Go Kart Club of South Australia – Monarto –  23/2/2018 to 25/2/2018

After a couple of days break following the quick trip over the border to Cobden, it was time to head up to Monarto for Round 1 of the National Championships.

There was a field of 56 kids entered in the event, and with a track capacity of 40 karts, that meant that 16 were not going to be eligible to race in the final on Sunday.  This made it imperative to get a good start to the weekend and be consistent throughout the heat races.

Jim did well during practice, and was classified as the 4th fastest on Friday night.  Friday was a hot day, so you can guess what happened next.

It rained.  Then it decided to just drizzle annoyingly – all day.  Qualifying was done in the wet, and Jim did exceptionally well, qualifying in second.

Heat 1 was run on a damp track, but everyone went out on slicks.  Jim fell back to 4th at the start, quickly moved back to third, and after  couple of laps was in second.  He was starting to catch the leader, but the race was red flagged, with Jim finishing in second.

In Heat 2, Jim fell back to 5th at the start, but was in 4th after the first lap.  He worked his way forward and into the lead, and then he started to build a small gap on the field.  He stayed in front, and managed to take the heat win – his first at national level.

In Heat 3 on Sunday, the track was still damp and it was early in the morning.  We fitted the wet tyres, then removed them and put on the slicks.  This proved to be a good choice with Jim getting into the lead early in the race and staying there to win the heat.

Heat 4 was finally dry, and Jim took the lead early and held onto it until the race was red flagged and stopped.  This gave Jim 3 wins and a second from the heats, enough to give him pole for the final.

In the final, Jim got out to an early lead.  Unfortunately, we didn’t quite have the kart right, and he couldn’t hold off the attacks from the other competitors.

Jim ended up in 4th, 5/100ths of a second of 3rd – and the podium.

Jim was a bit disappointed in the result, but I think he did a great job.  We managed to learn a bit from the event, and Jim picked up a heap of points – enough to put him in the lead of the championship.  So we’ve got a bit of work to do over the next few weeks, but we will be hitting the next round looking to move up a few spots in the final.

Jim would like to thank Iocane, WIFA Racing, EvoKart Australia, Haak Engines, and his mum and sister for all their support.  Thanks also to all the officials and volunteers, without whom Jim couldn’t race.

Yet again, no issues with Christine over the weekend.  I’m getting used to this.  The current score:

JP -> 3 (Survived 2 weeks without hurting himself, use of Angle Grinder Persuasion, Ancient Spirit Mumbo Jumbo)

Christine -> 8 (Burn by exhaust, Degreasing of the eye, Magical Goggle Piercing Metal bit, Special Combo, Epidermal Peel, Degrease, Rinse, Repeat, 98 Octane Eye Wash, Inappropriate Tool Grabbing).