Cadet race at Whilton Mill - 2008
23rd November:
We had hoped to get Geri over to Rye House the weekend before, along with an instructor and maybe even a spare engine so we could run some back to back tests. But best laid plans and all that - Rye House was closed for testing. We did drop the kart off with Paul at Rogue Racing who found a couple of interesting problems - the brake was not releasing properly after lifting off the pedal, and full throttle on the pedal wasn't translating to full throttle at the engine! Surely these fixes alone would help Geri go faster?
A bitterly cold Saturday test day preceded the race day, if the temperatures were not cold enough, the wind chill certainly was. Geri was consistent, but off the pace again. Each session was like starting all over again with no obvious progress from the previous session. There were a couple of novices out on track that Geri looked to be able to get the better of, but Sunday once again looked like it would be a tough day. We double checked the weight, it was 102.5kgs with light fuel load so another 2kgs came off. Looks like Geri's been eating this month.
Sunday morning and it was snowing as we left home - and the roads were very icy. We discussed the impending folly of sending the cadets out first for practice to see if the track was icy, but all credit to Whilton Mill Kart Club as they changed the order and sent the bigger karts (and drivers) out first. Even going out in the 4th practice session, giving us ample time to swap over to wet settings, the track was more slippery than we've seen it before. Geri was flying off the circuit at almost every corner - at least we couldn't complain he wasn't trying - and so were many other drivers. Hardly surprising that by the time the races started, the schedule was already running 30 minutes late. There was one other hiccup - Geri has raced at both Whilton Mill and Rye House as number 50 - but another driver showed up for Saturday testing with that number. Turns out that neither he nor Geri are members of Whilton Mill Kart Club and the other driver's entry was received first. So Geri would have to race as 51 - we have fixed this for 2009 by handing our membership form straight in.
Heat 1:
On a wet and cold track with almost zero grip, Geri found himself out with 3 other novices, one of those being the one who "took" Geri's number. A good start from Geri saw him get through Crook without drama, and by the time he came out of Christmas he was making decent progress and climbing all over 3 or 4 other karts. A number of karts had already fallen off and Geri stayed with the pack through to Boot 3. Then it all went wrong, Geri had got the better of the other 50 but another faster kart was gaining from behind and as Geri tried to pass another kart, he was spun out backwards coming out of Pits. He got back out on track but the damage was done, 50 had got away and although Geri was lapping faster, he couldn't catch him, finishing 23rd from 28 karts and second novice. But three places behind 50 could prove costly for final grid position.
Heat 3:
The track was a little drier, but still very much a full wets track. Geri was up against 4 novices again, but 25 and 54 were just too quick for him. His main battle through the race was with a more experienced driver, number 26, the difference on track being down to the difference in their fastest lap, over the other four laps they were even. So 22nd this time from 25 and only third novice.
Heat 5:
The final heat, 29 starters, 5 of whom were novices. Another heat that didn't really go well for Geri as he finished 28th, a couple of seconds adrift of 21 in 27th, but over 20 seconds adrift of the kart in 26th. This despite a fastest lap time better than the three drivers in front of him.
B Final:
Despite what had seemed like bad results, Geri still had enough points to be 14th on the grid of the B Final of 19 drivers, with 7 novices present. Geri had a great race, a couple of spins costing him the chance to compete for a top ten place. Geri had got the better of novice 91 in the heats but 91 was in front due to an early Geri off. Geri was chasing him down, gaining a second or two a lap, it was going to be close on the final lap. Coming out of Chapman, Geri caught up and was on 91's tail as they headed into Boot 1. 91 went wider, Geri turned tighter to pass 91 on the inside and as 91 spun, they both went off on the infield. Geri recovered first to get back on track and finish 13th again as he did last month. The hoped for improvement hadn't really manifested. Despite being on all the correct lines where many others were still on the dry lines, Geri just isn't pushing hard enough on the corners.
One thing we did learn this weekend is we need to rethink Geri's seat. Another parent pointed out that Geri sits too upright and worse, his seat appears to be too big for him despite being the smallest Zip do. At least this explains why he said last month he felt like he was falling out when leaning round corners - we just didn't know how to interpret his feedback.
So that's the outdoor season over, winter season starts straight away at Rye House on 4th January. Between now and then we need to figure the way forwards so we progress in 2009. We accepted that 2008 would be about gaining experience, we didn't realise how much that would be about our experience as well as Geri's! Its all of us who need to progress next year.
