Just wanted to say a quick good luck to my fellow Teamsport & BRKC'ers competing in Poland this weekend! Do us proud- maybe I'll see you there next year?!
Have a good weekend everyone :-)
Ben
Saturday 18 April 2015
Thursday 2 April 2015
Indy 100
With the end of March fast approaching, Teamsport Grid Members gathered at the Avonmouth circuit for a new event, the Teamsport Bristol Indy 100. The premise was simple; Based on a NASCAR-style race format, the race would run for 100 laps, with a 'safety kart' coming on to the circuit in the event of any yellow flag incident. Lapped drivers would be allowed to gain a lap back and join the back of the pack before the restart. In the event of the race finishing 'under yellows', a green & white flag would be shown, ensuring a racing finish. Drivers could enter the event either individually (as I did) in pairs or as teams. Those drivers going solo would have to take a 5 second penalty pitstop, and with the added uncertainty around how the Safety kart would feature- it was sure to be an interesting race. I found myself lining up amongst a host of familiar faces, including Oliver Bayani, Dutch & Zac, whilst Krystian came along to keep an eye on proceedings.
After a short practice/warm-up session for each driver, 1 driver from each pair along with the 6 entered as individuals would take part in a qualifying session where by we were to complete 4 flying laps with our lap times being averaged out in order to settle starting positions. After finishing up 2nd overall in the warm-up, only 2/10s off Zac, I drew 'unlucky' kart 13 for the race, which I'd also have to qualify in. My 4 flying laps weren't the best I'd driven, particularly my final lap, but I was pretty shocked to see that my average time was over a second off the best lap, again set by Zac. Kart 13 did have a bit of understeer but had generally felt alright. After consulting with race director Martin Savage, I decided against a kart change before the race & just put my poor time down to my slow final lap. But the doubt had already begun to creep in.. In true NASCAR style, we would have a rolling start to the race, as opposed to starting from the grid- which had previously proved chaotic at best & always favoured the drivers who qualified in odd-numbered positions as they would essentially have the 'inside' line. After one false start due to drivers being out of position (one driver had spun on the formation lap) we finally got going with field already strung out- not exactly as designed but we were still underway. Having qualified in 7th, I was right in the thick of things from the get-go, & quickly gained a position as a couple of drivers made contact coming off the flyover.
It wasn't long before we had a first 'safety-kart' period, which did work effectively in neutralising the field, but we were quickly racing again & I found myself behind my old sparring-partner Andy Taylor, who was getting back up to speed after having been away from karting for a while. Dutch had the first of 2 spins whilst near the front of the field, which promoted everyone by one position, before I found myself all over the back of Aaron Smith. A couple of laps later & I made an aggressive pass coming off the flyover, almost too aggressive but legal- with a driver like Aaron you have to be forceful or you end up wasting precious time stuck behind him. Anyway, I was through & already up to 4th after an intensive opening to the race. That soon became 3rd as Zac pitted from the lead for his teams first driver change. My kart was feeling better than it had in qualifying (which I suspect may have been due to tyre pressures being adjusted) & I told myself to relax & not overdrive as I chased down the driver in 2nd place. I found my rhythm & within a few laps was all over the back of him, but couldn't find a way past. Although there was less understeer than before, I was struggling to get the power down cleanly coming out of the esses onto the back straight, meaning than I was unable to get close enough to attempt a pass. I made my penalty pitstop a few laps later so as not to waste any more time fighting, just as another yellow flag period had ended. I came into the pits, waited for the marshal to count down as I say stationary- 5,4,3,2,1, Go! As I pulled away, I jumped forward in the seat to try & get some extra momentum. As soon as I did this, I felt a twinge in my lower back. Thinking nothing of it at the time, I continued on to the track, getting out just ages of Aaron. A few laps later Oliver Bayani emerged from the pits ahead of me but already a lap down on the leader after Dutch had come in. Zacs team-mate for the event was struggling to get up to speed & so had dropped down the order, & as we reached the halfway point I found myself in the lead of the race due to other driver-changes taking place.
