It was an alright weekend at Pucka for the June Club Day. Had some difficulties with setup, but still managed decent results. It was frustrating being 6kg overweight all weekend, which contributed to not being right at the front.
I Qualified in P4/13, about half a second off pole.
Heat 1 was fun, got a awesome start and went up the middle of the front row, but only managed to get past one of them. Was in P2 for a while, but then overtaken for P3. On the last lap, P2 made a mistake and spun which allowed me to come through and take P2.
In heat 2, I had another decent start into P3, but we didn't have the engine tune perfect and dropped down the order into P5.
In the Final, I started P4 and once again got a great start and was into P3. After a few laps, I dropped off P2 and then got smacked wide by P4. Finished the race in P4.
Overall, it was a fun weekend being back racing again, but it was frustrating not being able to really fight in the top 2 mainly due to weight. Looking forward to states, and then seniors.
Sunday, 28 June 2020
Friday, 13 March 2020
Metro Series at Oakleigh
We decided to go to the Metro Series at Oakleigh to to some race testing for upcoming events, and try to get the Hard Tyres right.
Qualifying
I Qualified P6/10, with a 45.699. 0.666 off pole.
Heat 1
Was involved in a crash at turn 2 with bent my chassis and a few other parts, was P4 until last lap and finished P5. Went a tenth slower
Heat 2
Was running P5 until kart let go on the exit of JSKC and I spun and went to last, but came back to P8. A tenth slower again.
Final
Found 4 tenths and went pretty good, P4 at the start and held it there.
Overall a tough weekend but looking forward to states.
I will not be racing or attending Cobden due to time and financial reasons.
Qualifying
I Qualified P6/10, with a 45.699. 0.666 off pole.
Heat 1
Was involved in a crash at turn 2 with bent my chassis and a few other parts, was P4 until last lap and finished P5. Went a tenth slower
Heat 2
Was running P5 until kart let go on the exit of JSKC and I spun and went to last, but came back to P8. A tenth slower again.
Final
Found 4 tenths and went pretty good, P4 at the start and held it there.
Overall a tough weekend but looking forward to states.
I will not be racing or attending Cobden due to time and financial reasons.
Monday, 2 March 2020
Puckapunyal's February Club Day
Having recently joined up at the Eastern Lions Kart Club, we though it would be great to test the new kart and support the club by going to the club day. We turned up with no expectations, and we just wanted to get some laps in.
Qualifying
I managed P2 on kart debut, 50.559 and 0.171 off Pole. Super Happy.
Heat 1.
Heat 1 was fun, as I tried to stay as close to Ashton, who also got pole, and managed P2 by the end.
Heat 2.
I got to P1 at the start and I had an awesome battle with Ashton but finished P2. Shoutouts to Jarrod in Kart #31, who in his first race meeting, finished in P3 right on the back of us, almost the fastest lap!
Heat 3.
Starting P2, Ashton was in front for the first lap, but then I got him halfway around the lap and held it there for the rest of the race. Fastest lap of 50.407 by me.
Final.
Starting P2, I got a nice start but the motor wasn't tuned 100% so I lost a lot of ground on Lap 1. I didn't give up however, and very slowly caught up until the second last lap where I got into close drafting range. I managed to pass him in the second last corner on the last lap for the win.
Overall I finished P2, since the club does their club days on points, and since me and Ashton were tied, and he out qualified me, he got the win.
Awesome to do so well in out new kart, looking forward to the Metro Series, Cobden and then States!
Qualifying
I managed P2 on kart debut, 50.559 and 0.171 off Pole. Super Happy.
Heat 1.
Heat 1 was fun, as I tried to stay as close to Ashton, who also got pole, and managed P2 by the end.
Heat 2.
I got to P1 at the start and I had an awesome battle with Ashton but finished P2. Shoutouts to Jarrod in Kart #31, who in his first race meeting, finished in P3 right on the back of us, almost the fastest lap!
Heat 3.
Starting P2, Ashton was in front for the first lap, but then I got him halfway around the lap and held it there for the rest of the race. Fastest lap of 50.407 by me.
