Round 4 - Cadwell Park (also GP)

 

So, for the 3^rd year we were in with a chance of winning, it was down to us, Simon Bateman & Don Thompson. 

 

We arrived on the Thursday afternoon allowing time to set up the caravan & get ready for a full weekends racing.  Weather report for the weekend was not really promising with the threat of rain spoiling our plans for challenging for the 2009 Long Circuit Championship & GP plate.

 

Friday arrived & so did the rain, so we decided to play safe & not test.  Instead we put the kettle on, feet up & enjoyed relaxing watching our competitors put the wets on !!

 

Saturday 18^th July

 

Free practice

 

Bob went out fairly confident with the set up & came over the mountain with a thumbs up.

 

Qualifying

 

With a good set up on, Bob went out with the usual plan to play safe for the 1^st few laps & then put a couple of quick laps in.  Bob qualified 4^th place for the 1^st race later in the afternoon.

 

Race 1

 

The lights went out, Bob had a good start heading up Charlies.  Simon took the lead followed shortly by Lee Plain & Tom Whyte, Charles Morris failed to complete a lap due to mechanical problems, which also plagued Don who didn’t get to the grid to start.

 

As the laps went by Simon dominated & gained a good lead from Bob, while Tom & Lee were having a good scrap for 3^rd, as the flag fell to Simon then Bob, Lee took 3^rd place by only a 2 second gap.

 

During the break everything was checked & with the championship now down to Bob & Simon, points meant prizes, nothing major was changed & we prepared for the 2^nd race.

 

Race 2

 

Starting on the front row, Bob had an average start, but Charles came flying through the pack to take the lead from Simon & Bob.  Again, mechanical gremlins meant Don didn’t start, Charles & Simon started to edge away from Bob who was fighting with Lee for 3^rd, but Lee pulled out on the penultimate lap giving Bob a bit of breathing space.  Charles took the win from Simon, Bob & Tim Woodward.

 

That was it …… the championship had been decided ……. We were 2^nd for the 3^rd year running !!

 

So, we cleaned the kart & then made our way to the tent for the evening festivities, D . I . S . C . O . !!

 

Sunday 19^th July

 

Pre-final

Well the weather wasn’t looking as good as yesterday, as we lined up on the dummy grid the sky got darker & darker & darker & then they sent them out for the rolling lap, just as the rain came !!

 

By the time we walked down the hill to watch the start, we were soaked through ……. All the drivers were out on slicks & sliding all over the place & the race hadn’t even started !!

 

The lights went out & we didn’t see Bob come by to start the race, then the red flag came out, race stopped !!

 

All the drivers who were able, came into the pits at the bottom to change their tyres, but Bob still hadn’t come around, turns out he thought it was too dangerous to race, even on wet tyres, so pulled into parc ferme & found shelter from the rain.  I've found a picture, kindly supplied by www.gforce-images.com , which shows just how bad it was !!

 

As the race was restarted, Don took the lead for the 1^st few corners until Simon took him at Park.  Charles was in 3^rd racing with Lee & Tom in 5^th, Charles managed to get passed Simon & Don, edging away lap by lap.  Simon was having a great race with Don & in defence of his 2^nd place actually found himself backwards allowing Don to take 2^nd from Lee, then Simon in 4^th & Tom in 5^th.

 

Grand Prix

 

The weather was still raining & track wet enough to stay on wets, but due to Bob not racing in the Pre-Final he started from the back.

 

The lights went out & Charles & Don took a good lead from Simon, Bob was racing with Lee, Tom & Tim.  As they came around for the next few laps, Charles had gained a substantial lead from Don, leaving Lee & Simon having lonely races on their own, Bob had fallen back to 5^th.  Then with 3 laps to go, Don came around just in front of Charles, something had happened & he’d lost his lead.  For the remaining laps they swopped places several times a lap, but as the flag fell it was Charles with a punch in the air that was victorious from Don, Lee, Simon, Bob & Mike Coombes.

