Honda Cadet event at Rye House - 2010

5th September:
Geri's first race in 21 months, understandably he was more than a little nervous. At least the weather looked good for the day, would turn out to be just about T-shirt weather. And we even managed to find some space in the paddock when we arrived shortly after 8am. At least arriving early meant everything could be done in its own time, no rushing around. We got Geri signed on, then headed down to scrutineering. The long gap not racing showed its ugly head here, the kart was in fine fettle as expected, but a new safety requirement has been introduced since w last raced. Karts now need a brake disc guard if the disc sits lower than the chassis rails - and of course Geri's did. Cue the first of many visits to the shop during the day where enough bits were found to make up a guard.

With scrutineering out of the way, we even had time to walk the track and discuss possible lines. Last week during testing we thought Geri was taking too tight a line through the first corner so he agreed to try running in wider and faster. We even had time to weigh Geri's kart - the minimum weight limit is 103kgs and Geri was just sitting exactly on 103.0kgs! Cutting things a bit fine, but rather than weigh him down with ballast, we filled his fuel tank to the brim to ensure he would have more fuel at the end of the heat, than when weighed at 103.0. We also put his lightweight rib protector under his suit, his kevlar one sits on top - but then he couldn't fit into his seat so that had to come off again.

As the Honda Cadets were the 6th (and last) group out on track, we had plenty of time to watch the other karts, we chose to sit at Pylon and see what other drivers were doing through there. Finally it was time for Geri's first heat.

Race 1:
Geri had been drawn on "novice pole", 20th on the grid but 1st amongst the novices in his final race meeting as a novice. The karts at the front were not slowing down correctly on the rolling lap and were sent round again, and then once again before being brought back round to the grid where they were stopped and read the riot act. Finally they were off again. Geri got a disappointing start and was swamped as the karts headed towards the first corner from which he emerged in last place - he would ask after the race if the other karts were all Hondas as they just left him under acceleration.

Geri did make up a couple of places as other drivers spun and resumed behind him, but for the most part it was a lonely race, finishing 10 seconds adrift of the 3 way battle in front of him and a similar distance ahead of Joe Renton - in his first ever race - behind him. At least Geri did not get lapped like he was when previously racing here. Three other karts did not make the start after problems during the rolling laps, so Geri was classified 22nd.

Heat 1 – Honda Cadet – 05/09/10
Position	Kart No	Driver Name	Laps	Race Time	Time Behind	Best Time	Best Lap No
1	53	Jordan BROWN-NUTLEY	13	09:16.41		0:42.04	13
2	66	William WOODS	13	09:16.69	0:00.28	0:42.14	10
3	95	Ethan ANDREWS	13	09:16.86	0:00.45	0:42.03	13
4	6	Aaron DRURY	13	09:16.94	0:00.54	0:41.83	11
5	27	Rory SMITH	13	09:21.05	0:04.64	0:42.30	13
6	54	Uzair MASTER	13	09:21.32	0:04.92	0:42.31	12
7	33	Thomas ROW	13	09:24.38	0:07.97	0:42.52	10
8	81	Dylan FROST	13	09:24.49	0:08.08	0:42.61	8
9	58	Matthew HAYDEN	13	09:24.85	0:08.44	0:42.84	5
10	17	Matthew HOPCRAFT	13	09:25.15	0:08.75	0:42.66	8
11	71	William TREGURTHA	13	09:26.19	0:09.78	0:42.56	8
12	98	Harrison HUGGAN	13	09:26.27	0:09.86	0:42.25	11
13	16	Sam POWER	13	09:26.28	0:09.88	0:42.16	6
14	23	Stefanos CHARALAMBOUS	13	09:26.80	0:10.39	0:42.63	8
15	22	Rory HUDSON	13	09:27.20	0:10.79	0:42.54	9
16	79	Max WIETESKA	13	09:30.80	0:14.40	0:42.27	11
17	56	Richard CRISP	13	09:31.80	0:15.39	0:43.06	13
18	77	Bradley SHEARS	13	09:37.18	0:20.77	0:43.45	6
19	90	Ryan GILLESPIE	13	09:43.67	0:27.26	0:43.80	8
20	99	James BECKWITH	13	09:43.98	0:27.57	0:43.55	6
21	46	Karl PURANIK	13	09:44.15	0:27.74	0:43.23	9
22	50	Geri NICOSIA	13	09:54.38	0:37.97	0:44.45	13
23	26	Joe RENTON	12	09:30.50	0:14.09	0:45.81	10
DNS	51	Ben SCOTT	0	0:01.98	-10:45.5	0:00.00	0
DNS	78	Kieran WELSH	0	0:02.97	-10:46.5	0:00.00	0
DNS	32	Ronan GRAVES	0	0:04.91	-10:48.5	0:00.00	0

