1 May 2011

Labour Day and the weather is perfect for go karting

Went to stc at around 4, had a few laps after that. First few laps are routine ones where we warm up the tires and brakes a lil. After that, business starts.

So it was sunny, track and tires were warm enough, the first Fastest lap i managed to pull off was under the 1 min mark...quite an achievement for me!

After doing a few good laps, i went back to the pits and took a rest..arms were totally numb and tired. Really do have to fight hard to maintain control of the kart in the corners. Took a look at the gauge and it reads 59.74 for the first fastest and 50.70 for the fastest for the first session, by the standard of the veterans it is way off their mark.

But for me, any time under 1 min is very satisfying..and then off for another session, got a push from my uncle and i'm off. The first lap was a another warm up one, getting myself set for the track, with the numb and tired arms. Upon exiting the last corner heading for the start/finish straight, i sped up revving the kart from 7-9 in the rpm scale(couldn't really remember the reading..it gets scary to even blink in that turn). During the turn in from the 1st to 2nd corner, i could feel myself gliding through the corners gracefully with the right amount of wheelspin and steering(in other words drifting).

Exiting the corner to the big 3rd round turn, jamming hard on the throttle and making minute adjustments with the brakes..and i could feel this will be an even better lap. Getting done with the lap, i glanced down on the gauge and it reads 58.++ secs, i was thrilled, Motivated by it, i start to get better and better. On the 3rd lap, i finally managed to do 57.77 with the rpm reading 14.58..quite an achievement really. Cheering on my own on the kart, doing swift corners i started noticed the front plate was loose and started to have a bad feeling.

As i exited the turn leading to the longest straight, i once again went above 1300 rpm and when i started to brake and brace the for the hairpin turn, i heard some strange noise. Turning into the corner, the tail end brakes loose and the kart literally drags itself to a standstill and with the engine revving even without my foot on the throttle really scared me..fearing the engine block would explode right beside me. I looked down and turned the pins on the carburator as taught, to cut the oil supply to the engine, only then i got out of the kart. Walking around it, i could see the brakes smoking, chain guard's out of place, chain's some where else and that was when i knew what had happened.

My uncle walking towards me with a smile knowing what went wrong in the back of his palms, told me that i had braked too much, locking the wheels and breaking the chain.

My heart was pumping hard that time..first experience of such scariness in my life, first fearing the engine would explode beside me and now fearing what would it take to make everything well and running again..

Labour day is a day to chill and enjoyed..no doubt that i enjoyed but not for my uncle..felt sorry but such accidents do occur in the world of motorsport..If none of it occurs, its just too good to be true..sorry to say that nothing is perfect..

Lapping in the track

It has been about 2 weeks since i have last driven in the track..getting in the car is a routine until when i'm driving it. Yap zai's kart is a powerful thing...the first kart i've driven this year.

Today was a bit special, Sylvester and his bro was there too..joining and slowly lapping a few rounds.

So there i go rolling in his kart, tyres were still cold, have to do some warm up laps and trying to get use to the kart. After a few warm-up laps, its time to jam the throttle.

I was having quite a hard time getting used to the kart..went well on the straights. But behaves strangely in low speed corners. And as i was entering the corner, the backside tends to break lose and I really have to fight hard to regain control of the thing..sadly when exiting the last corner heading to the start/finish line, the kart spun. After the uncles and i got it rolling again, i set for a few more laps and figured its time to end with that kart..

Then, to my uncle's new kart...as usual, first few rounds is sort of practice session..where u get used to the car, feel the throttle and brakes. Tyres are new and it runs good as any new slicks does. It gets in the corner as u wanted it to and exits nicely without a hitch.

A few laps in, i spun hard and ending up next to the tyres on the side of the road. As i was exiting that corner, the back end threw out, counter steered and jam the throttle trying to get it back straight but failed...i would have wrecked the new thing if it wasn't for the tyres stopping me..and fortunately that i was wearing a helmet!

The sky was getting dark and i reckon would be time to end my session, handing it to Sylvester then his bro. His bro was new and just rolls slowly...reminds me of myself years ago..haha!.

Thats all for now...will be back for more soon. =)

MUET

Finally muet has finished and all over!.
Quite a bored, tiring and slow day.
Looking forward to head to the track..just hope to receive that call.
If not, probably going to the range...register and hopefully shoot some arrows..

Enjoy your saturdays people...