and paying and paying.
What I have been doing the last 6 months was a lot of reading. Reading up on kart setups. Reading up on the Rotax Max FR125 engine, which IS the engine on my kart. And during the repair, found out it is a year 2007 engine. Reading up on maintenance. Reading up on gear ratios. Etc....etc...
Now that I am back. I hope to apply those that I have read and learnt on my kart. There will be one more trip in August to London, which is smack right on the date of the 7th race of the season. Once I am back, I will have to run the engine in, and hope to prepare it in time for the 8th race in September.
In the meantime, I will think of what I want to acheive before this race, and immediately after that. I know I can drive fast, but I need to be more consistent. And also always learning ways to drive even faster. Priority is still in my driving and racecraft, and I will learn setup along the way.
I hope to improve this blog as well. Looks really stale to me. And I will use it as a record for all my races that I join.
Keep tune.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Tires going to give
Finally I managed to do some karting. But after the last post asking when I am able to kart, I did in fact do 2 sessions including yesterday in Plentong. And 1 more very short session in Yanai Karting in Yamaguchi Japan!
Yanai was memorable as it was a public holiday in Japan on 13th October and it became a sports day with Inoue-san's family! I also test drove a Nissan GTR! Albeit, its a remote control car. Heehee. The kart was using 100cc Yamaha engines, I did not find out what was the exact model, I think SC perhaps. The track from the picture on the website was a little bit technical,
Yanai was memorable as it was a public holiday in Japan on 13th October and it became a sports day with Inoue-san's family! I also test drove a Nissan GTR! Albeit, its a remote control car. Heehee. The kart was using 100cc Yamaha engines, I did not find out what was the exact model, I think SC perhaps. The track from the picture on the website was a little bit technical,
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
When?
When was the last time I karted? Hmmmmm
I think it was June 21st! Thats a LOONNGGG time ago.
I have seen the new track, looks like a fast track. But what the heck, backside itchey. Maybe not this month as well. Most prob early September?
I think it was June 21st! Thats a LOONNGGG time ago.
I have seen the new track, looks like a fast track. But what the heck, backside itchey. Maybe not this month as well. Most prob early September?
Monday, August 4, 2008
Speeding Rocks!
corresponding post from VK
3 Aug 08, 5 more days to the Olympics, I finally visited the new track
at Plentong.
Where the previous track is located just by the side of a main road,
this new track is hidden away.
It's like if you want to get to something good, you have to seek it.
You will have to venture. You will have to drive through about 4Km
of dirt track
And mind you, it took us about 15 mins to complete this dirt track.
There are stones, and humps, and pot holes to deal with.
So do not think you're driving in some stages of WRC Rally... because
if you do, I am quite sure there are no Service Parks at the end of the
'stage' to repair damaged suspensions or radiator been hit by stones.
Upon reaching the track, it's all buzz again! Buzzing with flies!
Because this area was a fruit farm, the flies still lingers on.
There was no one there as yet at about 10.15am.
We were suspecting that if anyone will come in at all!
But before we got started, there was one group of 4-5 persons
who arrived and ready for fun karting.
Then steadily throughout the afternoon, there are groups who
came in and karted. Interestingly, I believed now I am not the only
crazy ones along with my friends!
I did not take any picture of the track itself, as it has been posted
in few forums, and one of those is located at:
http://kartingedge.com/forum/index.php?topic=260.0
The tarmac is smooth. The track wide. So we are ready to go out
once again! Today, the boss had put forth this configuration of the
track for us to try (path is marked with red dots)
The distance of this particular configuration is about 1.1Km.
Once you exit from the pit, it's something of a hairpin which I
marked as Turn 1. If you are not from the pit, Turn 1 is wide 180
degree right turn. At this turn, I will need to carry as much speed
as possible for the long straight.
The straight is slightly upslope, and the speed will built up to its
max about half way or 3/4 way through it. From there, you have
to be ready for Turn 2, a very high speed right hander which is
still uphill.
Here, after my 1st session I had to tweak my rear end as it
fish-tail a bit no matter how I turn delicately. Session 2 was
much better.
Turn 3 come quick and fast. Another fast right hander down slope.
If you have balls of steel, a very good brake and good set up for
Turn 4, right hander hairpin, one can full throttle and brake at
the last possible moment and turn! COOL...! But, last I checked
it was not made of steel!
Anyway, if you brake too late for this corner you will more often
than not find you and your kart in the ditch. Don't believe, ask
Desmond.
After Turn 4, you will gently climb uphill again for Turn 5.
Look at the track layout, and you will see it's something a 300
degree left hander that will bring you back downhill. Here, it will
crucial to find the correct speed and line to take. Which after
trying and looking at over again, it's about 3/4 away from the
most inside line. This is the most challenging section of the whole
track. My neck hurts now
I had never do round about so fast
ever before!
