Last Race and EOS review.

13 Dec


Well, it is the end of 2010. At least it is for the kart race 'season'
in Plentong.

Hence it is also a time to delve into this saying from Ally McBeal:

"If you think back, and replay your year - if it doesn't bring
you tears of joy or sadness, consider the year wasted."

Before we go into that, we had our last race in the full track
layout. 15 laps per heat on 12 Dec.

The surprising thing in this race is that it did Not rain...!

Imagine that, it rained for the past few race and come
December the heavenly tap was turned off for us. YEAH!

For this race, I was able to get my hands on some good MG
yellow tyres. Do drop me a message if you can interested
to get this really good set of rubber.

For qualifying, I was temporarily set to start in 3rd spot
until I was bump to fourth by the young chap, Chang.

As usual, it was not the best position to start on the outside
for the longer straight for the hairpin. I was just hoping not
to screw up my throttling when the green flag dropped.

Heat 1

My start was assisted when Ivan bump me in the rear when
the green flag was not really dropped.
Into the 1st hairpin, I was able to keep my position disposing
Chang but Graeme managed to have a good jump to 3rd.
Sadly, I was unable to really able to challenge him at all to
take the position.
And that means I was in the worse position in the race as I
will have to both defend from Chang and Ivan, and keep
looking to try to overtake Graeme.

It was really a challenge because it screw my motivation and
rhythm for the race up. I was screwed. I was forced to take it
easy especially in the Spoon Section where he was very very
slow.

Hence, the inevitable happened. I was overtaken by Chang...
and Ivan! Darn!! After that I was trying to take at least one
position back but I was totally out of sync.

So from 4th, I was dropped to 6th in a corner. That's motorsports!

After that I was really pissed to be honest.
Not at any one, but myself.
As I had told James, I was furious with myself for not been
aggressive and smart enough to overtake Graeme as soon as
I have the opportunity. AARRGGHH
Lesson firmly learnt.

Take it as soon as I can.

Heat 2. Again on the outside, and further back in 6th.
My start was average, and made one place on Maryann
who started in 3rd taking over Graeme's position.
However, without weight in a much faster Vortex RAD she
just shot past me on the straight. It was lightning fast.
However that become a problem for her on the downhill.
She duly braked too late and hit Ivan's rear.

With that incident I overtook both, and went to fourth.
From then I was aiming to chase young Chang down and
hope to finish the race much better than I started.
I was closing in, then I faded. I was exhausted and/or the
tires was overheating and/or I was over-driving.
Probably all of the above.

In the end, I had to settle for 4th. It was the best I could
do. Because by the night fall, I think I was sick with
exhaustion! I really need to get my lazy arse back into
my work regime. This is just to ensure I do not return home
and vomit!

I was somewhat delighted with Chang's progress.
Once he could not come close to me even without any weights
on his kart. Now he's driving well. However I just hope they
did not modified his engine in a unorthodox ways to give him
that advantage. Because, truly I will be more than delighted
to have some good young talent to be emerging from Plentong.
I hope I will be able to say I did race with this guy while watching
some TV programme.

While we are at that very thought, I am again pissed that
engines had been introduced into the race. And these engines
become the main reasons drivers are getting good results.
Let's not take away any credits away for been able to drive
these machines fast for a race distance.

However, I really hate to see the kart scene within become
a bloody arms race.

Because that will definitely signal my departure from the
race organised by Louis. I will probably try to organise a
race with other guys using Rotax Max ONLY.
I truly and firmly believed kart races should be very largely
be about improving drivers' technique in all aspects.

At the moment, there are idiots running around feeling so
much about themselves thinking they are fast when their
racing lines are just nothing but rubbish.

I certainly will not dignify myself by racing them.
As I know they will just go past me with relatively ease with
their much more powerful KF engines.

Well, I'm not alone in these. A lot of guys do feel the same.
And we will meet before Christmas and see what will be the
best way to move forward into 2011.

And let me end to share the 2010 championship table:

Goals and target next year.... if I am to race, it will be achieving points
over 100. Simple. And let's do it!!

It's an Art

Started writing, 26 Oct, Posted on Halloween

I was thinking and pondering... why do I suddenly feel somewhat
downbeat after last race?

Nope, it is not because I had a 'poor' result.
Nah, not because some joker bang my side pod.
It's not even because the weather just somewhat play prank on
the race day once again with wet and dry conditions.

hmmmm

Then I realised...! Eureka!

Instead of just tell you up front... let me illustrate briefly.

