52nd Anniversary Trophy Day

 Sunday 12th February 2012

This is one of the highlights of the Clubs Racing Calendar

Top spot eludes Chelsea Herbert at LOSK event.

Jan 28th and 29th saw Chelsea Herbert compete at the ‘Ladies Only Special Kart Event’ at the Combined Districts Kart Club, in Lithgow. Competing in the Junior National Light class (the biggest field in the event), Chelsea was under no illusions that the level of competition would be any easier than the male dominated class she normally competes in.

Leaving a sunny Auckland (finally) and arriving to a very wet Sydney was a little frustrating as it seemed ever y other meeting we competed at in NZ was wet . To the contrary, our wet weather racing skills gained over the year proved to be beneficial. Over the wet two days practice that was available to us Chelsea appeared to be in a class of her own and referre d to as a duck and not a Kiwi.

Race day dawned and the sun shone, and as the twenty odd Kangaroos that had invaded the track overnight disappeared of into the surrounding fauna, we entered qualifying for the first time on slicks. After some stunning drives and fastest laps, a P2 pre final and a well calculated and preferred  P3 start position for the CIK format final was where we started, unfortunately an off track excursion to avoid a spinning driver took the cherry of an already iced cake of what was just a fantastic weekend. After dropping back to last in the final, an inspirational drive back through the field to claim fifth was the best that we could do with the laps remaining, oh for two more laps!

Philosophical though was Chelsea as it was one of the best karting weekends we have had. The event itself, too raise awareness and money for the Australian National Breast Cancer Foundation was awesome. The Combined Districts Kart Club made us feel as if we hadn’t left our home track and adopted us as we were one of their own. Everyone was very kind and supportive and welcomed our visit.

The event organisers were excited to have a NZ entry making their event a truly international one; they have invited us back next year and asked that we bring some more of our Kiwi girls along too. The event continues to grow and has become the unofficial women’s Nationals, with those winning their respective classes allowed to run their Pink plate at events!

Our hosts ‘Stones Kartsport’ supplied us with very competitive gear available allowing us to compete at the front whilst making the trip cost effective and possible for us. So for next year ladies there are a number of arrive and drive lease packages available as the boys step aside, with the lease money being donated back to the cause.

Chelsea would like to thank all those who supported and helped make the trip possible.

Trevor's funeral is being held this Friday 3rd February at the Manukau Memorial Gardens at 2pm.

TOP HALF SERIES 2012

Entries are open for the 2012 Top Half series which gets underway over the weekend of 10th / 11th March at Kartsport Hamilton.

Top Half has long held a reputation for competitive racing which rewards drivers for consistency over a series.

This year the series will be run over 3 rounds, so consistency will be even more important after the two worst heats over the series are dropped to give the overall class winner.

The confirmed dates for the series are:

• Kartsport Hamilton - 10-11th March (Racing begins Saturday afternoon)
• Kartsport Eastern Bay of Plenty - 22nd April
• Kartsport Mt Wellington - 10th June

The first round at Hamilton is sure to attract competitive fields as drivers get in practice for the Nationals that follow 4 weeks later.

As always the Top Half series will be offering great prizes and trophies over the 3 rounds including;

A custom painted Arai Helmet, Pre- Entry draws for MG tyres, $100 cash draws, trophies at each round as well as series trophies for overall results.

The series already has fantastic support from Pacific Kartsport NZ, Kartzone and RightKarts for the MG tyre draws.

Last year’s initiative of a class sponsor raffle is being repeated this year and some classes are still available for sponsorship.

The Pre-entry prize draw closes on 1st March so get your entry in now and be in the draw for one set of tyres drawn per round.

Series rules and entry form are available here.

For information and class sponsorship details contact:

Tim Ganley Ph. 021 380 294 Top Half Chairman

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2012 “OPENING DAY”

Saturday the 21^st January 2012

Now is the time to remove the cobwebs of your kart and get you back on the track into racing mode for 2012

For our newer members or first time racers, come on down. Make yourself known to the conveners’ or any committee member and ask to be buddied up for the day.

They can then take you through scrutineering; driver registration etc and they can make sure you start your five races.