Final.
Starting P2, I got a nice start but the motor wasn't tuned 100% so I lost a lot of ground on Lap 1. I didn't give up however, and very slowly caught up until the second last lap where I got into close drafting range. I managed to pass him in the second last corner on the last lap for the win.
Overall I finished P2, since the club does their club days on points, and since me and Ashton were tied, and he out qualified me, he got the win.
Awesome to do so well in out new kart, looking forward to the Metro Series, Cobden and then States!
VCS Round 1 2020 - Portland
Finally I was racing a big field again.
I wanted to come out with hopefully a Top 5 result.
Qualifying.
I qualified 12th out of 17, 1.1 seconds off the pace. It was clear we had some work to do.
Heat 1.
A bit of an issue at the start, having to detour the grass, but didn't gain or loose any positions. Worked my way up to P9 and held it there. Still a second off the pace.
Heat 2.
A wet race allowed me to show my driving and pretty quickly I got up to P6 and held it there for the rest of the race. Had more grip in this race then Quali or Heat 1.
Final.
Don't remember where I started, but I was into P8 pretty quickly. But soon, it became clear I wasn't going to stay there. I was P9 on Lap 2, and on Lap 5 I was P17. Last. I had a battle with some drivers and out of pure driving I managed P15.
Not a fun weekend on track, but always fun with my friends off track.
We went to Geelong for a practice day on Monday, and we found out the kart had many cracks in the chassis, but at Geelong it felt pretty good. We decided though, with a new kart at home, it was time to hang the kart up. From December 2016 when I started karting, it has been an awesome first kart, with some motorsport memories that will stay with me forever. On to the next chapter now.
I wanted to come out with hopefully a Top 5 result.
Qualifying.
I qualified 12th out of 17, 1.1 seconds off the pace. It was clear we had some work to do.
Heat 1.
A bit of an issue at the start, having to detour the grass, but didn't gain or loose any positions. Worked my way up to P9 and held it there. Still a second off the pace.
Heat 2.
A wet race allowed me to show my driving and pretty quickly I got up to P6 and held it there for the rest of the race. Had more grip in this race then Quali or Heat 1.
Final.
Don't remember where I started, but I was into P8 pretty quickly. But soon, it became clear I wasn't going to stay there. I was P9 on Lap 2, and on Lap 5 I was P17. Last. I had a battle with some drivers and out of pure driving I managed P15.
Not a fun weekend on track, but always fun with my friends off track.
We went to Geelong for a practice day on Monday, and we found out the kart had many cracks in the chassis, but at Geelong it felt pretty good. We decided though, with a new kart at home, it was time to hang the kart up. From December 2016 when I started karting, it has been an awesome first kart, with some motorsport memories that will stay with me forever. On to the next chapter now.
Sunday, 1 March 2020
Junior Top Guns 2020
It was time for the Junior Top Guns event at Oakleigh Go Kart Racing Club. We were on a new tyre compound and we were ready to see how well we would go.
Round 1.
Qualifying
I Qualified P5/7, which is a bit off where I would of liked. 4 tenths behind.
Heat 1.
I started P5 and wade my way up to P4 and held it there for the rest of the race.
Heat 2.
I picked up some speed and I was able to move up to P2.
Heat 3.
I started P3 and made my way to P2 by the end of lap 1. Stayed there until the end and slightly faster again.
Final.
I got to P1 right at the start, but the dominant driver so far passed my back pretty quick. I stayed with him for most of the race, but he made a mistake at arrow corner on the last lap (which is the last corner), he had a massive slide and my only option to keep flat (full throttle) was to go around the outside. I missed out on P1 by 0.010.
Round 2.
Qualifying
I qualified P4/8. which may only be one position, but I was much closer to the front.
Heat 1.
I got to P3 at the start and held it there till the end of the race.
Heat 2.
I got to P2 at the start and held it there till the end of the race. Closer and closer to the dominant driver.
Heat 3.
Started P2 and finished P2. Was very close to the leader this time.
Final.
