The season ended as it began- a nice, sunny day at The Island, perfect for racing. With the MotoGP run the previous weekend there was all sorts of paraphernalia around to remind us we were racing at a world class track, including an expensive-looking new row of garages at the top end. And all the old ones had a fresh lick of paint. How considerate of them. LOVE what you've done with the place...

At driver's briefing, the idea of a rolling start was put forward by 250's Gary Pegaroro. He doesn't like mixing with Rotaxes, and I dont blame him. The feeling is quite mutual, especially where serial gesticulators are concerned. But it was a very welcome contribution and it seemed we were all in agreement.

So we would try rolling starts for the first time. It meant the slowest Rotaxians would have less chance of getting lapped. I particularly liked the idea since my standing starts have traditionally been shockers. Thanks must go, once again, to Wild Digital's Jon Whitfield for sponsoring us a garage- a contribution worth slightly more than the pizzas I bought the night before. Son and newly crowned National Champ Sean was at the Island hunting for a lap record. We were joined by 250 Legends Dave and Barbara Hepworth, with Ilani Harpas. Don't the Hepworths have a story or two! Practice went okay. The front fairing was porpoising again at the end of the main straight which was also causing some unwanted oversteer at 150km/h. I jacked it up a little more which helped.

RACE 1

With news of a lap timing malfunction, sprintkart-style random and reverse gridding was required for races 1 and 2. Somebody told me I was on pole until I suggested they were looking at the grid sheet upside down- I was actually last! Pole would be mine for race 2. What worried me more about the "timing malfunction" was whether or not the results would actually be recorded accurately. I was racing to protect 4th place in the Series from a rapidly-gaining Lee Filliponi and his teammate David Byrne. With the jumbled grid, the cream would no doubt to rise to the top.

At the start it was clear it wouldn't take long for Hyper's Mark Wicks to take the lead and the Howard Equipment pair of Rod Clark and Peter Howard to follow. I moved through the field quite well, picking up 6th place but some way back from Lee in 5th. Then Lee had a moment coming out of the slow MG corner at the base of Lukey Heights, allowing me to catch up. Some "bump-drafting" followed down the main straight and exiting the Southern Loop, but Lee shot off into the pits with brake problems. 4th it was, Wicksy the winner, Sean winning Juniors and Dean second in lights making it a good Hyper day thus far.

Oh, we got lapped by the 250's anyway. But rolling starts are still a great idea.

RACE 2 My un-earned pole position was causing me some stress what with the Howard pair and Wicksy right behind. All things being equal I knew there was no point in trying to race them as I had some points of my own to consider. Still; it took Wicksy until the Honda hairpin to haul me in. Trouble was, with Clarke and Howard following him I got on the marbles outside Honda, and almost took to the grass trying to avoid a sideways Shaun Trounson, and that was that. Once you lose a tow in this class, trying to haul in a faster bunch is like beating your head against a brick wall. It ended up just like Round 1, what seemed like eons ago; David Byrne and I were locked together for 5th place. I was a great battle, trading off slow corner speed for top end. I just pipped him on the line, getting a neat tow off a Junior.

SA's Ilya Harpis - 125 Gbox

Up front it was Wicks again, with his series title seemingly tucked away, from Clark, with an impressive turn of speed from Brendan Luneman in 3rd, followed by Howard. Brad Stebbing, Daniel Bey and Dean Crooke were having a huge tussle in Lights, while Sean Whitfield scooped Juniors again with record lap times.

Attempting a conversation at 140km/h can be fraught

RACE 3

I suspect there were some stress pills being consumed in the timing tower. The timing malfunction bogy struck again with no grid positions issued for race 3 and the clock ticking towards a neccessary start. Wicks, Clark and Howard managed to coordinate who should start where by agreement. I attempted the same "discuss it" approach, rather than the "throw my kart onto a handy grid position to stake my claim quickly" approach, but it worked against me and I started a few spots behind where I should have been. Apparently this is normal practice in the case of timing malfunctions. Hopefully my sponsors and others who have invested money in the sport, see it the same way.

Still, I felt for the timekeepers and admin people who were clearly a little understaffed. I found out later that the grid sheet was ready but it just didn't make it to the grid in time. The show must go on!

Wicks out in front

No great worry- providing I finished, my fourth place in the series was reasonably safe. Lap 1 I had a ringside seat for the moment of the day- over Lukey Heights, Craig Taylor inexplicably nailed Mark Wicks and chaos ensued down the hill. Wicks did a complete 360 in smoke and debris. He recovered and was leading within half a lap.

For me, a lonely race watching Filliponi, Byrne and Brendan Luneman get away. Yes, it's much more fun to be racing in a group.

Daniel Bey, Dean Crooke and Brad Stebbing again starred in Lights, and the little assassin Sean Whitfield accomplished his mission.

Sean proudly sporting his #1

NO POINTS CONSOLATION RACE

So, season officially concluded (for all but the timekeepers!) and positions decided, we were given a fourth heat for no-points as a reward for good behaviour on our new rolling starts procedure. Mark Wicks, championship procured, retired to his motorhome for Swedish massages and interviews which left me the only Hyper in heavies to take it to the Howard boys. They were slower this weekend but a slow Rod Clark and Peter Howard is still fast enough.

I ran with them through turn 1 and 2, but instead of hedging my bets and tucking in under Peter's rear bumper to stay in tow, I tried to be a hero and go around the outside using a couple of juniors. It didn't work. I lost the tow and for the rest of the race it was traffic, traffic, traffic.

Ouch! Dropped my cigar...

As a race meeting, besides the timing niggles, the turnout was magnificent eespecially considering that the Nationals were only the weekend prior. To see the Wild Digital guys and the Hepworths et al across from interstate was a bonus. Credit to the Superkart Club and the Phillip Island Auto Racing Club for inviting us.

Weighing in with sponsor Cameron and fellow rev-head Lyndall Uebergang

Overall it's been a satisfying year, our first full season in Road Racing. We are, if nothing else, consistent, with only one DNF and a couple of unforced mistakes. Considering the pace and ability of the top three, fourth place is a great result. Using an engine straight out of the box is always a small handicap so perhaps some engine tuning for next year might produce some extra pace.

A big thank you to Lagler Australia, Arboritec Coatings of Sweden, SIA Abrasives and Timbermate Products. What a great category- fast, logistically easy, you don't need an oil-sheik's ransom to participate...and how else can you get on to most of Australia's best road race circuits?

Earlier this year I had a quick run on a sprint-kart circuit, re-living where it all began. I couldn't help but think- are Sprint karts better? More circuits, more variety of corners, more cut and thrust action? Perhaps....

....but they're just not fast enough! Even this fantastic footage from Dean Crooke of Hyper Racer does not do it justice. Enjoy!

More pics of Phillip Island

Sure I'm impressed that you know sign language Wicksy but can you keep it clean please?

Byrnie and me, with Sean watching


I've got no less than the mighty morphin' power rangers in my cheer squad

Never tried hypnosis on a kart before but if I can make it think it's an F3 car...