Race 2:
With Geri having complained about being out-accelerated, we looked at his gearing. He was running a 72 tooth sprocket, something we fitted when the weather dried out last time out at Rye House, back in 2008!! We had been separately advised that something more like 74 teeth was appropriate, but on our next visit to the kart shop, they recommended 76 teeth. So a new sprocket and longer chain were bought - and fitted with the help of the shop! At least if the gearing proves too low, the engine will be revving out some way down the straight and will have reached that speed - with the 72 tooth sprocket, top speed would eventually have been high, but acceleration so slow it would not be achieved on this track.

Geri had nothing to lose in this race, he was starting from last (26th) place as drawn. The drivers at the front were better behaved this time and the race got away first time. And so did Geri get away as he launched past kart 46 down the straight and into the first corner, but as he went round the outside, he backed off and allowed 46 to go through. Geri was noticeably quicker in this heat, even at the end he was just 3 seconds adrift of a two-way battle in front of him, and a couple of seconds further back than the next two karts. And he was down into the 43s for the first time too - still a long way to go, but at least Geri was making progress. Young Joe and a couple of spinners finished behind Geri, so he was classified 23rd in this heat.

Heat 2 – Honda Cadet – 05/09/10
Position	Kart No	Driver Name	Laps	Race Time	Time Behind	Best Time	Best Lap No
1	6	Aaron DRURY	13	09:10.97		0:41.88	11
2	16	Sam POWER	13	09:12.32	0:01.35	0:42.04	7
3	27	Rory SMITH	13	09:12.56	0:01.59	0:41.96	13
4	53	Jordan BROWN-NUTLEY	13	09:12.72	0:01.75	0:41.71	12
5	98	Harrison HUGGAN	13	09:16.12	0:05.15	0:42.12	7
6	54	Uzair MASTER	13	09:19.84	0:08.87	0:42.28	7
7	23	Stefanos CHARALAMBOUS	13	09:21.18	0:10.21	0:42.64	9
8	95	Ethan ANDREWS	13	09:23.52	0:12.55	0:42.28	9
9	33	Thomas ROW	13	09:23.85	0:12.88	0:42.80	8
10	56	Richard CRISP	13	09:24.27	0:13.30	0:42.80	7
11	66	William WOODS	13	09:26.24	0:15.28	0:42.14	8
12	58	Matthew HAYDEN	13	09:28.43	0:17.46	0:42.53	10
13	71	William TREGURTHA	13	09:31.46	0:20.49	0:42.67	13
14	17	Matthew HOPCRAFT	13	09:31.82	0:20.85	0:42.48	11
15	79	Max WIETESKA	13	09:35.98	0:25.01	0:42.54	6
16	81	Dylan FROST	13	09:36.24	0:25.27	0:42.56	8
17	51	Ben SCOTT	13	09:36.39	0:25.42	0:42.51	8
18	90	Ryan GILLESPIE	13	09:41.42	0:30.46	0:44.03	9
19	99	James BECKWITH	13	09:43.42	0:32.45	0:43.40	8
20	77	Bradley SHEARS	13	09:43.79	0:32.83	0:43.48	13
21	32	Ronan GRAVES	13	09:45.20	0:34.23	0:43.79	13
22	46	Karl PURANIK	13	09:45.41	0:34.44	0:43.57	6
23	50	Geri NICOSIA	13	09:48.46	0:37.49	0:43.79	8
24	78	Kieran WELSH	12	09:21.30	0:10.34	0:44.50	11
25	26	Joe RENTON	12	09:30.38	0:19.41	0:45.36	6
26	22	Rory HUDSON	11	09:12.10	0:01.14	0:42.72	11

Race 3:
Another change in an effort to find some time. Walking along the grid for heat 2 we had noticed that compared to everyone else, Geri's front wheels were further out and his rear wheels further in! Not a great deal, but a few mm at each end. So we set Geri up with smallest possible front track and widest possible rear track to see if it made a difference. The theory says it should cut rear grip, but sometimes you get too much rear grip and this is slower than being a little more loose.

