UK Endurance ProKart Championship 19th-21st Aug 2005

Last year I was supposed to join the Apollo racing team for this event, but somehow I didn't make it, so I wasn't going to miss out this year. I asked the guys how hard it would be - Eric replied that "If you can do 3hrs in a hire kart (much heavier), then the 24hr will be no problem" "Aye", said Ros, "It'll be easy" - They had never been to Whilton Mill.........

I couldn't take Thursday off, so I flew into Luton on Friday morning where I met up with Ros, who had flown in from Edinburgh. We picked up our hire Ka, and got the the circuit, which is near Northampton, in just over an hour.

The plan was that each of us should do 10-15 laps just to get a feel for the circuit and the conditions, which were warm and dry. I was pretty much last out, and couldn't believe how physical it was - bumpy, fast corners and no real straight of any length meant that you were constantly working hard. After my 10 or so laps I came - I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was the quickest in the team so far. This meant that I then did the majority of the setup work and got down to a 44.40 after around another 40-50 laps. But I was getting worried, I had blisters on both hands and was pretty tired. I later found out that every one else was the same, and we were all wondering how we'd get through 24hrs.

Once we'd, stripped, cleaned and rebuilt the kart, we finished up around 19:30 and headed back to the Travellodge for a shower and some food. We had a chat with another Scottish team, XLB, about the circuit and they were in worse state than us - they only had 3 drivers as opposed to our 5. Still, we got a good night's sleep and arrived at the circuit at around 9 in preperation for 10 o'clock practice and 10:30 qualifying.

Scott and Eric, the kart's owners, had decided that they'd do the pracitce along with Noel, leaving me and Ros to do the qualifying laps. I got on circuit with around 15 mins to go, and was lucky enough to find some space to record a best lap of 43.90. This put us 13th/36 on the grid. Again this put me 6/10ths clear of the next best time from Team Apollo. I've only been racing for 5 years, but I've always found it easy to learn new circuits, with less than 10 laps usually being enough to get on my pace.

For the race, we'd decided that Noel would do the first stint, followed by me, Scott, Eric and Ros. As I expected, Noel picked up his pace and was consistently running in the low 44's with a solitary 43.86 as his best - Noel has raced pro-karts for years and had also been at the Le Mans 24hr earlier in the year - he's undoubtedly the best driver in the team.

Noel and I are of similar weight ('though he's a good 3 inches taller) and we both needed to carry 2kg of lead to make sure that, even with an empty fuel tank, we be over the 180kg minimum weight limit. This meant there would be less to do at the change over from Noel to me as the ballast would stay put. We figured that 90 minutes would use most of the fuel in the tank (Max capacity limited to 7.5litres) - So we called Noel in after 90 mins, at 13:30, for the change over. As you leave the circuit you have to stop on the weigh-bridge to ensure you meet the minimum weight. Presuming you get the green light (a real one!), you then drive around 5M to the limbo bar that marks the start of the re-fueling bay. As a driver you have to switch off your engines and push the kart under the bar to the refuelling guys. Once they've filled it, and returned it to you under the exit limbo bar, you then can have your team mates help you get the engines fired up and walk the next driver to the pit exit. So started my first stint in a 24hr endurance race, but even in the pit lane, it was plain that the engines were ticking over way to high, to the point that I had to carry the brakes all the way to the pit exit to ensure I stayed at walking pace. I had got my braking points pretty well marked during qualifying, but found that I couldn't brake that late in the race, whith the braking points moving back 5+ metres. This cost me 2-3/10ths and my best in this stint was a 44.18. When I came in for fueling, it was still the same - we found that the throttle stop bolt had come loose, so the carburetor butterflys were getting put under extra stress which had bent the mechanisim, which in turn stopped the valve closing fully. Still we got it fixed and Scott started his first session.

By now my hands were a real mess, and I spent an hour or so figuring out how best to tape them up so I could still drive. From then on we continued, problem free through to Sunday morning - I had an interesting 90 mins between 6Am and 7:30ish - There had been no rain, but as the sun came up a morning dew settled on the track making it very slippy off-line, which made overtaking interesting:-)

By this time we were firmly established in first place in the clubman class and 10th overall, so we had no need to push - despite Scott having to pit due to a collision with XLB, we stayed comfortably in the lead and won our class by 35laps.

Thinking back, it was very, very tough both physically and mentally - Without Noel's stash of chocolate, I don't think I'd have made it :-)

I hope we can defend out title next year, wherever it's held.

How fast?