 

So, Charles put his past problems with Cadwell to bed & won his 1^st Cadwell Grand Prix & we’ve now become one of the most consistent 210 kart racing teams in recent years, missed out this year by only 36 points, but you know what …… we’ll get it next year !!

 

Round 3 - Snetterton 25th May

 

Bank holiday Monday ....... usually means rain & this time, it was a complete difference to Anglesey, the sun was shinning with a slight breeze, perfect weather for racing really !!

 

Qualifying

 

Again the repaired race engine was on, Bob gave us the thumbs up as he passed the start finish, with past bad luck at Snetterton we were hoping that another engine change wasnt needed ......... & it wasnt !!

 

Bob put in 7 laps with an average speed of 79.49mph & he qualified 2nd place for the first race.

 

Race 1

 

Lights went out, Bob had a good start heading for the 1st corner he was scrapping for position with Simon Bateman & Don Thompson.  As they came around to complete the 1st lap Simon had the lead followed shortly by Don & then Bob, but a 125cc kart spun infront of Don forcing him to take avoiding action on the grass allowing Bob to take the 2nd place position.  As the laps went by Simon had managed to gain a slight lead, but Don & Bob were having a serious battle for 2nd position, everytime they came passed us they were swopping & changing positions coming down the hill into Russel Bend & then up the straight into the 1st corner.  Some of the best racing i've seen Bob do & as Simon took the flag Bob had the position & managed to keep hold of it by 0.42 of a second from Don in 3rd.

 

Race 2

 

Again starting on the front row, Bob had a good start & yet again was racing with Don for 2nd place behind Simon.  As they came around Simon had the lead from Bob & then Don, & as the laps went by Simon had managed to get a good lead from Bob & Don was dropping back in 3rd, towards the end of the race Bob was catching Simon but ran out of time as the flag fell to Simon then only 3 seconds behind Bob in 2nd then Don in 3rd.

 

So with the 2nd places in both races we've got enough points to stay in 2nd, but the gap from Simon is now 31 points going into the Final round at Cadwell Park for the 2009 British Superkart Grand Prix, can get the championship this year ............................................ fingers crossed & lets wait & see.

 

Sarah.

 

Round 2 - Anglesey 9th May (also UK cup)

 

The weatherman said it was going to rain in the afternoon, erm .... he was wrong !!

It chucked it down in the morning, but luckily it was after qualifying as we were putting up the gazebo in gale force winds !!

 

Qualifying

 

With the repaired race engine on, Bob went out to learn the track.   As he went passed the start/finish we got thumbs up & he stays out longer then usual to gain experience of the track.

 

When all the karts returned to parc ferme, Bob wasn't there, we waited for the recovery truck to return with Bob on the back, and he said that the engine temperature was low but he heard a big bang.   When we got back to the trailer the heavens opened up & it was a mad panic to put some shelter up in very strong winds !!

 

Bob took the engine head off & found out the crankshaft had broken, so again it was another engine change & the engine we raced at Mallory was put on with a basic setup on.   After the down pour & strong winds, tyre choice was hard to decide, we had heard that some of the track was dry & some was damp, so thinking that the sun & winds would dry it out more, slick tyres was the best choice & with fingers crossed we went out for race UK after qualifying 2nd.

 

As soon as Bob was on the rolling lap, he found out that we'd made the wrong decision for tyres, it was still too wet for slicks but unfortunately we don't have the luxury of pit stops, so he had to race with what we had.

 

Race 1

 

As the lights went out, Bob's back tyres just spun & he didn't have a great start, by the 1st corner he had dropped down to4th & was scrapping with Lee Plain for position.   They came around to complete the 1st lap Charles Morris had the lead from Simon Bateman, Don Thompson, Lee Plain & Bob.   As the the race continued drivers who were on slicks were spinning off, including Bob who had a scary moment coming out of the 1st corner & it was obvious that wets were the tyres to be on.   On lap 7 Charles pulled into the pits with mechanical failure & the flag fell to Simon, Don in 2nd from Lee & Bob in 4th.

