Thanks for reading

27 Sept

On 25 Sept, while I was at the track I was actually approached

by a guy who asked me for advice as he was thinking to get

a kart. Louis had offered him one kart at RM11,000, Arrow

chassis with a Rotax Max engine.

His question to me is if it's 'ok'

Well, Bryan, my friend, if you are reading this as you had told me

you came across my blog, do consider the CRG with Rotax Max

instead from Graeme.
All you probably need to tweak from that is the carb setting, and

a smaller seat, as I know the engine was just recently rebuilt and

the chassis do look better too !

Here I would like to clarify that I am not saying not to buy from

Louis but my knowledge of the kart he's selling is zero.

Most time, he had little of it too. I know Graeme. I know he will
at least sell something that is good enough for you to start off

without having to keep paying more soon after the purchase...

Oh, as per to the title, I would really like to thank those who

took time to read what I had to write here. Although the web site

is not bursting with crazy numbers, I'm just happy that sometimes

my experience in words managed to assist a few others in their
karting pursuit.

Because I remember there was no help at all when I was really
interested to start off a few years back. I just dive right in just
hoping and thinking I can be fast only to realise later Go Karting
is quite a serious sports.
It requires me to be a relatively fit and healthy which I need to
allocate time to have a work out every now and then.
I need time to read about the chassis I had, and more time to test
on the track.
Then I need more time to look at the engine specs, and learn to
maximize the performance with its settings along with the carb.
I also need more time to look at the tyres and see how I can use
them smartly.
It is not done yet, as I still need time to fine tuning my driving

So if one wants to get into the sports, and want to do it seriously,
there are things to be done before the race. The race itself is just
an event. The preparation is much more important. How much
time you spent on the preparations will result with a likely bigger
satisfaction of a sweet tasting fruit.

It seems I had write more than I thought I will for today.


Once again, my sincere thanks for reading my humble blog.

back on Track !

26 Sept

Yesterday I was back on the track driving my kart!
Yes, my ribs is pain free.
But today, been a day after, I can feel a slight discomfort,
no pain just some dull aches.

I was truly happy that I was on the track yesterday.
As there was a mini race as a 'finale' of the day program
at about 3 pm with 6 others, including Graeme, Mary, Noel
and their friends. Not forgetting a certain Louis (the track boss).
It was cretainly a good gauge to see if my ribs can indeed take the
punishment dished out while being on a kart. Just driving on my
own will not be as good a test since I can back off unknowingly.

The more fruitful bits of the day are that I had learnt how to
adjust my chassis front width, and tighten my own chain.
Although my hands and arms are all dirty, but I was enjoying
almost all bits of it.
Next up, I will need to and want to learn how to change my rear
sprocket.

The question I had to ask myself now is whether to race on Oct 11.
I need to ponder about it as race there now has little or no meaning
to me other than meeting up with good friends. Making the whole
experience yikes is the bad temperament of a certain Louis.

Yesterday while we are on the grid, Noel openly question the
'wisdom' or the lack of it for the weigh required by the Biland.
Noel simply thinks that the Biland engine definitely need to put on
more weights to be fairly competing with the rest of the 2 strokes.
To round off the point, Louis finished 1st after 'punting' Graeme out
in the last few laps. And I got to second from sixth.

Hey, maybe I just saw the wisdom of it... The guy putting up
the rules just want to win it for himself. Sound about right?

This brought me to another point which has been got me thinking
about racing in Plentong. That, there is obviously a silly mix of 2
strokes of 4 strokes engine running together in the same race.
While the Biland is an aged 4 stroke, it seems to be getting better
since I drove it courtesy of Louis in a race middle of the year.

Then needless to say, there are the Aixro engines which produce
33 kW (more than 44bhp) at 8750 rpm and 39 Nm at 7500 rpm

As compared to a 2 stroke Rotax Max engine which gives
21 kW ( 28.5 bhp) at 11,500 rpm and 21 Nm at 8.750 rpm

I hope you can make out how much difference in performance
it is between the two makes on the straight even though the
minimum weight for Aixro is at 205Kg and the Max at 165kg.

