Go Kart Racing 2024
Ipswich Kart Club, Cadet Titles
The Cadet Titles was the first round at Ipswich Kart Club. It was a huge success, with a total of 289 racers participating in 12 different classes.
Although there were a few crashes that caused some delays, the event was well-managed by the volunteers, ensuring that every class got their allocated laps.
I participated in the Tag Restricted Masters category which had 27 racers and I had a mixed performance.
Tag Restricted Masters Heat 1
Random Draw reverse Grid for heat 1 and I started in 13th position on the grid, but after the Heat, I managed to finish in 10th place. My Fastest Lap was on lap 6 at 52.6 seconds, which left me feeling proud of my efforts. Overall, I was content with my kart’s performance and pleased with how Heat #1 played out. As for my gearing, I opted for a 10 front tooth and an 81 rear.
Time Sheet is from My Laps Speedhive.
Tag Restricted Masters Heat 2
I started from the 9th position. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the start I needed and was pushed back to 11th place on the first lap. At that moment, a kart ahead of me lost a wheel at the end of the Start Finish line. I tried to brake to avoid an accident, but I was hit from behind, which caused my rear bumper bar to be pushed into the back left wheel. I could smell a brake-like odor, which I realized at the end of the Race. Back in the Pits going over my Kart, I found that my steering shaft was bent as well as one of my steering arms. I had a bent bolt in the rear bumper bar bracket. Despite the damage, I ran the 8th fastest lap time of 53.3 seconds as the track was heating up, and other karts were slowing down. It took around an hour and a half to repair the kart for the next heat.
Tag Restricted Masters Heat 3
I commenced my race from the 15th spot and maintained my position for the first four laps. I made a couple of successful passes and trailed a slower driver for a few laps before identifying a safe passing opportunity. Ultimately, I Finished in 12th position, clocking the 10th fastest lap of 52.9.
Tag Restricted Masters Final
It Was a race I’d rather forget. I started in the 14th position on the Grid, but my kart’s battery died at startup. Thankfully, a crew member from another team had a spare battery and gave me a jump start. However, I missed the roll-up lap and found myself in 18th position when the race started.
Despite this setback, I had a strong start and managed to climb up to 15th place by the end of the first lap. By lap 7, I was in 11th position, but when I entered turn one too hot, I spun out and fell back to 18th place.
To improve my position after falling behind, I attempted to pass another driver who was blocking the inside line by passing on the outside. Unexpectedly the other Driver changed his racing line at the last moment, causing us both to spin out on a straight section of the track.
This incident resulted in me falling back to 21st place, despite having achieved the 7th fastest lap time of 52.8.
It’s unfortunate that my GoPro battery died, leaving me with only 3 minutes of recorded footage and missing the start of the race.