Round 2 - Orange
posted 25th March 2007 TEKA heads west!!
The show goes to Orange for round two. The Orange kart club always welcomes the AKA Endurance competitors with open arms, a big thankyou for their hospitality.
This weekend was one of standouts! A few extremely fast teams, some were unexpected, others usual suspects. Dynamite in their recently re-engineered Benson (now Pazzesco) kart smoked everyone in Saturday’s practice being one of only two karts to break into the 45 second bracket. The other was also a B grade kart, Havacrac in the Energy with one very infamous stand in (for all the right reasons ofcoarse) who would perform unbelievably well all weekend.
Also in B Grade, GP Racing’s form was again solid, TDF Racing were flying, King of Parts were coming to grips with their PCR also toward the top of the B grade time sheet.
In A grade Able Door Services were on top followed by Fourplay and Streamline. Buildline looked to steel the lime light for the weekend with a brand new BRM, but it was short lived managing 4th fastest and only 45 laps before the brake system failed them, this would see them out for the rest of the day. Team XLR8, Mariners and Grey Ghost following on the time sheets.
Qualifying would be via a 10 minute session for each of the two grades, B Grade to start! The top two teams in practice (outright) would swap positions in qualifying. Havacrac taking top spot! A dejected No1 driver of Dynamite in 2nd suggested that he had let his Pazzesco Kart down. Ya Gotta Wanna a brilliant effort also into the 45 second bracket taking out 3rd spot.
A Grade qualifying saw Fourplay and Intrepid both set their fastest time on lap 5 separated by 1/10th of a second, with Fourplay the winner! EKA were 3rd followed by XLR8 and Streamline.
Race 1 saw a clean start. Smart racing contributed to the whole race been run in the same fashion. Intrepid took off along with Fourplay and EKA chasing, Havacrac and Dynamite were unbelievably fast just behind. XLR8, Enforcer and Grey Ghost were also strong, with the biggest movers Centor-King of Parts and Kinetic Buildline.
Throughout the race Road Runner, Mariners and GP Racing made up positions, although Intrepid seemed to always remain one stop ahead and took out race one! EKA were close but a collision near the end would rob them of a definite podium. Havacrac 2nd outright and 1st in B grade by an amazing 7 laps. Road Runner backup with another great result finishing 2nd in A grade. Strong performances also by XLR8 and Mariners in 3rd and 4th.
GP Racing great result again finishing 2nd in B grade followed by Dynamite and Team King of Parts.
Buildline with their new Chassis only managed a few laps, Kinetic Buildline had their borrowed hire kart (thanks again Chris and Tim) into the top group before braking a clutch spring, Fourplay also dropped back with issues along with Centor King of Parts
Race 2 would be a damp start, not wet (Streamline) just damp. The track conditions were unknown as the carby session was dry, the rain came with the karts set to take the grid.
As the flag dropped some karts chose to complete a drive through, particularly those at the back. Lucky for them! The flip flop saw karts sliding in every direction with the very slippery track. This was something most teams would put up with as the light rain had just about stopped.
Once things settled down teams found a rhythm. Havacrac again doing well along with Horsepower, TDF and Toynton. Buildline, Mariners and Enforcer had problems early, XLR8 were going hard and keeping their nose clean rising to 2nd place by the 2 hour mark just behind Intrepid. With about an hour to go Intrepid have an issue, EKA rise to the top with only Fourplay ahead, and Kinetic Buildline coming from grid 23 followed. Dynamite, 4th outright were leading B followed by TDF Racing, GP Racing and Ya Gotta Wanna (who did a great job getting the kart into that position after a rollover on day 1).
Fourplay victorious in Race 2! EKA second 23 seconds behind, with Dynamite 2 seconds behind them for 3rd and 1st in B grade. Kinetic Buildline with the best performing hire kart around drove to 3rd followed by Road Runner, who were responsible for loan of the kart to Kinetic.
Team XLR8 wrapped up a great weekend 5th, Intrepid after an issue back up to 6th followed by Able Door Services. GP Racing 2nd in B grade giving them valuable championship points with TDF 3rd and Ya Gotta Wanna a deserving 4th.
Thankyou to Orange Kart Club for their track and hospitality. Round 2 has shaken up what will be an amazing Championship of Endurance Racing. Thankyou to Tony Castley for the great photography.
Justin Sydenham
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