Started P2 and followed the leader for a while put eventually dropped off, but managed to keep P3 off when he caught up near the end.
A pretty fun weekend, but wanted the win but couldn't get it.
Round 1.
Qualifying
I Qualified P5/7, which is a bit off where I would of liked. 4 tenths behind.
Heat 1.
I started P5 and wade my way up to P4 and held it there for the rest of the race.
Heat 2.
I picked up some speed and I was able to move up to P2.
Heat 3.
I started P3 and made my way to P2 by the end of lap 1. Stayed there until the end and slightly faster again.
Final.
I got to P1 right at the start, but the dominant driver so far passed my back pretty quick. I stayed with him for most of the race, but he made a mistake at arrow corner on the last lap (which is the last corner), he had a massive slide and my only option to keep flat (full throttle) was to go around the outside. I missed out on P1 by 0.010.
Round 2.
Qualifying
I qualified P4/8. which may only be one position, but I was much closer to the front.
Heat 1.
I got to P3 at the start and held it there till the end of the race.
Heat 2.
I got to P2 at the start and held it there till the end of the race. Closer and closer to the dominant driver.
Heat 3.
Started P2 and finished P2. Was very close to the leader this time.
Final.
Started P2 and followed the leader for a while put eventually dropped off, but managed to keep P3 off when he caught up near the end.
A pretty fun weekend, but wanted the win but couldn't get it.
Bairnsdale Black Plate (State Cup) - 30/11/2019
It was finally time for the State Cup in Bairnsdale, and we had put a lot of effort into making sure we had the best chance to win at this event.
Qualifying
I Qualified P4/6, in the wet, and we didn't get the setup right and we were 9 tenths off.
Heat 1.
Heat 1 was interesting in which it was the off track battle which caused what would happen in the race. Slicks or Wets. A classic part of karting when its wet, but right on the brink of being dry. Our closest rival was waiting to see what tyres we would choose, and with the help of our friends coming down to support us, we waited halfway into the race before us to change to slicks. So our rival and I were on slicks and the rest were on wets. We dropped back at the start, but then after about 3/8 laps, the slicks became faster than the wets. I was in front of my rival, and we caught up to the leaders and i finished in P3, right behind P2 who was on wets. Fastest Lap was done by me.
Heat 2.
A fully dry race this time, and I was starting P4 and I managed to be in P2 by the start. I made a mistake at turn 1 on lap 2, allowing P3 to pass me for P2. I caught back up halfway through the race, and we had a great battle resulting in me coming out on top.
Heat 3.
Don't remember what happened that race, and the GoPro didn't record. All I can say is, finished P2.
Heat 4.
I started P2 for Heat 3, and I was forced wide at the start, putting me near the back, and then a stack between 2 other drivers got them out of the way, and I caught up to the front two, and put a move on one of them and I came P2.
Final.
I was quietly confident about the final. We had found something in to pick up almost half a second but it destroys the tyres in about 2 sessions. So we rolled out in the final starting P2 with knowledge that we might do really well. I started and went around the outside, and had about 5 or more kart-lengths my the end of lap 1. I got faster and faster, and managed to get a 38.751, which beats the old lap record of 39.273 by half a second. I won the 16 lap final by 8 seconds. That is 5 tenths a lap away from the leaders. Despite not winning any heats or qualifying, we knew that we could do it and come away with a win. It was a great way to end out the year.
P1 in the state is an amazing feeling. All the hard work that you put in throughout the year to try and come away with the best result and you do it by 8 seconds. Thanks so much to my dad for the kart work and support, AGS for helping me out always, DSI for the amazing engine and Cam and Liam Pollard for coming down to support me and pitting with us throughout the year, making the weekends super fun.
We now go into 2020 with new challenges, the new tyre compound will test our ability to set up a kart well, and test the kart.
Qualifying
I Qualified P4/6, in the wet, and we didn't get the setup right and we were 9 tenths off.
Heat 1.