Finishing Turn 5, the section before Turn 6 is quite tricky as
there is a quick Left then Right before the very wide right turn.
Which is Turn 6, I reckon you will have to use all the available
track so that you can carry much speed into the pit section of the
track and the straight before Turn 7.
Turn 7 is deceiving. It seems wide. As a mater of fact, it is. But
because you think it is SO Wide, you tend to bring too much
speed into it forcing you to go too wide. I know, because I'm
guilty and nearly paid for it!
Oh, I did nearly went off as well at a very high speed at Turn 2.
I was already feeling hot and tired when we went for the 3rd
session at 1.30pm.
A blink of my eyes, and I was steering a second too late for the
corner.... Luckily for the wide track I managed to
recover to be on my way back to the pits and called it a day.
The track is fun.
But well, karting is always fun, isn't it?
In a nutshell, this track is hidden because it will be a gem in time
to come when the rubber is laid down from more karts.
Since it's a relatively high speed track, one will get tired more
easily without feeling too much torque from the kart. Fatigue
will come from full concentration and the G force from Istanbul
like Turn 5.
So you think you can go fast.... try this @ Plentong!
3 Aug 08, 5 more days to the Olympics, I finally visited the new track
at Plentong.
Where the previous track is located just by the side of a main road,
this new track is hidden away.
It's like if you want to get to something good, you have to seek it.
You will have to venture. You will have to drive through about 4Km
of dirt track
And mind you, it took us about 15 mins to complete this dirt track.
There are stones, and humps, and pot holes to deal with.
So do not think you're driving in some stages of WRC Rally... because
if you do, I am quite sure there are no Service Parks at the end of the
'stage' to repair damaged suspensions or radiator been hit by stones.
Upon reaching the track, it's all buzz again! Buzzing with flies!
Because this area was a fruit farm, the flies still lingers on.
There was no one there as yet at about 10.15am.
We were suspecting that if anyone will come in at all!
But before we got started, there was one group of 4-5 persons
who arrived and ready for fun karting.
Then steadily throughout the afternoon, there are groups who
came in and karted. Interestingly, I believed now I am not the only
crazy ones along with my friends!
I did not take any picture of the track itself, as it has been posted
in few forums, and one of those is located at:
http://kartingedge.com/forum/index.php?topic=260.0
The tarmac is smooth. The track wide. So we are ready to go out
once again! Today, the boss had put forth this configuration of the
track for us to try (path is marked with red dots)
The distance of this particular configuration is about 1.1Km.
Once you exit from the pit, it's something of a hairpin which I
marked as Turn 1. If you are not from the pit, Turn 1 is wide 180
degree right turn. At this turn, I will need to carry as much speed
as possible for the long straight.
The straight is slightly upslope, and the speed will built up to its
max about half way or 3/4 way through it. From there, you have
to be ready for Turn 2, a very high speed right hander which is
still uphill.
Here, after my 1st session I had to tweak my rear end as it
fish-tail a bit no matter how I turn delicately. Session 2 was
much better.
Turn 3 come quick and fast. Another fast right hander down slope.
If you have balls of steel, a very good brake and good set up for
Turn 4, right hander hairpin, one can full throttle and brake at
the last possible moment and turn! COOL...! But, last I checked
it was not made of steel!
Anyway, if you brake too late for this corner you will more often
than not find you and your kart in the ditch. Don't believe, ask
Desmond.
After Turn 4, you will gently climb uphill again for Turn 5.
Look at the track layout, and you will see it's something a 300
degree left hander that will bring you back downhill. Here, it will
crucial to find the correct speed and line to take. Which after
trying and looking at over again, it's about 3/4 away from the
most inside line. This is the most challenging section of the whole
track. My neck hurts now
I had never do round about so fastever before!
Finishing Turn 5, the section before Turn 6 is quite tricky as
there is a quick Left then Right before the very wide right turn.
Which is Turn 6, I reckon you will have to use all the available
track so that you can carry much speed into the pit section of the
track and the straight before Turn 7.
Turn 7 is deceiving. It seems wide. As a mater of fact, it is. But
because you think it is SO Wide, you tend to bring too much
speed into it forcing you to go too wide. I know, because I'm
guilty and nearly paid for it!
Oh, I did nearly went off as well at a very high speed at Turn 2.
I was already feeling hot and tired when we went for the 3rd
session at 1.30pm.
A blink of my eyes, and I was steering a second too late for the
corner....
Luckily for the wide track I managed torecover to be on my way back to the pits and called it a day.
The track is fun.
But well, karting is always fun, isn't it?In a nutshell, this track is hidden because it will be a gem in time
to come when the rubber is laid down from more karts.
Since it's a relatively high speed track, one will get tired more
easily without feeling too much torque from the kart. Fatigue
will come from full concentration and the G force from Istanbul
like Turn 5.
So you think you can go fast.... try this @ Plentong!
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