Please ask for help, we all started out once and the best thing was the help we got and the fact we were not afraid to ask for help and ask the dumbest things!

IMPORTANT NOTE

Due to the Morrin Road Rail bridge closure, you cannot access Tainui Raod from Jellicoe Road in Panmure.

It is suggested that you take the route via College Road through to Morrin Road.

PLEASE SEE MAP BELOW

 

Bob Cunningham ably assisted by Neville Sinclair are your wonderful conveners..

Ask them for assistance at all times...they are there for you!

Be there...it will be a goodie!

Program

Gates open Saturday 7.30am

Practice will be from 8.30am to 11:30am ($10.00 Practice Fee)
Racing Commences at 1.00pm onwards

CONVENORS: Bob Cunningham (021-464001) and Neville Sinclair (021-307-074)

Gates Open:                       7.30am

Practice:                            8.30am – 11.30am   
Scrutineering:                    10:30am – 11.30am
Entries:                               11:00am
Flags etc.:                            12:00am
Drivers Briefing:                12:15am
Tuning Run:                       12:30am
Racing Commences:          1.00pm onwards (approx.)
Technical Inspection        At conclusion of racing

Classes Running : 
Cadets 
Unrated Cadets
Junior Restricted
100cc Junior Yamaha
Formula Junior

100cc Yamaha Lights 
100cc Yamaha Heavies
100cc Club Class Yamaha 
125CC Rotax Max Lights
125CC Rotax Max Heavies
Open / KZ2/KF2/125 S

Un-rated Event
 
As it is a club day, competitors are not required to have a rating to compete, but must hold a current KartSport licence or a day licence. 
 
 
General Format 

1 x 6 lap Tuning Run

 Race format - 4 heats and a final, drop worst result

 Heats and finals will be a minimum of 12 laps.

Laps determined by class on day by convenors in their unfettered discretion and posted before the event on the day.

This is weather and class size dependent.

Supplementary Regulations
 
Any combination of appropriate KSNZ classes may be required to compete together but with separate results.
 
KartSport regulations and rules apply.
 
Unsportsmanlike behaviour will not be tolerated.

The committee reserves the right to exclude any competitors or their crews if they or their crew are deemed to have acted in an unsportsmanlike manner towards anybody present at the club event.

 The Convenor reserves the right to apply any supplementary regulations in consultation with the Chief Steward and Clerk of the Course.

Prize giving
 
Will be held at the conclusion of each day.
 
Medallions to 3rd place in each class.
 
Free BBQ at end of the day.

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Welcome Back to a New Race Year.

The New Years Race Calender has been posted - "Click Here"

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Rule Change from the KartSport New Zealand Executive

Including Clarifications for the 2012 Manual

Issue #2011-12 Published 30-11-11

Rotax Max Challenge World Finals - Grand Finals

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Rotax Max Challenge World Finals Update - Day 5

25/11/11 - Heats

Though a solitary black cloud hung over head all day, the desert remained moisture free. Coming from our lush, green country, 5 days at the track is usually interrupted by rain and frankly I am finding not having to pump up a set of wets unnerving. Despite this reporter’s lack confusion, the Heats provided thrilling and close racing as well as the prerequisite spills that come with fields of this size.

As those of you who have followed us on both the Kart Racing Network and Live timing can see, the New Zealand drivers have had mixed fortunes and finding out some hard truths about international racing and relatively lax contact rules. Whilst making for exciting viewing and humourous observations (no fewer than two dozen chassis have been bent and replaced today), it has made watching our stars slightly nerve racking.

Reid again far outperformed what was expected of him, netting a fifth in the first race from grid 11. Carving through the cream of Europe’s Rotax Challenge fields, Reid made pass after pass, eventually catching up to the lead pack, and showed great skill and speed. His second race saw him start on the outside of the grid in 12. Because of the layout of the track, the first turn is disadvantageous for the outside grid. A fast left hand turn slows down from over 120 kph into a sub 70kph left hand 90 degree. Getting stuck on the outside means at the best, being shuffled down the order to the tune of six spots. At the very worst as many drivers have found today, it means a spectator friendly moment and a contribution to the kart industry in the form of Euros. Fortunately for Reid, his fate was only to be a shuffling back to 16^th place, a position that he drove back to 11^th from. A third top 12 finish will place Reid in a good position and he will not have to contest tomorrow’s last chance race.

