Kingston Cup 2017

Time for the Kingston Cup! 2nd Karting weekend in a row! Only 3 races this time but the final was 18 laps.

During practice on Saturday I got a new best of 42:60.

Qualifying
Qualified 5th

Heat 1
Got stuck behind the same another driver from Geelong and crashed on the final lap leaving him not finishing and me disqualified.

Heat 2
Got stuck behind the same driver again and finished last.

Final
Still stuck trying to find a way past. Eventually had success on lap 16 and for a brief moment was happy. Unfortunately this didn't last long due to copping a whack from behind and ended in the kitty litter.

All in all I learned a few things this day. Combined with the fun I had socialising and making a few new friends I guess the day was good despite my on track failures.

Looking forward to the 3rd Karting weekend in a row - the OGKRC Class titles. Hoping to keep clear of any drama!

May add videos
-Braden, Kart #18.

Geelong Junior Challenge 2017

Straight away, I get another weekend of Karting! On Saturday morning, I went to Lotem's place to pick up his Kart and take him to Geelong. We happened to he wearing the same clothes (blue t-shirt and black shorts). Team uniform!
Once we got to the track, we watched a few practice sessions then went out ourselves. It is a very fast track, really fun and only 3 breaking points! We ended up running 10-72 gearing on both karts.
Sunday
Qualifying
I Qualified 4th but another driver protested to the stewards when I  bumped the kart after he broke early. Sent to the back of the grid (12th).
Heat 1
I started well and raced really well making great moves all the races and battling with the Ryans (Nick #7 and Alex #5). Riley (#44) spun on a corner and elevated me up a position but couldn't make it past Sophie (#34) to get to 4th. Finished 5th.
Heat 2
I started well and raced really well making great moves all the races and battling with the Ryans (Nick #7 and Alex #5). Riley didn't spin this time but I was able to get by Sophie. Finished 5th.
Heat 3
I crashed. See for yourself. In Lotem's race he got airborne. "Don't get airborne" - Lotem, Kart #8.

Credit to Pace Images for the photo.
Final
Starting 7th I looked good to get on the podium But dropped to 9th off the start and managed to get back to 6th.
Great weekend overall, next race in Kingston Cup. I hope I don't get involved in another crash!

October Club day

YES! Finally another club day! It has felt like forever since I raced last. Over the time between the club days, I have done some club training and now have  a new best lap of 42:88 which i'm very happy about.
There was a field of seven heavies which is great. We had Joshua Hocking (#2), Lotem Ben Yosef (#8), Hamish Allan (#11), Jakob Searles (#17), Me (#18), Ben Moss (#71) and Daniel Hookway (#95).
The grid was random draw. For Heat 1 I started is P7, stayed there until Ben came off after a bump from Lotem where i went on the inside and Jakob went on the outside. Finished P6.

For Heat 2, I started P1. I was really nervous, but got a reasonable start and got passed by Hamish and Dan on the first turn, on the second lap I got passed by Josh on Turn 2, then an excellent pass by Lotem a few laps later. Finished P5.

For Heat 3 I started P7 (Last) But with a new gearing on (77) I was going much better and running my own race. Finished P5.

For the Final, I started P5 and run my own race to finish P5. First club day not on the podium, but wrapped up the championship.

September club day

Septembers club day this year was probably one of my most enjoyable race meetings this year. It it also my first club day on c grade, which is cool.

There was qualifying this time, and I qualified 2nd of 3, one tenth ahead of Jakob.

For heat 1, I got a good start and got passed by Jakob on turn 1, but got him right back into turn 2. Almost every lap he got me on turn 13 (page bros) and every time I got him on 2. Ended second.

For heat 2 I once again started 2nd and once again got passed by Jakob on turn 1 and once again got him back on turn 2. Once again, he kept getting by me on 13 and I kept getting him back on 2. At one point he got way past me and stayed ahead. Ended third.

For heat 3, I started second and didn't get passed off the start. I got a new line through 13 and he couldn't get passed me. At one point he looked at 5 but i thought he went back behind me, because he tried to pass me on 6 and hit the grass on the inside and spun. Ended second.

For the final, I started... SECOND! What a surprise, huh? Anyway, I got a cracking start and got by Lotem into 1st! He bumped my wide and got by on 5, but I wasn't bothered because he is faster and would have got me later anyway. I continued to take the inside on 13 and that was fine. One lap, I got held up by some Light drivers, therefore I went really slow through 4 and the gap that I had formed between myself and Jakob had vanished in a split second. Right near the end, one of the lights ran wide on 5 and i got by, but Jakob didn't! That got me the race done.

Fun weekend and leading the championship by ~2000 points. May add more videos.

Hamilton Kart Club - VCS rnd 5 2017

Friday

We left at 7pm on Friday after school for the single longest drive (excluding year 6 camp) I’ve ever been on. We arrived at Pierrepoint wines at 11pm, greeted by 2 friendly cats. Pierrepoint wines is a bed and breakfast place south of Hamilton.

