Speeding Once more!

3 Aug 08, 5 more days to the Olympics, I finally visited the new track
at Plentong.

Where the previous track is located just by the side of a main road,
this new track is hidden away.
It's like if you want to get to something good, you have to seek it.
You will have to venture. You will have to drive through about 4Km
of dirt track


And mind you, it took us about 15 mins to complete this dirt track.
There are stones, and humps, and pot holes to deal with.
So do not think you're driving in some stages of WRC Rally... because
if you do, I am quite sure there are no Service Parks at the end of the
'stage' to repair damaged suspensions or radiator been hit by stones.

Upon reaching the track, it's all buzz again! Buzzing with flies!

Because this area was a fruit farm, the flies still lingers on.
There was no one there as yet at about 10.15am.
We were suspecting that if anyone will come in at all!


But before we got started, there was one group of 4-5 persons
who arrived and ready for fun karting.
Then steadily throughout the afternoon, there are groups who
came in and karted. Interestingly, I believed now I am not the only
crazy ones along with my friends!

I did not take any picture of the track itself, as it has been posted
in few forums, and one of those is located at:
http://kartingedge.com/forum/index.php?topic=260.0

The tarmac is smooth. The track wide. So we are ready to go out
once again! Today, the boss had put forth this configuration of the
track for us to try (path is marked with red dots)


The distance of this particular configuration is about 1.1Km.
Once you exit from the pit, it's something of a hairpin which I
marked as Turn 1. If you are not from the pit, Turn 1 is wide 180 degree
right turn. At this turn, I will need to carry as much speed as possible for
the long straight.

The straight is slightly upslope, and the speed will built up to its max
about half way or 3/4 way through it. From there, you have to be ready
for Turn 2, a very high speed right hander which is still uphill.
Here, after my 1st session I had to tweak my rear end as it fish-tail
a bit no matter how I turn delicately. Session 2 was much better.

Turn 3 come quick and fast. Another fast right hander down slope.
If you have balls of steel, a very good brake and good set up for Turn 4,
right hander hairpin, one can full throttle and brake at the last possible
moment and turn! COOL...! But, last I checked it was not made of steel!

Anyway, if you brake too late for this corner you will more often than not
find you and your kart in the ditch. Don't believe, ask my friend, Desmond.

After Turn 4, you will gently climb uphill again for Turn 5.
Look at the track layout, and you will see it's something a 300 degree
left hander that will bring you back downhill. Here, it will crucial to find
the correct speed and line to take. Which after trying and looking at over
again, it's about 3/4 away from the most inside line. This is the most
challenging section of the whole track. My neck hurts now I had
never do round about so fast ever before!

Finishing Turn 5, the section before Turn 6 is quite tricky as there is a
quick Left then Right before the very wide right turn. Which is Turn 6,
I reckon you will have to use all the available track so that you can carry
much speed into the pit section of the track and the straight before
Turn 7.
Turn 7 is deceiving. It seems wide. As a mater of fact, it is. But because
you think it is SO Wide, you tend to bring too much speed into it forcing
you to go too wide. I know, because I'm guilty and nearly paid for it!


Oh, I did nearly went off as well at a very high speed at Turn 2. I was
already feeling hot and tired when we went for the 3rd session at 1.30pm.
A blink of my eyes, and I was steering a second too late for the corner....
Luckily for the wide track I managed to recover to be on
my way back to the pits and called it a day.

The track is fun. But well, karting is always fun, isn't it?

In a nutshell, this track is hidden because it will be a gem in time
to come when the rubber is laid down from more karts.
Since it's a relatively high speed track, one will get tired more easily
without feeling too much torque from the kart. Fatigue will come from full
concentration and the G force from Istanbul like Turn 5.

So you think you can go fast.... try this @ Plentong!