Geri started this heat from 23rd position, so at least at 3 novices behind him. After launching away so well in the previous heat, we were hopeful he may get a decent start again, and this time be more assertive into the first corner. It went well enough as the karts crossed the line, and Geri held his own through the first couple of corners, but coming out of the corner onto the pit straight, a kart went past Geri so fast it looked like he had stopped. Geri gave chase up towards Pylon but coming out of Pylon he pulled off the circuit and his race was over. The throttle cable had snapped where it wraps round the pedal. And we still didn't know whether the chassis changes made any difference!

Heat 3 – Honda Cadet – 05/09/10
Position	Kart No	Driver Name	Laps	Race Time	Time Behind	Best Time	Best Lap No
1	6	Aaron DRURY	13	09:16.95		0:41.75	10
2	16	Sam POWER	13	09:17.82	0:00.87	0:41.98	12
3	53	Jordan BROWN-NUTLEY	13	09:17.93	0:00.98	0:41.88	11
4	27	Rory SMITH	13	09:18.16	0:01.21	0:42.01	12
5	98	Harrison HUGGAN	13	09:18.28	0:01.33	0:41.86	12
6	22	Rory HUDSON	13	09:23.48	0:06.52	0:42.47	8
7	79	Max WIETESKA	13	09:23.52	0:06.56	0:42.48	9
8	81	Dylan FROST	13	09:23.63	0:06.68	0:42.49	7
9	54	Uzair MASTER	13	09:23.94	0:06.98	0:42.33	9
10	33	Thomas ROW	13	09:25.07	0:08.12	0:42.72	12
11	66	William WOODS	13	09:25.17	0:08.22	0:42.01	12
12	58	Matthew HAYDEN	13	09:25.23	0:08.27	0:42.54	8
13	56	Richard CRISP	13	09:29.88	0:12.92	0:42.72	11
14	23	Stefanos CHARALAMBOUS	13	09:30.22	0:13.26	0:42.65	11
15	71	William TREGURTHA	13	09:31.72	0:14.77	0:42.45	12
16	95	Ethan ANDREWS	13	09:34.42	0:17.46	0:42.65	10
17	99	James BECKWITH	13	09:39.96	0:23.00	0:43.41	12
18	32	Ronan GRAVES	13	09:40.89	0:23.94	0:43.52	7
19	46	Karl PURANIK	13	09:41.03	0:24.07	0:43.58	11
20	51	Ben SCOTT	13	09:41.73	0:24.78	0:42.56	11
21	90	Ryan GILLESPIE	13	09:48.43	0:31.48	0:44.29	6
22	78	Kieran WELSH	13	09:59.49	0:42.54	0:44.92	10
23	26	Joe RENTON	12	09:25.03	0:08.07	0:45.29	9
24	77	Bradley SHEARS	6	04:50.28	-5:33.33	0:43.83	4
25	17	Matthew HOPCRAFT	4	02:59.68	-7:42.73	0:43.53	4
26	50	Geri NICOSIA	0	0:01.78	-10:44.8	0:00.00	0

Final:
Despite scoring zero points in heat three, Geri wasn't at the back of the grid for the final. He was 24th, with two karts behind him. The first problem was getting him out there - yet another trip to the kart shop, but this time not a successful one. They had sold their last throttle cable inner the day before. We were at a loss as to what to do next, it looked like Geri would have to sit out the final. Joe Renton's dad offered assistance, first he thought he may have a spare, but came back empty handed. Then he helped make a repair to get Geri up and running. Not an ideal solution, but we were able to use a length of cable to wrap around the pedal and then attach this to the remains of the main cable on both sides of the pedal so it would lock in place. With time, and mechanical ability on our part being in short supply (Joe's dad did need to look after his son, after all - a big thanks from Geri for your help) we had a working throttle pedal, just not a very good one. There was about 3 inches of play in the pedal before the throttle on the engine moved at all, then zero to full throttle happened within less than an inch of pedal movement. So Geri could drive flat out, but throttle moderation would be difficult. He said later it was like driving with a switch.

