Round 6 - Lithgow
posted 21st September 2008 Down to Business!
As much fun as all the competitors involved in the TEKA Endurance Series have, this is the business end of the season. Round 6 is crucial for a number of teams, for others it's just an excuse to get away with friends and family and spend a good 10 hours of track time on one of the country's best go kart tracks.
Road Runner wanted to solidify their dominant position at the top of the table, Dynamite at all costs needed to stop them if they wanted any chance of a shot. Blind Men Racing go into the round equal 3rd on the Championship table with Baby Bonus (money well spent) - both will be focused on a good result. Mariners and For Sale will be desperate to get back to the form they showed early in the season and make up some ground if they’re going to have a hope of a podium come the year's end. XLR8 only just behind them could benefit greatly from a trouble free run and a good result getting them back in the hunt! And don’t write off Buildline who will remain competitive for the rest of the season, a DNF early in the year dropping them down the order.
In B grade WAR look to be uncatchable with Ghetto doing a sensational job leading the rest of the class by the smallest of margins. Toynton will want to keep the pressure on Ghetto currently sitting 9 points behind in the 3rd. Sky Racing won’t want to let the teams ahead get away, as they are a team that can definitely challenge for a podium if they’re within reach. Ice Tech and Team Canberra are dead even on points and not too far behind either.
In B2 Emus Racing coming on strong, more competitive with every outing!
Most teams turned up for practice on Saturday (although it would later turn out to have been useless because of the change in weather). All the teams expected to be quick, were!
It was obvious Dynamite were not prepared to give up the fight with good speed, and the stand out possibly Toynton who’s times appeared to be equal with the quickest teams there. As mentioned previously all the set up done prior to Sunday morning became useless as it was pouring rain - all night!
All teams had a brief opportunity to practice in the wet conditions. Road Runner stamped their authority with the quickest time, only needing to complete a small number of laps to achieve it.
Emu’s Racing out of nowhere manage 2nd place. This was an exceptional result, they had never surrounded themselves with such good quality company to date. Blind Men Racing were also quick in the conditions followed by Baby Bonus (who they were tied with in the series points) and Toynton. One B2 and four B teams set times quick enough to put themselves inside the top ten, what an effort!
Race 1 began in wet conditions with it drying over the next hour. Dynamite bolted with an unlikely team providing the most competition, Ghetto were blistering in the wet conditions at one point taking the lead. Meanwhile Mariners who had dealt with the traffic behind (after starting from position 12) also caught up to take the lead for a period before Dynamite took it again when the track continued to dry. Road Runner the series leaders having some issues dropped back a number of spots.
The biggest mover was Kinetic Motorsport coming from 18th on the grid to within a few kart lengths of the leaders. In B Sky Racing were travelling well staying in touch with the lead bunch.
After plenty of thrills and spills Mariners crossed the line in 1st place with Dynamite earning valuable points in 2nd. Kinetic after an early charge held on to finish 3rd - their first outing in the new Phoenix. Blind Men and Baby Bonus who went in to the round equal on points finish 27 seconds apart in 4th and 5th respectively, followed by Buildline who are always strong in the wet.
In B grade Ya Gotta Wanna, having an awesome race, beat home WAR by a mere 2 seconds with Ghetto only 13seconds further behind in 3rd.
Race 2 was a reverse grid, and considering the conditions and the potential for carnage the drivers showed their experience. A couple of teams chose to pit on the first lap and remove themselves from the congestion until the field spread out a little.
XLR8 had a magic start and built on that throughout the race with good speed and consistency. Ice Tech off the front row didn’t hold anyone up keeping a good pace and staying up the front for most of the stint. Road Runner were out to make amends for Race 1 and were on a charge as were Dynamite from the back of the grid. Neither teams progress through the field could match Kinetic’s though, taking a pit stop on lap one from the back of the grid then leading the race by the 36th lap. Baby Bonus, Buildline, and Blind Men Racing were all lapping well just behind the leaders. In B WAR and Toynton were giving it a crack with Ya Gotta Wanna and Ghetto again strong.
At the end of a second two hour race filled with crazy conditions, Kinetic proved too good and took the Race win! Team XLR8 finally rewarded for their efforts with nothing going wrong, a well deserved 2nd place. Dynamite again strong coming home 3rd (collecting a bag full of points for the weekend) only just ahead of Buildline. Road Runner didn’t totally right the wrongs they experienced in Race 1 but would be happy to take home the points for 5th place. Blind Men Racing and Baby Bonus again finished one after the other but this time the reverse of Race 1 with Baby Bonus getting the upper hand in 6th.
In B Grade WAR finished an exciting 4 seconds ahead of Toynton to take the win! Ya Gotta Wanna and Ghetto finish on a high with a great result over the whole weekend in 3rd and 4th.
It's that time of the season where everyone’s expecting a real test of man and machine! So bring on Newcastle's 7 Hour Enduro with over two days of action 18/19th October.
See you there!!
Justin Sydenham
For any details on this infectious category of go kart racing call Justin Sydenham on 0417 330 229.
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