ADELAIDE SUPERKARTS, Rd 3
August 19 2007

This was a much better visit to Mallala than the last one (long linky thing). Apologies to all my fans in South Australia ( you know who you are Ron) for failing to put up a race report promptly. Unfortunately my real job got in the way. Very unexpected, all that intrusive work.

The track was fast this weekend with the fastest heavies dipping into the 21's. The best I could manage in prac 1 and 2 was low 25's. With thanks to John Whitfield of (race sponsor) Wild Digital, we fiddled with barometers, temp an humidity figures, computer software and the odd Bible reading to come up with some jetting adjustments which worked quite well. I managed some low 23's by heat 1. There were also some moments into the fun/scary turn 1 with the front fairing drooping and porpoising so much it lifted the front wheels off the ground at awkward moments.

Heat 1 was my customary appalling start where I dropped to around 23rd outright and 10 out of about 12 heavies. Following Junior Sean Whitfield as best I could I clawed up to 6th in heavies but there were a few Juniors and Lights between 5th placed Barrie Hopkins and me.

More of the same in H2 starting around 23rd outright after the engine finally decided to begin combusting some fuel. I almost beat home SA Prez Rapid Ron Goldfinch after he had a whoopsie on lap 4, but he waltzed past me on lap 5 to rudely remind me that South Aussies can set their karts up better than me at Mallala. 6th place again. Had I finished ahead of Ron I suspect I would have packed up and headed home there and then, convinced I could do no better!

H3 got even better. There were multiple whoopsies from the South Aussie regulars on lap 3. As with many of my Vic rounds, I was staring at that elusive 3rd place until the evergreen David Prest cruised past me on the last lap. 4th place but at least Ron Goldfinch was behind me. I had all of 1 hour to relish that moment.

The precise moment I realised I left the oven on

For reasons still a complete mystery to me my start in the final was the antithesis of all the others. I think I passed the entire heavies field, and some of the Juniors. But not to be satisfied with giving myself half a chance of a decent result, I binned it under brakes into Hangar corner. In fairness to me there was an out-of-control Light in front of me and I had no chance to avoid them.

So, the entire heavies field, the ones I had just passed, parted like the red sea around me, with Rapid Ron Goldfinch the least fortunate. His yellow autograph adorned my fornt left rim, leaving me with bent kingpin arm, and skewed steering. Ron's damage was likewise and a little worse, although I'm sure he did some of it himself later with a hammer, just to make me feel more guilty. Dave Prest was also spreadeagled, but they all recovered and took off up the road leaving me in last place. I was democratic enough to ruin everybody's race instead of just one or two's. I crabbed my way back to 8th. Rapid Ron Goldfinch actually won, which I would say was kharma if I believed in it. Which I don't.

All said and done it was an enjoyable day, and not just because I didn't blow anything up this time. It was close, fast and friendly racing, generous amounts of laps and a circuit which seems made for superkarting. However, as good as the potential for Nationals testing was, I still need more engine speed.