We all know who are, for example, Beethoven or Vincent van Gogh.
If you don't, then it's not difficult to grab someone just beside you
and they will probably tell you one of them was a famous musician
and another was a well known artist. (or google it, if you have no
friends )

And now straight to the very point (the first of it), these guys excelled in
what they do because they have talent and worked very hard at it to
be perfect. Or very close t0 perfection.
I do not know for sure but I somehow love to think Beethoven did not
went out and gotten himself the best piano or guitar or violin and VIOLA
he's the best in the world.
Vincent van Gogh, I certainly hope, did not bought a nice pot of sunflower
with the best brushes he could laid his hands on and then became very
popular instantly.

These guys had some talents to begin with no doubt, but over the years
he practiced and practiced and... we all got the picture right?

That's how one can be good, for the start. With even more dedication,
and determination and more time to practice then one may be aim for
something greater.

Hence it is somewhat unbelievably puzzled is that I wonder why is
there like a very expensive Super KF engine soon in my league of race?

I just wish all of us understand and see that go kart is not really being
able to buy to win... or is it?

To me, it's really an art form. No way we can just get a best brush and
be 'greats'.

To set up the kart to the track conditions and to the driver's driving
style is an art.
To learn how to set up the tyres with different air pressure and width
is an art.
To learn how to brake properly and not to lose too much time and
speed is an art.
To learn and understand how to turn in and exit from corners
smoothly is an art.

To have a proper physical condition for this sports.... is NOT an art,
it is actually what we termed as Common Sense!

All in all, to do all these together is definitely the ultimate master piece
of your own. Because it is like being able to synergize everything into a
single moment in time.
It's perhaps how Beethoven being able to string every little pieces of
music to be a great concerto.

It's all too idealistic, I know. But this is me, Jonathan Lai.

On 30 Oct:

Which is also I am very interested to exchange ideas or even 'teach' the
young karters who are now in Plentong. 2 of them now.
Yesterday I had spent some 10 laps to have them follow me, and
hopefully I had did some good.

I also realised I am not too good a mechanic, as I had not do a good job
on adjusting the rear width. After the wet qualifying I promptly widen
the rear slightly, however yesterday upon checking the right rear hub
moved inwards by more than 20mm!! No wonder the kart felt strange.

Oh, yesterday is also a good day to test out this:

Bumper (not bummer ) rib protector.
Although I had it on for the last race, it was not a good gauge without the
spoon section. Now, I found it is indeed better (much better ) than
Freem, in my humble opinion. Perhaps the best money can buy for
protecting karters' fragile ribs.
Let me know if you need one!

cheers & thanks for reading

Straight On

17 Oct

It seems that rain came on only on race day!!

And today, personally I really saw some crap driving and driver(s).
I will not delve or dwell into it.. too much.
It just puzzle me to a large extent why some people don't just race
within the rules with the weights requirement, and just go banging
others... rear and my side. tsk tsk

Basically, just have to watch for these people in the future races if
they decided that what they did is right.

Also there are rumblings about weights for engines... once again.
Guys, I only conduct the briefing out of goodwill and 'for fun' so
if any one feel there is a need to tweak minimum weight requirement
please talk to the boss, Louis. Not me.
Becuase I am simply tired of hearing talk of it either from myself or
from others.
For me, if I do feel that it's not fair fun any more, then I will just continue
to leisure kart.

Also, I think I will really not race when the track configuration
is like all straights. It's just too boring. And then, I do not know why
I just have issue getting it right.

Now then, to some great pics from Mark

F1 Singapore

24 Sept




The streets are lit like day once again...
The engines are blaring through the darkness keeping everyone
widely awake...

Welcome F1 back to Singapore!

So Much....

20 Sept

I had a great session yesterday in Plentong, and I learnt so much again!

To start the good day, it did not rain!

Then, we had about quite a few regular race participants there.
KP and I had arranged to come, same as Cydric.
Then James came, along with Ang and Gary.

Albert was there on his regular sessions, and met a new guy, Chang.
I did not took pic of the nice brand new CRG kart, but here is it anyway
from his FB page.
I had always love the CRG sticker kit! It is just way too cool.

Had managed to do 3 good sessions.
As usual the first one, I had always just treat it as a warm up.
Warm up for the kart, and for the body.

I will try to do only about 10 laps.
After which, normally, I do feel somewhat tired.

But I know that I will be in a better shape to drive longer and harder in
the next session. In terms of lap times, I usually do 0.3 to 0.5 faster.
Perhaps it's the kart, engine, tyres which all warmed up, or it could
be the body & mind that made the difference.
I will go for a combination of these factors.