There's very little how much more weights one had to put on the
Aixro or Biland to make it a 'fair'. I guess it will never really be fair.
I just have to face it or take it on the chin if I decide to race there.
Let me say this here that the 2 guys, Mark and Julian, using
the Aixro are good friends.

It just the whole race format/ weight requirement/ darn dirt track
going into the track/ attitude of Louis are just irking me.

But I have to admit that my idea of karting is 'romantic' which
is basically to improve driving skills, understand the setup of the
kart and engines and close fair racing on the track rather than just
to have the most powerful engines on the chassis.

Shouldn't it be the way karting should be?

I love sitting in my kart racing with everyone or anyone.
I had mentioned this to a few guys before that I will be more
happy to race the young Thaddeus Lee in his Junior Max and
lose gladly then to fight it out on the track where it's straight
with the 4 stroke engines after overtaking again and again on the
corners only to be edge ahead on the straight.
It is just like losing purely on Horsepower. Period.
Thus I just have to question myself if the race itself in Plentong is
in fact a race, giving my rosy view of go karting.

I will just need to pondering more on it. I might just do it for
the final 2 races.

For now, I'm happy that I back on the kart. Driving it. Learning
my chassis again.
Already looking forward to my next outing on the track!!

Also, it's the Singapore F1 weekend. So it's all motoring again
this weekend.

happy '78' out of cage and on the track!

karts ready for 'mini' race

Man & Machine = Speed!

22 Sept

Yesterday being a public holidays I had time on my hand and

I did a couple of 'interesting' stuffs

To begin with, I drove to Changi Exhibition Centre to see Mika

Hakkinen drive a supercar at about 11.30am

This place is quite buried away from the main city or estate of

Singapore.

Honestly this is the first time I saw this retired F1 legend in flesh

and blood, and my initial impression is that he's tall! I say this in

relatively term to Hekki who is definitely shorter than me.

Mika's duty for the day was to drive a few blokes from Johnnie Walker

and the press in the supercar. It was fun to watch only for awhile.

Then I was off as there was no shelter at all for the general public.

I mean, if the organizer only want to treat the event as an exclusive
I think they should not even publicize it.

There were kids and adults alike standing in the bloody hot sun just to

watch the car moving front and back...

Beside me, a few more left very shortly he stopped at the end of the
first run. Still though, I'm glad to see one of my all time favourite F1
driver. (now, do u know where i get my helmet design inspiration from?)

I ran some errands after that, and headed down to the Arena track,
which is call 'kartright speedway'
For more information, please go to http://www.kartright.com/
I managed to walked the track, and I can see that it will be a challenging
track although it is relatively short at only 750m.
At the moment though, I must say it is one of the better track that we
have in Singapore.

Oh, I heard news that the Toro Rosso team may be heading down to
this track on Wed, 23 Sept, 2-6pm.
Those who have time will see Sébastien Buemi, and Jaime Alguersuari,
I think. I will try to sneak out and watch some actions there if I can.

Thinking that my day is done with moving around, I then headed towards
Tuas track. Uncle Yee knew that there are going to be some kart actions,
and off we went.

While the Arena track was in the preparation stage, the Tuas track was
having a flurry of activities. I arrived to the sound of Motocross bikes
storming around the track. But as I looked at the people who are
already there, many familiar faces were there as well. Ben Goh, Ah
Sheng, Thad, Paul, Roland, Ah Khiang, Andy etc. All of these guys
are involved in karting in one way or another. It was really interesting
catching up with some of them here in Singapore, as I only see most
of them in JB.


So while I could not race in Plentong, I managed to do a couple
of things related to machines which thus compensate my 'addiction' for
speed.

Work of Art

14 Sept

Although I will not be able to go zoom around in my kart
for awhile more, I actually had something to keep me
"happy".

My new helmet!! Painted on a HJC AR10 with a design
fusion of 2 great Finish F1 drivers.
Who are they?

Please look at the helmet and make your guesses!






just FYI: helmet painting services is available at Sunburst Motorcycle,
and that's where my helmet is born.

Aching for Action

13 Sept

Another sunday spent in Singapore, and not on the track.

Ah well, even if I am at the track I will not not in my kart.

darn...!