Daniel Kinsman had two races to forget, his first ending after being unloaded in the last lap after driving through to fifth from ninth on the grid and his second ending whilst in 8^th, coming together with a kart on turn two and then being sent backwards over the curb. Though he has one more heat today, there is a good chance he will need to qualify through the last chance race.

Steve Currie came to life in his heats, driving through from 24^th in the first race to 12^th and then in his second drove a fantastic race to eighth. During this race he made pass after pass into the top corner, finally appearing to come to grips with the two speed gear box and front brakes. Another good result will put Steve in the top 15 on the grid for the prefinal.

Kane too had mixed results. Some fairly major chassis changes resulted in some extra speed and conservative starts have seen Kane arrive at the third corner incident free. In the first heat he went forward to 15^th after some good passes only to be hit from behind on the last lap spinning him. Fortunately for Kane, somebody else hit him straightening him up and he managed to jump back on the back of his group to 22^nd. He fared much better in the second one, avoiding the huge crash on the start straight (and the subsequent line of karts queuing up to use CRG’s chassis jig), the huge crash in turn two and the massive crash on lap 5 that saw the whole course put under yellow. This was a very cool gimmick for us New Zealanders, never having seen a yellowed track and a restart. Kane to took this well, putting himself in a good position on the track and having his cause helped by a Brazilian driver who started blocking behind him. Kane finished 12^th, hanging on to the back of the front pack.

Friday will herald the last heats and last chance races. Finals are on Saturday.

Despite a couple of clouds in the sky, the New Zealand reps were treated to another fine day in the desert. The atmosphere at the track was palpable and heavy on the palate – much like an overcooked date pudding. Despite the syrupy taste in your narrators mouth, the guys rolled out the gate at the allocated times to secure their spot on the grid. Qualifying consisted of only one 15 minute session with no second chances so a good run here would be advantageous in not having to avoid the incidents a 34 kart field can provide.

Reid Harker was out first in the Junior odd numbers and for a thrilling couple of laps was entrenched in third in his group. As the drivers settled in for their runs he ended up in a still very credible eleventh and 19th overall. This is a fantastic achievement for Right Kart’s young team driver who has been racing less than three years. 11th in his group means he will start on the sixth row on the inside line which is the favourable position on the dusty track. Pole was secured by Tadasuke Makino of Japan with a 57.47. Reid was 0.349 seconds behind with a 58.096

Daniel Kinsman also had a good session despite slight scoring on the piston and inadequate ring seal. His time of 57.114 landed him 9th in his session and also 20th overall. His time, if he had been in the other group would have given him twelfth place in the session. Daniel also seems confident of an inside grid that will help him avoid both losing positions and the potential for first corner shenanigans. Pole in Rotax Light (56.77) went to U.K’s Sean Babbington and a more English gentleman cannot be seen around the pits. Nothing represents Britannia quite so well as boat shoes and an accent acquired through Eton Schooling. His compatriot and English Champ Ben Coper got line honours in the second session with a 56.83. David Sera – Current North Island Rotax Champion was second in his group and sixth overall. Your humble narrator is expecting fireworks in this class during the heats tomorrow.