 

Race 2

 

The track had dried enough to keep the slicks on & Bob had an ok start, keeping his 4th place going into the 1st corner.   Lee had the lead closely followed by Don & Simon, while Charles & Bob were fighting for 4th place, but yet again reliability issues for Charles who pulled in on lap 6.   Lee had gained a good lead when his engine seized on the last lap allowing Don to take the flag from Simon in 2nd & Bob in 3rd.

 

During the break until the UK cup, we decided to make a couple of changes as the engine temperature was still very low, so starting 3rd on the grid, we hoped for the best.

 

UK Cup

 

As the karts left the dummy grid for the rolling lap, Don struggled to get away & was unable to get back to his grid position, so started from the back of the grid.   As the lights went out, Simon took the lead from Charles, followed by Bob, Lee & Don, but yet again the gremlins took hold of Charles's engine & he retired out on the circuit.   Promoting Bob to 2nd. Don had caught up & passed Lee for 3rd place & the positions stayed the same from then on.   Simon took the flag & can now race with the coveted "O" plate from Bob in 2nd. Lee & Don.

 

With points awarded for all 3 races Simon won the meeting from Don in 2nd. Bob took a 3rd place trophy home, Lee in 4th & Charles picking up attendance points only.

 

Only 2 weeks until Snetterton on Bank holiday Monday, it's going to be a quick turn around for repairs to the main race engine.   We're still in 2nd place in the championship but now 21 points behind Simon & only 2 confirmed meetings to challenge for the title.

 

Sarah.

 

 

Round UK – Mallory Park 22^nd March

 

Weather report was looking good for race day & it didn’t disappoint, very nice sunshine but with a bit of a strong cold wind.   So we battened down the gazebo to the car & trailer & hoped it’d stay dry !!

 

Qualifying

 

Sticking with our usual plan of doing a couple of steady laps & then just enough, Bob went out with last years race engine in & looked confident as he went passed the start finish.   However, he didn’t come around to complete a 4^th lap of the session & then the red flag came out after a collision between 2 karts heading into Gerrards.

 

Went Bob got back to parc ferme, he said that it had seized & was running a high temperature.   So during the break, Bob & his team of mechanics (my fiancé & friend) did the fastest engine change that BPV Racing has ever experienced !!

 

On went an untested engine & with all fingers crossed Bob started 4^th on the grid for race 1

 

Race 1

 

As the lights went out Bob had an ok start, 2008 Champion winner Don Thompson was fighting for the lead with Simon Bateman followed closely by Tom Whyte, Charles Morris & Bob.   Unfortunately the engine gremlins took hold of Charles motor & he pulled off on lap 4, Simon had gained a substantial lead while Don had spun allowing Tom & Bob to gain a place advantage, but at the hairpin Tom’s carburetor fell off & Bob took 2^nd place from him.   Simon took the win from Bob in 2^nd, followed by Don & Tom.

 

During the break Bob said that the untested engine was doing ok & everything was checked & seemed ok.

 

Race 2

 

Bob started on the front of the grid & had a brilliant start leaving Simon, Don & Tom fighting for 2^nd place going into Gerrards, but as they came around to complete the UK^st lap, Charles had the lead from Simon, Don, Tom & then Bob.   Turns out that Bob had spun out on cold tyres, but managed to keep the engine running & was now chasing the pack.

 

Don had mechanical failure which saw the defending champion pull off on the 2^nd lap, Charles pulled away after each lap, Simon was fighting for 2^nd place with Tom followed shortly by Bob in 4^th, but on the 9^th lap Tom had gearbox issues which saw him retire promoting Bob to 3^rd.   The flag fell to Charles, Simon in 2^nd place followed by Bob in 3^rd.

 

So with points awarded for both races, we came home with a 2^nd place trophy & 2^nd in the championship with only 8 points behind 2009 championship leader Simon.   Now heading to Anglesey for the UK^st time, see you there !!

 

Sarah