I spent all day on Wednesday at the Brands Hatch GP circuit in a Radical SR4 – This was with a company called Fast Club, who provide the car, fuel (for car and driver!), tyres, pit garage, with crew, and an instructor. I was lucky enough to have Michael Vergers assigned to me for the whole day. Michael is one of top drivers in the UK, with many championships to his name – His recent drives cover cars as diverse as Ascar to LPM2. I didn’t really know what to expect from the day, as I’d never been to a track day before, but what a fantastic experience. The track time was split in to groups 1,2 &3 covering Novices, Intermediates and Experienced drivers. I’d only done races before, so quite rightly, the FC guys had booked me in to day group 2 with the possibility of joining group 3 if I came up to spec.


We started with Michael taking me out for some ‘sighting’ laps to let me see what the car could do and to discuss how I wanted to progress over the day. (They had a great intercom system built into the helmets they supplied). I liked Michael’s direct style and was quite happy that he should give me a hard time if I was screwing up. Then it was my turn – I drove an older Radical for 10 laps at Mallory Park back in 2001, but this was way different. It’s only 480kgs (add 150 for driver and passenger) and is powered by a tuned Suzuli ‘Busa 1300cc engine putting out circa 200bhp. The first few laps allowed me to get to grips with the car, and then it was down to learning – Michael focused on aspects of driving that I’d never even considered before. Before I knew it, the session for group 2 was over, but we went straight back out with group 3, so I guess I was doing OK:-)
Just after lunch Michael did another couple of laps at full speed – it was amazing, and gave me an idea of just what could be achieved. Over the course of the day Michael was constantly on my case (in a good way) and I learned a massive amount. - I just didn’t realise how much until, during our second last stint, I could see another Radical ahead – I had followed this car/driver combination for a couple of laps during one of the morning sessions before managing to just get past – I couldn’t believe how quickly I caught up with and passed the very same guy.

The main reasons for attending this day were, to get back up to racing speed in preparation for my first car race of the season at the final rounds of this seasons FPA championship at Brands Hatch GP at the end of September, and to see if I could learn some driving skills. I’m sure I did both, but I guess September will be the proof of the pudding.

A Sunday to forget

Today was the seventh round of the Raceland Super GP kart series. I guess I shouldn't be too annoyed at today's events, as I can't make it to the final in November, coz I'm racing FPA at Brands Hatch, but I got really pissed off.

I started from 13th in my first heat, and managed to make it up to third by the chequered flag- looking good so far.

I started last in my second heat, and was up to 8th by half way round lap one - some asshole then decided that I wasn't getting past and as I came up his outside, he sidewalled me into the tyres - which hurt a lot! Maybe he didn't see me, coz he's blind, but I'm sure it was deliberate.

So I got to start from the back of the next heat - going well, with me up to 6th by the end of lap one, when driver 30 completely missed his braking point into the hairpin and T-boned me as I got back on the throttle, punting me into the tyres - I eventually got the kart out in last place - I knew he'd been penalised, and that our finishing positions would be swapped, which is what happend - I was awarded 6th, but I think I'd have finished higher.

Never mind, I was on pole for the next heat - But one of the engines kept cutting out in the pits, so they put out in a spare kart, with cold tyres. So from the start I managed to stay in the lead despite sliding all over the place - On lap 2 I got a slight tap from Paul Healy, who is a clean driver, and coz the tyres were still a bit below operating temp, I went straight into the tyres again. Three times in one day - In June I had a neanderthal ex stock car racer (don't know his name) put me off circuit twice in one heat (I still finished first that day) - So now I'm chasing him for 12th place - And just like in June, he was too much of a needle-dick to allow anyone to make a clean pass - He pushed me into the tyres at the fastest corner of the circuit - This guy is going to seriously injure someone if the folk at Raceland don't take a stand.

Last heat and I'm starting from fourth with Eric (fast big bloke) in front of me. Managed to get him and then spent 5 laps catching up with the leader who I got past with 1 lap to go.

Overall, a shit day, but still finished sixth of thirty two.

Next week, I'm off to the UK 24hr race at Whilton Mill (near Northampton). I'm driving with Eric, Noel, Scott and Ros for Apollo Racing. Oh and on Wedneday I'm having a day at Brands Hatch GP circuit in a Radical SR4 with tuition from Michael Vergers (a very fast Dutchman).


Just to really make my day, Justin Wilson gets taken out at the first corner of the CHAMP car race in Denver - Maybe I should have gone to work instead:-)