It was around this time that I started to notice a pain in my lower back, although the safety-kart period gave me some respite. I'd also noticed that since my stop my lucky kart 13 had developed a handling issue again, which left the balance all over the place with handfuls of understeer one second then armfuls of oversteer the next. On top of the issues I was having getting the power down in the slower corners, I was having to fight the kart through the faster sections as it would initially refuse to turn in, before the back would step out wildly. I tried my best to stay smooth & drive consistently, but I knew I was losing time hand over fist. Another yellow flag period allowed Ollie to close up on the back of the pack, & I was soon relegated to second place. By this point I was struggling to even catch & pass the backmarkers who had been allowed back through under the safety kart, & it was only due to some courteous driving on their behalf that I was able to maintain a cushion back to the third place that Oliver Bayani had set his sights on. As the race drew to a close, Ollie snatched 3rd & then came flying past me as we went under the flyover. Any hop of staying with him for even half a lap were dashed as I had another huge moment coming off the down ramp, & before long my 3rd place was under under threat from not one but three drivers! My back had been feeling more painful as the '20 minutes to go' board was shown, & I had considered pitting again for a brief respite, but as I was fighting for a podium I really didn't want to lose out. However, as the 10 minute board was shown, & with a small train coming behind me, I decided enough was enough & called it a day. I didn't have the strength or the kart beneath me to fend off an attack, & rather than delay the guys behind or risk an accident, I pulled over from 3rd place & returned to the pits to retire. I was absolutely gutted to miss out on a podium spot after fighting my way up from 7th, & I struggled out of the kart to return to the viewing area in order to watch the final few laps.
I joined Dutch just in time to see the start of the final lap, & it looked like he was going to finish an incredible 2nd, only a few seconds behind the leader- but then a kart spun in the midfield, bringing out the safety kart one last time! NASCAR rules state that a race must have a 'racing' finish- which meant that another 2 laps would be added, & with it a chance for Oliver Bayani to take an u likely victory having taken over from Dutch a lap down. Everyone in the spectator area was hooked as the safety kart pulled aside & the action recommended. But try as he might, Ollie couldn't find a way past, no wanting to risk a last- minute lunge. He crossed the finish line 0.4 seconds behind race winner Sam Phillpotts, with the team of B Winter & E Barrs completing the podium. This race marks the first time I've ever 'thrown in the towel' during a karting event, & I fully intend to work on my general fitness before the Teamsport Grid summer series' get under way. My congratulations as always go to the winners of this event, & to all the other guys who took part in making it an interesting race. Well done to Andy Collins also for doing a great job as official safety kart driver! I hope to share some track-time with you all again soon!
Until then,
Ben ;-)
After a short practice/warm-up session for each driver, 1 driver from each pair along with the 6 entered as individuals would take part in a qualifying session where by we were to complete 4 flying laps with our lap times being averaged out in order to settle starting positions. After finishing up 2nd overall in the warm-up, only 2/10s off Zac, I drew 'unlucky' kart 13 for the race, which I'd also have to qualify in. My 4 flying laps weren't the best I'd driven, particularly my final lap, but I was pretty shocked to see that my average time was over a second off the best lap, again set by Zac. Kart 13 did have a bit of understeer but had generally felt alright. After consulting with race director Martin Savage, I decided against a kart change before the race & just put my poor time down to my slow final lap. But the doubt had already begun to creep in.. In true NASCAR style, we would have a rolling start to the race, as opposed to starting from the grid- which had previously proved chaotic at best & always favoured the drivers who qualified in odd-numbered positions as they would essentially have the 'inside' line. After one false start due to drivers being out of position (one driver had spun on the formation lap) we finally got going with field already strung out- not exactly as designed but we were still underway. Having qualified in 7th, I was right in the thick of things from the get-go, & quickly gained a position as a couple of drivers made contact coming off the flyover.