Steven Currie in DD2 Masters truly had a session to forget. Steve chose to wait 5 minutes to allow the karts that were early on the track to clean off the dust which builds up very quickly here in the desert. Though a potentially sound tactic, Steve encountered a huge amount of difficulty when a competitor misjudged a corner and ran over Steve in his warm up lap, damaging his steering badly. Steve’s only consolation was that the competitor’s kart was in far worse condition than his – the competitor in question’s kart needing a reframe and new axle. This is going to be a very costly exercise, no doubt contributing to Jorn Haase’s new swimming pool fund. (Haase Kart is the kart of choice for the Master’s DD2. As a result of the coming together Steve’s best time was in excess of a 1.2 seconds slower than pole. This puts Steve in a very difficult position in the heats where he will have to drive through from the back and avoid other people’s incidents. As a multiple New Zealand champ, Steve is indeed up to the task although he will need the metaphorical ball to bounce in the correct direction.  First in Steve’s class was Dennis Kroes with a time of 56.834 Kane Taylor’s foray into the ultra competitive DD2 field was much more impressive. Despite struggling with gear issues during practice, his time set him firmly in the middle of the feild. During his flying lap he was balked by a competitor and had he managed to shave a 10th off his time, he would have been well placed in 10th in group. His time of 56.17 netted him 20th in the group and 40th overall. Pole was grabbed by 2009 DD2 World Champion Pierre-Luc Ouellette with a prodigally fast time of 55.56.

 Racing starts Thursday at 10.35 local time and is available to be streamed live on the Kart Racing Network;

www.kartracingnetwork.com

Full Results are available at

Good racing promises to be had – watch out for your NZ reps and try to pick your excited and intrepid reporter in the stands!

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Rotax Max Challenge World Finals Update - Day 3

Again the day dawned fine with nary a cloud in the sky. The wind however did pick up, blowing over banners and umbrellas and in one dramatic twist a banner down the front straight into the practicing Rotax Max class. Each driver got two fifteen minute sessions to do with what they chose, the New Zealanders choosing to forgo laps in favour of making changes.

A start at the gentlemanly time of 10.20am saw Reid out first and in his first run struggled to match the leaders times with a bound chassis. He was 25th in his group and less than half a second off the leader.  Several changes later he found the pace he needed in the second session, scoring the tenth fastest time.

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Rotax Max Challenge World Finals Update - Day 2

Just for a change the weather dawned fine in the desert and us Kiwis were baked under the scorching Middle Eastern sun. With soaring temperatures,  Reid Harker was the first of the Kiwis out in session one of Junior Max. Reid performed well, easily lapping with the fastest in his session. As he was in the first group out, his session of 36 karts acted as motorised brooms, clearing all the dust off the track. This translated into much faster lap times in the second junior session - the track sped up as it got cleaner. Because of the rules relating to the pooling system allocating grids for the heats, this will not be a problem for Reid as he only competes against those in his group.

Daniel Kinsman was super fast, his best less than a tenth of a second off the current North Island Rotax Champ, David Sera who was the fastest. Leaving his best lap to the last, Daniel spent the first half of his 20 minute session running in his motor and brakes and taking care of his gear. The Technical Director of Rotax, Darryl Smith, advised all drivers to give the motors some slow running to guarantee a proper ring seal. However it seems very few other competitors apart from the Kiwis bothered to take this into account, including the place-getter of the Rotax Euro series Kasper Jensen. It was noticeable that those who 'went hard out the gate, had trouble getting up to speed in the last few laps of the session.

The DD2 Masters as well as the DD2s were hampered by a compulsory main jet 5 or so sizes to big and Steven Currie was amongst almost all of the drivers to suffer from Rotax 'playing it safe'. The entire field could be seen pinching the fuel line down the straight to get the motors to clear. He was also doubly unlucky, his gear selector was installed around the wrong way in the factory, causing some confusion to Steve. Steve though stayed out to the end, circulating incident free putting time on his motor

Kane Taylor in DD2 was victim to the same issue - however he appeared to have learnt the track quickly and was fast through the infield, though suffering down the straight. He too stayed out until the end, putting miles on his brand new motor. Fastest in his class was Australian DD2 champion Jason Pringle, who appeared to have got the carb set up right - lapping nearly a second and a half quicker than the majority of the field.

Tomorrow will no doubt dawn fine and Reid will be amongst the first to hit the track for their two quarter of an hour sessions.

Aarron Cunningham and Carly Tolenaar

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BRAY FIGHTS BACK TO CLAIM TOP US KARTING TITLE IN LAS VEGAS

New Zealand has another winner on the international karting stage, Aucklander Daniel Bray having claimed SuperKarts USA's premier S1 class title with a fine third place finish in the S1 class at the final round at the 15th annual SKUSA SuperNationals kart racing meeting in Las Vegas this afternoon (NZ time).