Saturday, Practice

We drove down to Buckley swamp for practice day. The track itself is really fun. I got used to it really quick, I even made a pass on my first flying lap! My best time over the weekend was achieved early in the day, with a 34:00.

Sunday, Qualifying and Racing

We arrived at the track for Qualifying at 8am. My carby unfortunately had issues, which pissed me off because I felt like I could of gotten into the 33's. We then went over to anarchy kart sport, and he fixed up our carby for the races. Some how, For Heat 1 I wasn't starting last!

I started 18th of 20. I drove around quite nicely, warming up the tyres well. I was unable to pass the kart in front as I didn't have amazing straight-line speed. Ended 18th.

For heat 2 I was starting 18th. I got a much better start this time, and got myself up to 17th. Ben Moss (Kart #11) unfortunately ran wide on 4, which elevated me to 16th. Then Whoever Kart #3 was came off at 8 (the corner after the back straight), which put me in 15th. I ended up in 15th. Heat 2 start video.

For the final, I started 17th. I got a good start and got into 16th, in front of Ryan Cook (Kart #28). He decided that he wanted to help me get around the track fast, so he did. Eventually I got wide (I wonder how) and he got by. Really wasn't happy with him. I ended up 17th.

After the race we went over to Ben's pits, and had a bit of a chat. He gave us a starting trick, which is holding the fuel line off the start. Ben and his father are very nice people, and they are also from the Oakleigh track.

Before we left, we saw that the Tony kart trailer was bogged. It had Ben's motor in it as well. Eventually, a futon Ute pulled them out, which is some sort of cheap Toyota Hilux. I’m pretty sure David Bell (Oakleigh president) was there with Tony kart.

The drive home, I always find is shorter than on the way. We had chips and stopped for a hot chocolate, and coffee for dad.

August club day

August club day

Heat 1

Started 5^{th (last)}, like all the races (because of p plate) but had troubles and ended up 5^th.

Heat 2

Still kart troubles, but finished 4^th after Ben Moss (Kart #11) didn’t finish.

Heat 3

Changed to 76 gear for test. No improvement

Final

Night race! Sounds fun! We go out then it buckets down and were all on slicks. Jacob Searles (Kart #17) spun off in front of me early on. Later on, Ben spun off and Lotem Ben Yosef  (Kart #8) did later too. He reckons that Riley Jabke (Kart #44) tagged him but he (Riley) things that Mason Kelly (KA4 Jnr. Light driver, also son of Todd Kelly, V8 Supercars driver) tagged him. We borrowed Lotem’s 77 gear but we forgot to give it back to him! I ended up 2^nd! Riley won, Jacob 3^rd, Lotem 4^th and Ben 5^th.

Braden Clark, kart #18.

C and D titles 2017

C&D grade titles

Friday.

The c and d grade titles at Morwell, Gippsland. It was a bit of a drive to get there. We stayed at the farnham hotel in room 11. A great place to stay despite the 24h mcdonalds, a trainline along the back and a car wash. Provided breakfast just outside the room in the room 11-20 kitchen. Ill take it! We went to the track to see it and there was a train line right next to it! The weather was kinda windy though and it rained as well.

Saturday.

The track is really fun to drive on, especially the esses and the fast braking through 2 and the hairpin. I had a bit of trouble with 6, worked it out now. First there were a few practice sessions, which helped me learn the track. I think I did pretty well!

Qualifying.

Started off well but didn’t end to good, ended up P8 with a best lap of 31:71.

Heat 1, 12 laps.

Got a nice start, 8^th to 7^th. Narrowly avoided an incident evolving Ben Moss (kart #11) and Maximus Fahey (kart #71). This put me into 5^th and managed to keep that through the whole race.

Sunday.

Heat 2, 12 laps.

Got a great start, straight from 5^th to 3^rd! I thought “Wow, I might win this!” But unfortunately I get tagged by Zane Bright (kart #8). Spun onto the grass but managed to get back out in P8 with Ben, and Riley Jabke (kart #44) unfortunately involved (Video attached, judge it yourself). Got going but spun on 5 letting Ben and Riley past leaving me last in 10^th.

Heat 3, 12 laps.

Determined to make a comeback, I started off in 8^th but slightly touched the grass and spun on my own. Unfortunately I was 10^th again but used this time to practice 6 and I got it!

Final, 16 laps.

Once again starting from 8^th, I was determined to make a great start. 8^th is on the dirty side of the road but got a great start and went straight up to 6^th and managed to keep it! (vid attatched) Got passed by Bailey Collins (kart #96) soon after on lap 1 turn 10. Kye got me on lap 5 but spun on 2 on lap 7 putting me back into 6^th. Billy Bishop got spun by Max and I nearly passed him but unfortunately didn’t. Finished 6^th but Max got a 10sec time penalty leaving me 5^th of 10!

Conclusion.

Great successful weekend especially for a new track and first away from Oakleigh. Worth it!

Braden Clark, kart #18.

Personal best lap, 45:03 seconds (old)

new best is 43:62

Current best (18/09/2018) is 42:32. Achieved about march.