Kart Championship Round #1 - Report
- Details
- Created on 07 May 2011
Dear LFS'ers,
Today was the first round of our karting championship. The venue was Indoor Karting De Vest in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands.
We did a Mini Grand Prix existing out of a Qualifying, Race and 20 Lap Final Race.
We met up around 14:00 GMT+2 at the track, went for a drink, and prepared for the race.
We went into the karts for the Qualifying. I was driving the #10 kart, Christel van Essen the #7 and Ton Arends the #3. I started in front of the rest, and already in Lap #2 I got overtaken by Christel. I followed her closely untill the end of the lap where I smacked into the wall, but could continue. In Lap #3 whilst coming down the hill, I got overtaken by Ton.
The race went on without any overtaking and trouble. They put the seatbelt on, and I went on. In Lap #10 Ton puts his fastest lap time of 30.62. In Lap #11 for me I received a Black Flag, I wondered why and came in. It seemed that I was not wearing my seatbelt. Shortly after I set my fastest lap time of 32.98, which was quite slower. In Lap #14 Christel set her fastest lap time of 29.01, which is the weeks fastest lap time, and 10th of the month.
The qualifying continued up to 20 laps for Christel, 19 laps for Ton and 16 laps for me.
Qualifying Results:
1. Chasey/Christel van Essen - 29.01
2. Sm1ley/Ton Arends - 30.62
3. Rocky7up/Walter Lemmens - 32.98
Then we took a small break, and afterwards prepared for the race. This time we had Christel starting as first with the #3, Ton second with #6, and me third with the #7.
As we went out of the pits Ton almost spun whilst going into the first corner. It where fresh tires and they lacked grip. When I entered the first corner I was about 70 degrees sideways and kept full throttle and counter steered. Soon I felt much heat on the right side of my body. It seemed that the seatbelt had hung over the engine, and was red hot. It burned a hole in my t-shirt and burned my skin. However I kept on going. In Lap #6 I was shortly faster then Ton with a 30.94, which was directly my fastest lap of the race. This was also 2 seconds faster then my previous run. Sadly in Lap #7 Ton had already put a 30.80, and I dropped back to third.
The race went on without any trouble untill Lap #11 where we see a huge accident. Something of the brakes of Christel snapped and she went frontally into the wall at high speed. After being pushed back to the pits, and with a quick repair, she returned her way on the track. However, she was suffering headache and drove slowly for a few laps, just to set a 29.00 a lap later.
In Lap #13 we see that Ton receives a Black Flag and is asked to enter the pits. It seemed that something broke off the kart and fell on the track. After a quick check they saw nothing serious was wrong, they let him return is way on track. In Lap #15 he would set his fastest lap of 30.70.
Myself then made a total of 18 laps whilst Ton made 16, and Christel 15.
Race Results:
1. Christel van Essen - 29.00
2. Ton Arends - 30.70
3. Walter Lemmens - 30.94
Then we took quite a long break, and I went to puff some smoke as Ton and Christel drank a cola. Then we prepared for the final race. Here it went for the awards. This time the fastest lap time did not count, but the fastest average lap time.
We where put on the starting grid and waited for the race to start. This time I was driving the horrible slow kart #12, Ton had the kart #7 and Christel kart #6.
Whilst the official was counting down from 3 to 1, the race went underway. Ton had a fantastic start and was already side-by-side with Christel in the first corner. Whilst my kart was horribly slow and barely managed to climb the hill.
Shortly after we see Christel receiving a Blue Flag, but she did not see this, as Ton tried to overtake, got blocked, and crashed whilst going downhill. He was stuck with the front of the kart to the wall, and I was showed the Yellow Flag, and was told to wait. Then when I was allowed to move on again my kart was slow in getting up to speed again.
In Lap #6 we see Christel set her fastest lap time of 29.19 and me a slow 32.13. As the race went on, nothing really special happened apart from a slight scratch to the wall whilst going downhill for me.
In Lap #13 Ton put his fastest lap of 29.38, a personal best for him.
The race went on, and when the leaders came into Lap #19 the timing computer has an error, and didn't work for 2 laps. As we where supposed to do 20 laps, we did 22 laps instead with lap 20 and 21 not being timed.
As we finished it was quiet clear that Christel had won, she did an outstanding job this weekend, and was never in any threat of being beaten.
Final Race Results:
1. Christel van Essen - Avg. 29.77
2. Ton Arends - Avg. 30.70
3. Walter Lemmens - Avg. 34.25
The drivers where taken to the podium and received their small trophies.
After another drink, the drivers went home. Christel having a slight concussion, and myself having some burned skin, and a broken t-shirt. Ton however not having any problems what so ever.
This was a extra long report of the first round of the -TRR- Kart Championship 2011, we thank you for reading.
Kind Regards,
Team Rock Racing
