Another report on the weekends action
Banff this time,and no sat.practice as I had my sisters wedding ,so was out the van and racing on Sunday without having done a lap of the track before !!!
Heat 1
After a first corner "incident" I was up to 4th (of 9) which was great,but when I got to the next corner,I realised I hadnt a clue where I was going....which was not good.I went back 2 places over the next 2 laps,then started to get to know where I was going....which was good.Then had to start lifting off behind the 2 that had passed me,to my surprise.I think I finished 7th which I was pleased with.
Heat 2
Again ,got a place or 2 at the start,and found myself stuck behind the same 2 karts,they were fighting for the place and I was not sure enough of the track yet to really have a go,but as the race went on all 3 of us took another place,and I decided to have a go with 2 laps left,and got passed one of them,so a good result, 5th place finish.
Heat 3
Back of the grid again,(novice)so had them all to pass again,Same story,held up again,and another 7th I think.
Steven was also racing in Cadet,he had been there last year,but had forgotten the track,so was in the same boat as me.There were 14 cadets on the grid,and he really did not do to well ,finishing around 9th in most heats,and almost having a real nasty one in the 3rd one,got pushed onto the kerb ,kart went 2 foot in the air,he was out the seat ,nasty ;-(
I though he was over,but got away with it.He finished the race,but was in a real state when he came in,in tears for 5 mins before he got out the kart.Never hurt anything ,but got a BIG fright.He finished 12th in the final,after being hit by another kart as he rejoined the track after a spin,not his fault,they were all on slicks,and with 5 laps to go,it started to chuck it down with snow!!!!The track eventually got wet and and they were all over the place.Never mind.
Final
6th on the grid,and on the outside for the 1st corner,not good,but got into 5th by the 2nd corner.2 laps later I was on the back of the battle for 3rd,with a small gap behind me.The place changed ,and the guy started to pull a gap on the 4th place kart who I was now trying to pass.He made a mistake,and went off the track and I went through as he was making his way back onto the track.I did not know at the time ,but the kart behind me drove over the top of him at the next corner,both guys were OK and finished the race,but it gave me a bit of a gap .I looked behind me on the straight,and they had all gone,so I knew something had happened.
So I was now in 4th,and 6 kart lengths behing 3rd,who I knew was quicker than me but had a go at keeping up,and was doing OK,as in not getting any further behind him.1st and 2nd were gone,out of sight.On lap 8 of 15 the 3rd place guy pulled of the track
His axle had moved and the chain came off,and ripped part of the engine of with it,just as well I was not close,would have had a face full of chain and aluminium !!
So that was me ,3rd place.....7 laps to go.....I started to think "dont make a mistake and bin it" so I lifted of a bit and watched behind me,even at half a sec a lap slower,I was still pulling away.
Was I chuffed,3rd place,and I also got the best snr.novice as well.Made up for being punted at Larkhall when I was 4th.
A great weekend.
Stu
