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It's
easy to be excited about getting a new toy, harder
to remember that there is work to do.
Jon
and Dean Crooke have been working like Hebrew
slaves in Egypt to prepare up to 6 karts in time
for the launch of season 07. Exacerbating the
workload was the banning of fibreglass sidepods
for Rotax Max, which was no doubt done in an effort
to prevent the sport appearing too professional
and sophisticated.
Still,
Jon and Dean, those pesky rebels, are determined
to make their karts more attractive than something
you pick up at a garage sale. So, they endured
a flurry of experimental plastic moulding processes,
not many of which produced a quality result.
Notwithstanding,
a herd of HyperRacers hit Winton on February 9th
for some sorting sessions.
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My
mistake for the day was expecting the Hyper
Racer to make me a better driver. I spent
a session and a half gyrating wildly with
snap oversteer, including some major tankslappers
on the way out of bumpy turn 10 (onto the
V8 Supercar Pit Straight).
When
this happens the automatic reaction is to
make "panic changes" to reduce
front grip or increase rear grip. Eventually
we calmed down and realised two things:
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Firstly,
pitting next to us was Aus-Superbike champion Adam
‘Krusty’ Fergusson of team DVS Honda. They have
loads of data on Winton and he told us that, with
a track temp of 58 degrees, the grip levels were
hopeless (although his wording was somewhat more
emphatic).
Secondly,
I learned to drive in an ageing chassis with uneven
handling. I had basically taught myself to turn
in a little early, trail-braking up to the apex
with fistfulls of steering input.
The
Hyper doesn't work that way. The steering is very,
very light. The inputs have to be subtle. It rewards
smooth, fluid driving. Whilst it's fun to play
with Schumacher-style aggression, manhandling
the machine up to the corner with mega late braking,
sometimes you have to return to the textbook.
After
spin number...well, I forget how many I had,
the former National Formula 2 Champion and
Group A Touring Car Endurance driver told
me to "stop over-driving". You're
never too old for some coaching. It worked.
There were some nasty vibrations, partly from
poor front wheel balance with our new brand
of tyre, and partly because I had destroyed
the brake disc from sliding over kerbs backwards.
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Apart
from that, I got the hang of this new toy, and
it was a joy.
Former
Rotax World Masters Champion Mark Wicks, in Dean's
'06 chassis, played around on old Dunlops setting
some rapid times. I was faster but only as much
as I should have been, considering Mark was properly
ballasted for Rotax heavy. I was still running
au naturel weight. So, all the key indices seem
to suggest I am on target. Mark and I spent the
rest of the day arguing over who shouldn't be
called "Rubens". I dont mind finishing
behind someone who is better than me, so I can
think of worst things to be called.
To
be realistic, and slightly the pessimist, I expect
to be no quicker than the old kart on a (very)
good day, but much more comfortable.
An optimist would suggest otherwise.
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