But at least Geri was able to line up, and in a bonus to us running Honda Cadet karts, one of the earlier finals had been abandoned until after ours due to too many unruly starts. A long time was spent in the assembly area as an ambulance was required at the end of the previous race - red flagged on what was probably the final lap anyway. factor in a couple of false starts of our own, and then we were off. Geri held on gamely, he was on the inside from the start, but somehow got caught up as Joe Renton and Ronan Graves tangled at the first corner and ended up stationery and interlocked. Ronan was none too pleased and was flapping his arms at Joe for what seemed like a couple of minutes - in avoiding their crash, Geri had spun off backards behind them. One of Geri's strong points is he doesn't mess about waving or pointing, he just gets on with what he needs to do - in this case it was to get back on the track and into the race. The yellow and black flags came out to slow the karts down while the two interlocked karts were attended too. Geri missed out on the chance to close up on the karts in front - something he always failed to do when racing indoors as well. Two or three laps under the safety flags and we were off again, the interlocked karts were now a lap and a half behind Geri. Then a red flag, a kart went off heavily on the infield straight into the wall. The race was stopped so the driver could be checked over, he was OK but it was a big crash.

More confusion reigned, all the karts were stopped on the start finish straight. Eventually they were lined up in single file according to their positions at the time of the red flag being displayed. There was confusion as to whether Ronan Graves - who was right behind Geri - was still a lap behind (because it was just a restart) or whether everyone started from scratch. Ronan chased after Geri while Geri tried to stay with the karts in front of him. Geri held on for lap after lap, a couple of times Ronan looked to get the better of Geri, only for Geri to recover the place. But finally Ronan got better drive onto the pit straight and made the pass stick. Geri wasn't to know that Ronan was a lap behind him so spent the remaining laps trying to stay in touch and regain the place.

The race finally finished some 25 minutes after it had started - and that after a big delay, so any advantage gained by starting earlier was well and truly lost. Geri was classified 20th, but more importantly was just a couple of seconds adrift of three karts in front of him, and just over a second behind Ronan who of course crossed the line ahead of him, but was a lap behind. Young Joe unfortunately tangled with one of the leading pack on the final lap but did recover to finish the race.

Geri set his fastest time of the day on the very last lap despite his throttle issues - but we still need to find another 1-1.5 seconds to mix it with the main pack.

A-Final – Honda Cadet – 05/09/10
Position	Kart No	Driver Name	Laps	Race Time	Time Behind	Best Time	Best Lap No
1	6	Aaron DRURY	18	24:52.37		0:42.02	18
2	16	Sam POWER	18	24:55.15	0:02.78	0:42.02	17
3	27	Rory SMITH	18	24:55.28	0:02.91	0:42.09	17
4	53	Jordan BROWN-NUTLEY	18	24:55.36	0:02.99	0:42.00	17
5	66	William WOODS	18	24:59.22	0:06.84	0:42.38	13
6	98	Harrison HUGGAN	18	24:59.55	0:07.18	0:42.40	6
7	81	Dylan FROST	18	24:59.85	0:07.48	0:42.56	11
8	54	Uzair MASTER	18	24:59.92	0:07.55	0:42.22	16
9	79	Max WIETESKA	18	25:00.15	0:07.78	0:42.42	15
10	51	Ben SCOTT	18	25:01.63	0:09.26	0:42.32	17
11	95	Ethan ANDREWS	18	25:01.66	0:09.29	0:42.27	18
12	22	Rory HUDSON	18	25:02.16	0:09.79	0:42.34	17
13	71	William TREGURTHA	18	25:02.44	0:10.07	0:42.31	18
14	17	Matthew HOPCRAFT	18	25:07.52	0:15.15	0:43.01	17
15	33	Thomas ROW	18	25:07.85	0:15.48	0:43.18	17
16	56	Richard CRISP	18	25:08.18	0:15.81	0:42.39	17
17	99	James BECKWITH	18	25:15.07	0:22.70	0:43.73	18
18	90	Ryan GILLESPIE	18	25:15.25	0:22.88	0:43.80	15
19	46	Karl PURANIK	18	25:15.64	0:23.27	0:43.75	14
20	50	Geri NICOSIA	18	25:18.13	0:25.76	0:43.69	18
21	23	Stefanos CHARALAMBOUS	18	25:22.47	0:30.10	0:42.80	18
22	78	Kieran WELSH	18	25:29.90	0:37.53	0:44.68	17
23	32	Ronan GRAVES	17	25:16.96	0:24.59	0:43.51	15
24	26	Joe RENTON	15	25:01.39	0:09.02	0:45.02	8
25	58	Matthew HAYDEN	6	04:43.08	-21:50.7	0:42.75	6
26	77	Bradley SHEARS	0	0:01.38	-25:09.0	0:00.00	0

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