I believed I had been 'bitching' much about my rib injury.
And still I am doing so! Because it hurts still.

It hurts when I finally try to do some running just now.

Had to stop just after 2Km.

It does seems like a chronic soft tissue strain, and this is what

I got from the internet,
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Rib_injuries

Symptoms:

The symptoms of rib injuries depend on the type and severity of

the injury, but can include:

* Pain at the injury site (yes)

* Pain when the ribcage flexes –

with movement, with a deep breath or when you cough, sneeze or

laugh (YES!)

* Crunching or grinding sounds (crepitus) when the injury site is

touched or moved (thank goodness, No)

* Muscle spasms of the ribcage (when sneeze, hell Yes!)

* Deformed appearance of the ribcage (phew, Nope!)

* Breathing difficulties (happily No)

Blunt force is the common cause of injuryRib injuries typically

occur when the chest is directly hit.

The type of situations that could cause blunt injuries to the ribcage

include:

* Motor vehicle accidents – for example, slamming the chest against

the steering wheel.
* Crush injuries – for example, a heavy object landing directly on the chest.
* Sports-related injuries – for example, a heavy tackle.
* Falling from a reasonable height – for example, off a roof or ladder.
* Assault – for example, getting hit by a baseball bat.

mine is a combination of "Sports" "motor vehicle" & "Crush" injury...

Soft tissue injuries

Soft tissue of the ribcage includes the intercostal muscles

and the costal cartilage.

Common injuries include:

* Bruising – the blood vessels rupture and leak blood into the surrounding

tissues. Bruising of the chest wall is a common rib trauma. (yup, Bruise
clear and present)

Intercostal strains – intercostal muscles allow the ribcage to move up and down.

These muscles can be strained by any activity that involves extreme or forceful

twisting of the body or swinging of the arms. Sports that commonly cause this

type of injury include golf and tennis.

(and apparently go karting can cause it too.

with the rib bang really hard, directly on to the edge of the seat I reckon this is what

is still causing the discomfort of my ribs. Only time can heal this bits now... sigh)

* Costochondral separation – the rib is torn loose from the costal cartilage

and is detached from the sternum. (luckily, no...!)

Treatment

Unlike bones of the arms and legs, broken ribs can’t be set in a cast.

Treatment aims to relieve pain while the injury heals, which can take up to

six weeks (in the case of fracture) and 12 weeks or more if the rib has been

torn from the cartilage.

Treatment for bruised ribs is the same as for fractured ribs but with a

shorter recovery time. Options include:

* Rest
* Prescription strength pain-killing drugs
* Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
* Avoiding activities that aggravate the injury, such as sport
* Icepacks – these may help to reduce inflammation in the early stages
* Mechanical ventilation (help with breathing) – this may be needed in
cases of severe flail chest

I believe now I really have to be a patient patient and not rush back into
the kart seat which may seriously further aggravate the injury.
Any further worsening will definitely hampered my intention for a good
debut in 2010 RMC.

But there are things to be done.
I need to understand the chassis more. I need to improve my driving.
I need to get more physical training too.
During these more than 3 weeks of 'lay off', I just realised I had lost
2 kg or so. That is in muscle mass. Much good work previously had gone
to some waste.
I need to crawl it back asap. Again, I need to be patient.
Not easy to do so, when I'm in a sports which require one to go fast and
now here I am willing myself to go slow... in recovery.

Just standing around part2

7 Sept

Yes, this is a part 2 of idle chat. Idling.. and chatting

Today for the first time in 2 weeks, I went to have a

swim. And boy oh boy, it felt good.
But at the same time, I still feel the tightening of the left ribs area.

This rib 'injury' really set me back in terms of getting more track

time on the new kart. All these just means I have little time to identify
any issues on the chassis, engine, tyres and my driving.

Bottom line, I am not getting faster! darn...

I really hope I can recover in time for the Sept race.
Why the rush, right?

Previously I was thinking to skip the Sept race in Plentong,

but because it has been brought to attention that there will no 'monster
karts' taking part in the race I am now very keen to race with similar
makes engines. All 2 strokes engines... except for one Biland used by a
crazy old man. Beside the Biland of Louis, all other karts engines should
be of 2 stroke nature. Who cares about silly old man, right?