It wasn't long before we had a first 'safety-kart' period, which did work effectively in neutralising the field, but we were quickly racing again & I found myself behind my old sparring-partner Andy Taylor, who was getting back up to speed after having been away from karting for a while. Dutch had the first of 2 spins whilst near the front of the field, which promoted everyone by one position, before I found myself all over the back of Aaron Smith. A couple of laps later & I made an aggressive pass coming off the flyover, almost too aggressive but legal- with a driver like Aaron you have to be forceful or you end up wasting precious time stuck behind him. Anyway, I was through & already up to 4th after an intensive opening to the race. That soon became 3rd as Zac pitted from the lead for his teams first driver change. My kart was feeling better than it had in qualifying (which I suspect may have been due to tyre pressures being adjusted) & I told myself to relax & not overdrive as I chased down the driver in 2nd place. I found my rhythm & within a few laps was all over the back of him, but couldn't find a way past. Although there was less understeer than before, I was struggling to get the power down cleanly coming out of the esses onto the back straight, meaning than I was unable to get close enough to attempt a pass. I made my penalty pitstop a few laps later so as not to waste any more time fighting, just as another yellow flag period had ended. I came into the pits, waited for the marshal to count down as I say stationary- 5,4,3,2,1, Go! As I pulled away, I jumped forward in the seat to try & get some extra momentum. As soon as I did this, I felt a twinge in my lower back. Thinking nothing of it at the time, I continued on to the track, getting out just ages of Aaron. A few laps later Oliver Bayani emerged from the pits ahead of me but already a lap down on the leader after Dutch had come in. Zacs team-mate for the event was struggling to get up to speed & so had dropped down the order, & as we reached the halfway point I found myself in the lead of the race due to other driver-changes taking place.
It was around this time that I started to notice a pain in my lower back, although the safety-kart period gave me some respite. I'd also noticed that since my stop my lucky kart 13 had developed a handling issue again, which left the balance all over the place with handfuls of understeer one second then armfuls of oversteer the next. On top of the issues I was having getting the power down in the slower corners, I was having to fight the kart through the faster sections as it would initially refuse to turn in, before the back would step out wildly. I tried my best to stay smooth & drive consistently, but I knew I was losing time hand over fist. Another yellow flag period allowed Ollie to close up on the back of the pack, & I was soon relegated to second place. By this point I was struggling to even catch & pass the backmarkers who had been allowed back through under the safety kart, & it was only due to some courteous driving on their behalf that I was able to maintain a cushion back to the third place that Oliver Bayani had set his sights on. As the race drew to a close, Ollie snatched 3rd & then came flying past me as we went under the flyover. Any hop of staying with him for even half a lap were dashed as I had another huge moment coming off the down ramp, & before long my 3rd place was under under threat from not one but three drivers! My back had been feeling more painful as the '20 minutes to go' board was shown, & I had considered pitting again for a brief respite, but as I was fighting for a podium I really didn't want to lose out. However, as the 10 minute board was shown, & with a small train coming behind me, I decided enough was enough & called it a day. I didn't have the strength or the kart beneath me to fend off an attack, & rather than delay the guys behind or risk an accident, I pulled over from 3rd place & returned to the pits to retire. I was absolutely gutted to miss out on a podium spot after fighting my way up from 7th, & I struggled out of the kart to return to the viewing area in order to watch the final few laps.
I joined Dutch just in time to see the start of the final lap, & it looked like he was going to finish an incredible 2nd, only a few seconds behind the leader- but then a kart spun in the midfield, bringing out the safety kart one last time! NASCAR rules state that a race must have a 'racing' finish- which meant that another 2 laps would be added, & with it a chance for Oliver Bayani to take an u likely victory having taken over from Dutch a lap down. Everyone in the spectator area was hooked as the safety kart pulled aside & the action recommended. But try as he might, Ollie couldn't find a way past, no wanting to risk a last- minute lunge. He crossed the finish line 0.4 seconds behind race winner Sam Phillpotts, with the team of B Winter & E Barrs completing the podium. This race marks the first time I've ever 'thrown in the towel' during a karting event, & I fully intend to work on my general fitness before the Teamsport Grid summer series' get under way. My congratulations as always go to the winners of this event, & to all the other guys who took part in making it an interesting race. Well done to Andy Collins also for doing a great job as official safety kart driver! I hope to share some track-time with you all again soon!
Until then,
Ben ;-)
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