Karting Corner

1. Merry Chrashmas

The 1998 Southern Car Club Kris Moose Bash- once again sponsored by Duckhams Oils - was run at Slipstream Racing in Camberley on Tuesday the 8th December.

With entries well oversubscribed for the second event in a row, we moved several teams to an extra race on Sunday the 6th.

As we all know, Slipstream is an indoor circuit but thanks to some damp weather outside providing us with a nice layer of condensation on the inside this race was going to be wet!

As the full grid of 14 cars streamed ut of the pits for qualifying the racing line was reasonably dry which gave the lower numbered teams a distinct advantage with ‘F’ Racing posting their fastest qualifying time on lap 1 and Cool Running and Hodsons Heroes on lap 2. By lap three, the traffic had spread the water/oil/rubber mixture from the outside areas of the track liberally across the whole surface and the real entertainment could begin.

Torvil & Dean couldn’t spin as gracefully - or as fast - as a kart on a wet, painted floor. The basic rules seemed to be don’t go fast - you’ll go off, don’t slow down - the guy behind can’t, don’t try and change direction - you’ll spin. Apart from that, it was well slippery. As the session progressed, lap times continued to climb and the marshals ran themselves ragged in their efforts to reinstate karts to the track.

By the end of practice, newcomers Cool Running’s 35.75 sec early dry lap left then on pole with ‘F’ Racing right behind. Team Jobby were third ahead of Hodson Heroes and Not A Clue. Unusually, Windsor Lot were down in sixth, just 0.09 secs in front of HART M. C. Then there was a bit of a gap back to Hardcore and Hardercore who were well up on Team Trixie, SHAfters and X. With the final two being Windsor Few more and Smokin’ Cavaliers bringing up the rear on 44.50 secs.

Race director Van Kaiser decided to help out the Cavaliers by reversing the grid and putting the quicker teams at the back. Probably just as well because as the lights changed and wellingtons were firmly applied to accelerators all hell broke loose in the middle of the first corner and half the field - the supposed quick half at the back - ended up locked together in a gigantic pile up whilst the slower teams tiptoed off into the distance.

Things were quickly sorted out and everyone sent on their way but I don’t think there was a complete lap during the whole race when someone somewhere wasn’t buried in a barrier.

At the end of the first twenty minutes of racing, Not A Clue were a mere 0.97 secs ahead of ‘F’ Racing with Hodsons Heroes, Cool Running, Team Jobby and X - well up on their qualifying position - all close behind and still on the same lap. Another team showing well were Windsor Few More who were keeping just in front of Windsor Lot, SHAfters, Team Trixie and HART M. C. Hardercore in twelfth were drawing away from Hardcore and tailenders Smokin’ Cavaliers - already four laps adrift - were looking like they’d be better to give up the fags and stick to drink like the rest of us.

The spins, crashes and trips to the Doghouse continued unabated. I lost count of the number of times John - he’s in a ditch - Upham of HART M. C. buried himself into the barriers (substitute ditch?) at the last corner, eventually stopping on the start/finish line and handing his glasses to his team mates before continuing - as far as the next corner before crashing again.

Not that John was any different from anyone else and by lap 60 ‘F’ Racing had got past Not A Clue and held a 2 lap lead! Team Jobby had risen to third with X and Windsor Few More still close behind. HART M. C. had risen to sixth and Windsor Lot seventh in front of Team Trixie. Hardercore were up to ninth and SHAfters were down one in tenth. Hodsons Heroes had suffered a terrible reverse, sliding (‘scuse the pun) from third to eleventh, five laps down on the leaders but the Cavaliers had improved to twelfth. Hardcore still held the unlucky thirteenth spot but the real sensation was that early pace setters Cool Running had crashed (‘scuse etc.) to last, nine laps down on the leaders.

With just on one hour gone, the fuel stops were under way and judging who was really where was getting extremely difficult. Not A Clue were back in front, a lap up on ‘F’ Racing who were in turn only 1.97 secs up on Team Jobby. HART M. C. Had risen to fourth a further lap back but well ahead of Team Trixie. Hodsons Heroes were struggling back up the leader board after their earlier setbacks and Windsor Lot still held seventh. Hardercore continued a steady advance in eighth but Windsor Few More and X had dropped to ninth and tenth. Smokin’ Cavaliers were losing less time than before and had a six second advantage over SHAfters with Cool Running pushing Hardcore to the back by a mere three seconds.