It should be of a good fun race with the full track being used. It will

be tough but it will be a excellent training.

Thus I just hope I can get back on to the kart soon and zoom away!

Just standing around....

6 Sept

Went into Plentong track today just to see/ help my fren KP run in his repaired Max engine. The day started 'badly' for me with a swollen left eye, and some form of a stomach upset...

In addition, KP was late for almost 2 hours because he overslept!
However it was a great day with some BBQ at Graeme's pit.. yumyum chicken wings

And oh, I did have my self discipline by not hopping into the kart with my rib still hurting today. It may be another week or 2 or even 3 before I can fully recovered...
Only then I will jump into my kart once more!

Video clip of Graeme giving chase to Mary. Hope the video do it justice as it was really fast and awesome when I took this in very close proximity. Stand around watching is never close to doing it yourself! I just have to be patient now...

Affirmatively Affirmations: I Am

4 Sept

Another interesting article from appm.co.uk that is worth reading.
It is something what I like to call 'Mental Conditioning' as it is not
too different from 'Physical Conditioning'
If we spend a considerate amount of time in completing physical training
then we should also be looking to toughen our mind, else losing it on the
track because of a weak attitude is surely a lousy way to taper off.
I believe this will both be helpful for personal growth and performance
on the kart track.

Ever since we were small children everything we have ever thought about ourselves or has ever been said to us has gone in through our conscious mind and has been stored away in our subconscious. All of these thoughts and comments become who we are (subconsciously) whether they are true or false, the subconscious does not discriminate... it only listens to what it is told.
This knowledge tells us two very important things:

1. Be aware of your thoughts - Be very careful about the thoughts that you have about yourself, this is why everybody bangs on about positive thinking, it really is very important.
You need to become the editor of your own thoughts all of the time.

2. Your can change the way you think about yourself - If your thoughts become who you are, you can use this knowledge to your advantage, you can create specific thoughts that can be used to change various aspects of yourself as a driver and as a competitor and you do this through the use of affirmations.

An affirmation is simply a statement that you affirm to yourself, it can be both positive and negative.
To start with let's look at a negative affirmation - imagine yourself going through a tough period with your driving and you start to say to yourself ten times every day for a month "I am never going to make it". Will you feel better or worse? Think about it. You are very unlikely to feel better and in all probability you will feel a lot worse..... crucially your performance may deteriorate further because at the back of your mind, your subconscious has been told that "you won't make it".

Contrast this with somebody who is going through a tough patch who says to themselves ten times a day for a month "I am going to make it no matter what" and they really put energy behind it. How will they feel at the end of that month?.... far more positive and up for it than the person who does nothing. What happens is that constant repetition of a targeted positive statement changes the way that their subconscious thinks about themselves and they now react to the challenges "knowing they will overcome them".

The Process Creating Affirmations:
1. Identify clearly the issue/habit that you want to change
2. Use one affirmation per issue, don't combine them
3. They must be positive
4. Avoid using a negative i.e. don't say "I am not going to crash any more".
Change it to "I am always going to finish"
5. Wherever possible try and start your affirmation with "I am............."
6. Keep them fairly short
7. Make them specific and to the point
8. Don't try and use too many at one time

Using Affirmations:
1. Repeat them at least ten times a day, the more the better
2. To condition yourself you will need to commit yourself to 30 days and
you should start to see the difference after 10
3. To make them even more powerful repeat them whilst looking at yourself
in the mirror

Sample Affirmations:
· I am a winner
· I am fantastic at starting
· I always drive at my best when leading
· I am great at overtaking
· I am at my best overcoming obstacles
· I am an indomitable competitor
· I have complete confidence in my ability to control oversteer
· I am confident in all situations

Think carefully about areas of your driving or your overall career that are currently holding you back and create affirmations to address those specific issues.
Become your affirmations and at the end of 30 days review how you feel about yourself.

Battle scar

1 Sept

Went to the track today.
Mainly just to replace all fuel lines.
Also, to feel my nice kart once again.
Clean it a bit, and look at one of the major 'scar' from
the race.

With the rib injury, I think it will be some time before
I could ride on it again... sigh