The 24-year-old has been leading the series points standings since the first round but had to beat top US driver Tom Dyer in today's S1 Final to make the title his. That job was made much harder on Friday when, in qualifying, the front sprocket carrier on Bray's kart came off on the second lap, meaning he did not get to set a competitive time. That saw him start each of the three heats from the back row of the grid (23rd position) and though he managed to work his way up to fifth in the first heat, he ended up 16th in the second and 25th in the third - the later after being as high as fourth on the last lap only be be taken out on the second to last corner by the driver he had just passed.

Bray's luck changed today though, despite the fact that the Aucklander started the 25-lap Final from P13 on the grid.  After what he described as a 'horrible' start Bray worked his way forward until only the two top European KZ2 class drivers in the field, Mirki Torsellini and Indy Dontje, were ahead of him. Had Tom Dyer, who started form P3 of the grid, gone on to win the race - and set fastest race lap - he could have scored enough points to deny Bray the 2011 SuperKarts USA ProTour series S1 title. 

But the American was out early thanks to a multi-kart accident after only three laps, meaning that the title - and trophy - are set to come home with Bray for the rest of 2011 and 2012. After the race he told reporters; 'I'm just so happy. Things didn't start particularly well but they came good in the end."

For his troubles, Bray - who drives for the GP Karts factory here and in the United States - wins $5,000 in prize money and next year gets a slew of bonuses from the series organisers which includes free entry, free fuel and free tyres

Rotax Max Challenge World Finals Update

The first of our regular updates has been posted through by Aarron Cunningham, one of several Mt Welly members representing the club and the country at the Rotax Max Challenge World Finals.

The format is simple, drivers are allocated identical gear to those in their class. This format eliminated the variable of factory equipment and levels the playing field.

The drivers and their retinues will attend the welcoming party tonight.. The first 20 minute practice starts at 13.30 tomorrow and with up to 78 in each class, cuts the amount of time each driver has on the track drastically. In all each driver gets a total of 55 minutes on the track prior to qualifying, giving the most adaptable drivers the edge.

2011/12 CLUB MEMBERSHIP FEES  A reminder club membership fees and key hire payments were by 31st May 2011. The membership form can be downloaded off the KSMW website or by clicking here and payment can be made by either:   ·         online payment through the KSNZ online payment facility ·         posting a cheque with your membership form to the club postal address or ·         by direct credit into the club bank account   Support the Club - Re-New your Membership, if not a full race member a Social Member                          KartSport Mt Wellington Online Payments System   If you want to make registering for Mt Wellington Club events and membership easy just remember that the KartSport Online system http://kartsport.gdi.co.nz/login.asp is able to accept your registrations and payments 24 hours a day.   We have loaded up all our meetings for the remainder of 2011 and you can also use it to sign up or renew your membership.   Using the Online system for race entries makes life a lot easier for our hard working volunteers so give it a go next time and see just how quick and easy it is .. and you will have more time to get organised on race mornings as a bonus.                More details here.     KartSport Academy click here for more information re courses and date (more dates to follow)                                                                                                                       Container Yard Rules    For very important rules when using the facility courtesy of our good friends from the container yard   click here         Casual Track Use and Key Hire              The track is available for hire for both club members and casual karters. The track hours are 9.00 am to 6 pm in summer and up to 5 pm in winter. Karters using the track must comply with Club Rules and KartSport rules at all times. Enjoy and look after the facility. Keys are available from all Kart Shops. Please note that Club members are entitled to hire track keys for private practice on an annual basis. These are available from Cunningham Construction - 11 Forge Way, Panmure. See Anna with proof of membership. Costs are $150 per year plus $50 deposit for key. All normal conditions of track hire apply including apparel and non-mixing of classes. Practice fees are $10 for club members per day and $20 for non club members. The key is for the hirers use only and is not to be lent to other karters whether they are members or not.              For any queries, contact Anna Leeming on 570 0020, Bob likewise or 021-464001  Contact Us If you wish to contact KartSport Mt Wellington please click here and send us your request.  We will take care of your enquiry from here

 

 

 

 

 

 

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