By half distance, with the fuel stops completed, a pattern was beginning to appear - the teams who were doing well were those who spent less time in the queue for the Doghouse - yes queue, if this lot are going back Slipstream may need to put in a six lane orbital Doghouse to hold them all.

‘F’ Racing had grabbed the lead back from Team Jobby and Hodsons Heroes had risen Phoenix like from the ashes (they’re firemen) of their earlier troubles. Not a clue were a further 23 secs back with a 3 secs advantage over HART M. C. in fifth. Windsor Lot suddenly found Windsor Few More snapping at their heels again at the expense of Hardercore and Team Trixie who seemed to be having their bad patch and had fallen to ninth. X were still battling on in tenth and Cool Running were slowly dragging themselves back up the order. Hardcore had managed to pull up to twelfth but Smokin’ Cavaliers were running out of puff after their brief charge. The other team to suffer badly had been SHAfters who had not only managed to drop to last but to lose another five laps to the leaders.

With 150 laps run, ‘F’ Racing were 2 laps clear of Team Lobby again with Not A Clue in third and Hodsons Heroes in fourth who had Windsor Lot and HART M. C. in close attendance. The others were now falling well behind with a gap of four laps between HART and seventh placed Windsor Few More and Team Trixie who held another lap’s advantage over Hardercore. The final five were beginning to look rather familiar with X holding on grimly to their tenth place and Smokin’ Cavaliers slowly dropping back into the clutches of Cool Running. Hardcore had exhausted themselves with their brief foray up the field and now settled back to a more manageable thirteenth with SHAfters only just managing to keep themselves in last place.

Differing strategies were beginning to show as with 20 minutes to go, Team Jobby were back in the lead with only one driver change still to make., ‘F’ Racing had two and Not a clue in third only one. Hodson’s Heroes in fourth were only scant seconds ahead of Windsor Lot, the first five still covered by under 3 laps.

HART M. C. were a bit adrift in sixth but were comfortably ahead of Windsor Few More who were easing away from Hardercore. Team Trixie weren’t awfully far behind but were 2 laps clear of X who held the same advantage over Cool Running who had just sneaked past Smokin’ Cavaliers for eleventh. With Hardcore a further three laps behind but only a pit stop ahead of SHAfters, the dubious honour of last place was still not decided.

Into the final three minutes and Adam Pearless of Team Jobby was stil holding on, a lap in front of Peter Noble of Not A Clue, these two were so intent on battling each other that they were throwing themselves at the scenery all over the place. Not a smart move with the canny Hodsons Heroes waiting in third to pick up the pieces. ‘F’ Racing were now suffering from having skimped on their early driver changes and were losing places as they made them up - and Windsor Lot were only 2 secs behind but with a lap in hand over HART M. C. The others were now too far behind to make a difference.

So in the end Team Jobby held on for the win with Not A Clue in second. Hodsons Heroes got third ahead of Windsor Lot who pushed ‘F’ Racing down to fifth almost on the last lap. HART M. C. came home a comfortable sixth, 4 laps clear of Windsor Few More - Slipstream will put in a ditch for your next appearance John. Team Trixie had overcome Hardercore for eighth with X in tenth. The final four had kept station for some time, Cool Running not quite making the top ten with Smokin’ Cavaliers, Hardcore and SHAfters making up the numbers.

With the race over, the presentations were made by Van Kaiser and Gary Salt of Slipstream Racing. SHAfters got the We’ve Been Robbed trophy for effort (or lack of it). An Extra trophy for fourth went to Windsor Lot who only narrowly lost third - SHAfters took them out on the last lap. Hodsons Heroes, in third got their circuit trophies and Duckhams Oils T shirts or Jumpers and Not A Clue and Winners Team Jobby - who also picked up the Newbridge trophy for best team from Newbridge Networks got Duckhams Oils rally jackets and bottles of fizzy pop for the champagne shower celebrations along with their winners trophies.

A thoroughly entertaining evening’s sport - from either side of the barriers, it only remains to thank the marshals at Slipstream for their dogged persistence in keeping putting karts back where they belonged for 21/2 long hours.

For those of you that feel you need the practice, and from what I’ve seen, that seems to be most of you, or if you want to find out more about indoor karting, a call to Slipstream on 10276 685655 will get you their opening times, event calendar and prices.

2. Sponsorship News

As many of you know, our 1998 sponsorship from Duckhams Oils officially ended with Last Gasp back in October.

Things are looking up, I’ve actually received some Competitors Reports. Remember, this is your chance to tell your version of events and say how you and yours fared.