Heat 1 was interesting in which it was the off track battle which caused what would happen in the race. Slicks or Wets. A classic part of karting when its wet, but right on the brink of being dry. Our closest rival was waiting to see what tyres we would choose, and with the help of our friends coming down to support us, we waited halfway into the race before us to change to slicks. So our rival and I were on slicks and the rest were on wets. We dropped back at the start, but then after about 3/8 laps, the slicks became faster than the wets. I was in front of my rival, and we caught up to the leaders and i finished in P3, right behind P2 who was on wets. Fastest Lap was done by me.
Heat 2.
A fully dry race this time, and I was starting P4 and I managed to be in P2 by the start. I made a mistake at turn 1 on lap 2, allowing P3 to pass me for P2. I caught back up halfway through the race, and we had a great battle resulting in me coming out on top.
Heat 3.
Don't remember what happened that race, and the GoPro didn't record. All I can say is, finished P2.
Heat 4.
I started P2 for Heat 3, and I was forced wide at the start, putting me near the back, and then a stack between 2 other drivers got them out of the way, and I caught up to the front two, and put a move on one of them and I came P2.
Final.
I was quietly confident about the final. We had found something in to pick up almost half a second but it destroys the tyres in about 2 sessions. So we rolled out in the final starting P2 with knowledge that we might do really well. I started and went around the outside, and had about 5 or more kart-lengths my the end of lap 1. I got faster and faster, and managed to get a 38.751, which beats the old lap record of 39.273 by half a second. I won the 16 lap final by 8 seconds. That is 5 tenths a lap away from the leaders. Despite not winning any heats or qualifying, we knew that we could do it and come away with a win. It was a great way to end out the year.
P1 in the state is an amazing feeling. All the hard work that you put in throughout the year to try and come away with the best result and you do it by 8 seconds. Thanks so much to my dad for the kart work and support, AGS for helping me out always, DSI for the amazing engine and Cam and Liam Pollard for coming down to support me and pitting with us throughout the year, making the weekends super fun.
We now go into 2020 with new challenges, the new tyre compound will test our ability to set up a kart well, and test the kart.
Geelong Junior Challenge - 17/11/2019
The Geelong Junior Challenge is a junior and cadet only event held at the Geelong Karting Club in Corio. There were only 6 drivers in my class, and I was trying for the win.
Qualifying
I Qualified P3. I was about half a second off, so I had some work to do.
Heat 1.
I got a nice start and was into P2, and stayed there until lap 3 where I was overtaken, and I finished the 8 lap heat in P3. I went 3 tenths faster than in Quali so there was some improvement, but still 2 tenths off.
Heat 2.
I started P3 and finished P3. No overtakes for the whole field! Managed to pick up a tenth too.
Heat 3.
Didn't get the best start and had to battle for P3, I was in P4 right behind P3 for most of the race until he dropped a chain and I managed to finish P3.\
Final
Started P3 and finished P3. Was much closer to the front this time, down to a 34.902, which was right there. Happy with the result.
Overall it was a fun weekend and even though our result stayed the same throughout the racing, we picked up half a second and managed to finish right back of the leaders. We were now looking forward to the Black Plate in Bairnsdale, which we had put lots of time into getting right and were we determined to win.
Qualifying
I Qualified P3. I was about half a second off, so I had some work to do.
Heat 1.
I got a nice start and was into P2, and stayed there until lap 3 where I was overtaken, and I finished the 8 lap heat in P3. I went 3 tenths faster than in Quali so there was some improvement, but still 2 tenths off.
Heat 2.
I started P3 and finished P3. No overtakes for the whole field! Managed to pick up a tenth too.
Heat 3.
Didn't get the best start and had to battle for P3, I was in P4 right behind P3 for most of the race until he dropped a chain and I managed to finish P3.\
Final
Started P3 and finished P3. Was much closer to the front this time, down to a 34.902, which was right there. Happy with the result.
Overall it was a fun weekend and even though our result stayed the same throughout the racing, we picked up half a second and managed to finish right back of the leaders. We were now looking forward to the Black Plate in Bairnsdale, which we had put lots of time into getting right and were we determined to win.
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