Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The final race of 2008... Happy Holidays!

To be frank, I have nothing much to say for this final race.

Except that my steering wheel was vibrating as if it High on
drugs, making it quite crazy to go around the entire track for
15 laps.

To make matter worse, this race was full of incidents with Red
Flag being shown, then crashes here and there.

Ah well, this is all part of the racing I guess.
-------------

In any case, wishes everyone a Merry Merry Christmas and
a wonderful 2009!

cheers

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

What are I make of?

Yes, that's I realised was the tagline of Tag Hauer however it
will be interesting to see how I react in this coming last race
after discovering that Rok engine is indeed 'inferior' to other
makes. That is, if everyone run at the standard minimum
weight of 160kg at Plentong.

The minimum weight stated in one technical regulation
I saw is:

ROK--155 KGS.
PRD FIRE BALL--165 KGS.
ROTAX MAX FR 125--165 KGS.
PARILLA X3--168 KGS.
KF2 HOMOLOGATED ENGINES --168 KGS.
SUPER ROK / PCR 125--168 KGS.

Which is for myself, I had been running more weights than
needed, and the rest of the field is running lighter than
needed. Gees !! It does quite a bit in explaining how the
rest can climb the uphill so nicely while I struggle to move!

To be frank, I feel like taking a freaking hammer and smashed
my engine and myself.... for buying the Rok!
I feel an impluse to buy a brand new engine. I dun want to be
left at the foot of the hill, literally!

Then I come to peace with it. Since the engine is lacking of
torque I should then be more aggressive in certain aspects of
my tuning. The engine can't be that all bad. I just have to
give it a little spankings so that it will move along!

So instead of been gentle and smooth with the throttle I will
gun the throttle more. I hope it works. I hope I will enjoy the
last race, which will run the full track layout.
21 Dec awaits

Monday, December 8, 2008

Picture ... Nice!


This was taken by Mark in the Nov race at Plentong,
coming down the slope heading into a hairpin going uphill.
It is always interesting to see myself in a picture racing.
Because most time when we are in the seat all we could see
is the track and the corners and the guy in front...

Thanks Mark, it is a nice one for my collections!

7 Dec...Disaster !

What exactly is a disaster?

I know it all on race day, 7 Dec.

Firstly, after charging up my battery, I started my engine.
It's good, then I proceed to push my kart out and I changed
to go out on the track for test and qualifying.

Up on the straight, the engine sound odd. The RPM holds at
about 9200 without pushing any further and then go again.
Odd. Then I came back in. Look at the engine and whatever
and then I went back out and try again. Same.

Pitted in and found Jason the mech, and we wondered if it's the
main jet that is too small for the long straight configuration.
We agreed to change it. But Lo and Behold, he found out that
my choke lever is UP!! WTHell!

In any case, we did changed the main jet. Went out quickly for
a few laps. The lap times are slowly improving during my runs.
Although it's not good, I'm getting better time each lap.

I tried to think while driving on how to get a slight faster time.
I did try to have lesser steering input on some corners,
and it works. However, when I did the same on the corner at
the uphill straight I went off. It was so fast, I could not react.
I did not think it will go off at all too. The kart landed into
the 'ditch'.

Damages: both that held the front steering component broke.
Worse still, brake disc is like to be slightly wrap, along with the
disc carrier, and the rear axle!

Think of it, I had never really went off so many times in practise
and in race or quali. I think I getting frustrated on the engine
performance. I'm pushing harder to match some of my friends'
timings. I know I can do it, but somehow the engine will not carry
me along.

That's about it on 7 Dec, as even though I tried to race in Heat 1
which is wet I could not do no more than 5 laps. The brake pad is
holding my traction which is needed to push me out of the corners,
more so vital in wet conditions.

To be honest, I'm hugely frustrated and angry. I'm unsure with who
or at what. But I know I'm feeling these emotions.
I just want to have a good race. A better race. I don't need to win to
be happy, but I just want to be able to compete properly and to have
the performance of the engine to match my expectations.

I may have Roland to be at the track to see the lack of bottom end
one of these days real soon, else I may just go bonkers!

ah well, till 21 Dec! and fingers crossed.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Race Layout for 7 Dec

High Speed!

Age matters in F1

Nothing much has really caught my attention lately in the world of F1
except for minor things like the good old Bernie had proposed
MEDALs for finishers Rolleyes , small rear wings and gigantic front
wings on cars which look absolutely hideous relatively to the ones
we are all used to, qualifying format could change... yes, AGAIN! Dizzy
then turbo engine cld be back BECAUSE it is going to be more fuel efficient!
believe u, me.

all this is minor as it's all talk, until it really happen then it
happened.

then i go to chance upon this piece of news which Giorgio Pantano
had spoken to the press that he's disappointed of being not being even
ask to test for any F1 teams after winning the 2008 GP2 series.
why?
apparently, he's OLD at 29 years of age. Lips Are Sealed

then i think to myself, it was really not too long ago that
F1 has slightly more drivers in his age group, the late 20s, and 30s.
man with experience, bravery and skills...etc

correct me if i'm wrong. i may be very wrong here

now, F1 bosses seemingly want Boys who had just ended their puberty
AND have all of the mentioned attributes instead.

as far as i can remembered, it could all started with a Finn, Kimi.
who at the age of 22, got his F1 Super Licence, only with 2 seasons
in Formula Renault UK Championship previously. however, he had
won 13 races of the total 23 racesthere. impressive! we know how
it all goes for him after his 1st season in F1 with Sauber. he was
crowned world champ in 2007 with Ferrari.

then, a certain Alonso, who is discovered to race in Minardi.
started the same year as Kimi and went on to become a 2 time
world champion with Renault eventually.

last season and this year, we hear a lot of a young chap too, name
Lewis. who won his 1st title with McLaren at a age of 23.

in fact, season 2008 has Piquet Jr, Rosberg, Nakajima (3 of 23),
Glock (26), Sutil(25), and Vettel (21) who are considered young,
fast, willing and gifted. Especially Vettel who will be watched very
closely in 2009 season after his maiden win with STR.

come 2009, i reckon there will be 1 or 2 more young guns coming
into F1. STR possibly will have 2 seats, IF it remain operational.
Honda is eager to have a younger Brazilian to replace 'old'
Barrichello. this fresh face however will bring back a old famous
name to F1, Senna, Bruno.

why is younger driver more sought after?
importantly, they are cheaper to put in the car and/or can get
sponsor $$ for the team. so, money talks.
young driver are more willing and seemingly braver as they
want to prove themselves on the track. these 2 combi will give
any more estab driver a reason to have sleepless night if they are
not performing to a level relative to their salary.

last but not least, we all know that we can't teach an old dog
new tricks....!! Tongue
Laugh

PS. i'm selling my kart suit, anyone interested pls look at:
http://www.mycarforum.com/classifieds/classifieds.pl?id=13465
(hawking hawking touting!! Laugh )