The first report is from Dave Conway-Holland of the mysteriously named team X.

This years Kris Moose Bash saw Team ‘X’ make it’s second rare appearance of the year. However it quickly became apparent that our driving skills hadn’t improved since our last outing. Ed who’d been hyped as the new kid on the block and a rising young star (well he was before the practice laps) came out of the pit lane like a rocket. We all were all congratulating ourselves on picking a ringer when he suddenly decided to try and create a new course by smashing into or was it through, the wooden barrier on the first corner. And that unfortunately, rather set the scene for the rest of the night.

When questioned about it afterwards, the response was “So what’s your problem, at least it showed full throttle at all times is a good option because even if you do spin off, you’ll hit the barriers with such force you’re more than likely to rebound back onto the track and not get stuck”. I’m not sure about that, but some of the other impressionable drivers in our team seemed to think it was sound advice (well I did anyway!). To be fair though, Ed did rather better than just OK and for a time kept us well up with the leaders.

Much thought went into our refuelling tactics, only for them to be thwarted by our American colleague spinning off on his final lap and missing the opportunity to get into the refuelling bay first - nicely done! Apparently he “was trying to move enough debris onto the track to slow everyone else down while he refuelled” - yer right. That said, a storming second stint in the kart redeemed the A & M man and showed that Americans can drive small cars too, if they really want to.

The ice-rink like surface off the racing line provided much entertainment, with bumps, spins and crashes abounding, providing us with great entertainment between drives. The antics of the Marshall’s flying about the track added an extra sense of chaos to the evening, and all in all a thoroughly enjoyable night was had by all. Our only disappointment was the non-appearance of Santa himself.

Oh, and as the big guy says “We’ll be back”

DCH for Team ‘X’ - 10/12/98

Editor’s Note: Actually Dave, Santa Claws was there but when he saw everyone assaulting the scenery he decided that discretion was the better part of valour since he needs to be 100% if all those toys are going to be delivered on time.

The second report is from Ian Childs of early pace setters Cool Running - but what went wrong?

First of all on behalf of my team I would like to thank Gavin and Colin for organising this event and I would especially like to thank the marshals for the great job they did in putting us back on the track every couple of laps.

A great nights racing was had by all, we got off to a flying start by taking pole position only to find out later that it was a reverse order grid which meant that we were guaranteed to get caught up in the first corner pile up. As the race progressed we made steady progress (down the field, ending up in last place) with the beginners on the team discovering the joys of Karting and the lack of grip on an indoor track. Our race position wasn’t helped by one member of the team (who shall remain nameless, he knows who he is!!) who insisted on coming into the dog-house for no apparent reason.

Into the last hour our team was getting faster and managed to stay out of the tire walls for most of the time. We slowly started to drag ourselves off the bottom of the field and by the end of the race we got up to 11th position.

By the end everyone was totally shattered but a enjoyable night was had mainly due to good organisation and a friendly atmosphere.

Thank you Southern Car Club.

The third and final report is a collective effort from third placed Hodsons Heroes.

Attached are a few memories from our Team 'Hodsons Heroes' at the last Karting night.

Changing the Team name for something with a bit more go and aggression, unfortunately it also came with more Doghouses.

Our Team name on the leaders list was 'Hodson Hero' we seemed to have lost a ‘S’ (or two) somewhere around the track.

Hodsons Heroes managed to gain an amazing 12th position on the grid. All our faith was in Keith, who soon took us up to 1st place just before our driver change.

Somewhere along the way, the rear crash bar was re-angled when someone realised exactly how AWESOME we where, and thought they had better try and take us out in the earlier stages.

There was also our Super Dooper home made Pit Board, what a sight that was coming round the final bend.

Then, haring out the pits came Shutts who managed to keep us in the top five having driven like a man possessed in a 4X4 Discovery, taking the option of rather than going round them it would be quicker to go over them.

Things were going well until....

It was no longer GO! GO! GO!, we had hit a mid race crisis. The team were slipping down the table quicker than Tottenham. Robin was on the track and the "RED MIST" had set in, two trips to the Doghouse within 15 minutes.

We were in trouble, compounded by..…

Robin's third visit to the Doghouse only to find no Marshal in sight, having finally got the attention of Gavin, he was then allowed to proceed.

Despite all their troubles Hodsons Heroes still managed a very creditable third in what can only be described as ‘difficult’ conditions - not exactly what you expect to see indoors - however we do try to please. Anyone fancy SNOW next time??? Don’t laugh too loud, I did threaten rain last time and....