Second session was where it got really interesting.

It's where KP and I race together.
Man, we will sort of going for it.
We even had a touch going round the Spoon section together!


At the first few laps, I was really catching up with him quick and overtook
him uphill going into the spoon section.
He was particularly slow on the exits. I guess this will be a classic e.g. of
"fast in, slow out"
Soon after I overcooked the corners after and was slow in the pits section,
which he caught up and took the lead again.

It was interesting after that, as I was in 2 minds sometimes to be honest.

As I was out of the exits a tad faster, I was always come up Right behind
him at the straights. So do I go for it then? If the move do not come out well,
it will be a huge shunt..! I thought about it again, and wanted to do so.
However, it was not worth the risk on a nice non-race sunday.

Instead I just piled up the pressure on, by sticking very close to him.

And in about 6-7 laps of doing so, he somewhat lost it... going into the
grass patch when checking where I was.
It was a hairy moments for me too, because I was afraid his kart might
veered out and collect me too.
Thankfully it didn't. I continued on, and drove a total of 16 laps before
I pitted.

It was hot... when I noticed the temperature climbed all the way to 70C.

The second session with a total of 15 laps, we went out again and I
promptly overtook him at the entry of the spoon so that I will have
more distance to build the lead if possible. It worked. After that I
managed to go easy on the tyres, and the lap times were fairly
constant at low of 46s.

When I drove for about 13 laps, I was checking how much fuel I had
and started to contemplate to pit..
Then James pull alongside me and overtook me at the spot I
overtook KP. I tried to follow him for the next bits, then I looked at
my fuel again and thought better of it.
James then started to pointed to his back, and I thought to myself
"Oppphs... is my suit not wore properly or something amiss at the
back of my kart?"
And so I pitted.... in fact there lies my best opportunity to learn
from the best!!! He was actually telling me to follow him so that I
could learn his line!! DARN... silly me!

Anyway, I still had good advice from him.
I need to look at my front setup as he could tell from my tyre wear
which suggest understeer.
Then I need to play with my jetting as I could be running a jet or
so too rich. When sorted, he reckoned it will be about 0.2-0.3 faster..!


This is fantastic !
Because no matter how hard or long I drive, without a optimal
setting I will not be getting the max out of the equipment.

Now, I just want to go back to the track and test the setting he
recommended!


Oh, for anyone interested in serious karting, please get a rib
protector! You do not want to be like Chang, who is hurting now
from his drive without it. I had been there before.. so take my
words for it. Get well, Chang and we will see you soon enough.

Likewise, for anyone who is really serious about karting, do get
into shape. KP who has not been karting for about 2 months, was
well and truly knackered.
He was, in fact, asking for neck brace before our final run.
It is this important to be fit in this sports....
Yes, this is a sports unless one choose to be in a fun kart.

Unexpected

8 Sept

Unexpected… this is what Sunday had all about.

Leo had unexpectedly won his first race of the year. To begin with he had unexpectedly sat in his kart to race.

Because the day started with much rain pouring down, and he did not even bothered to bring his bag of equipment from his car to the track!

However, it was really nice to see him completed all 3 runs from Qualifying to Heat
2. Topping all of it, no less.

I would like to claim some credits… as I had kindly loan him my battery, gloves, and sold him the wet tyres set at a good price!


So, how did I do then?

Without wets, I just had to sit out of the Qualifying. Just like Leo, we were thinking of going to locate a good spa and relax instead.

Unexpectedly, the rain just ceased after the qualifying with the sun shining through the layers of clouds.

Seeing the track drying, I changed out and try the track out.

It was generally okay, but some sections remain wet with stream of water running across the track making it quite tricky to negotiate.

Since I had not done the Qualifying, I will start Heat 1 from the back at 9th.It should be quite fun! And it is.

I finished 5th. Honestly speaking, I was somewhat disappointed with that. I would expected myself to be more competitive.

I’m kicking myself because I screwed my start once again. Not only in Heat 1, but in Heat 2 too!

When the start is bad, it is extremely tough to get past the pack especially so when the guys and one lady are all very experienced drivers.

Results aside, I think I enjoyed the drive. It was fun to do some catch up from the back. Only wish I had been more adventurous in the initial laps, then perhaps I can do some more about a better finish.

Heat 2, started at 2pm. Starting in 5th is relatively a good position, taking into account that I will be having the inside line for the 1st corner.

I was ready... or I think I am...

At the start, straight after the hairpin I was overtaken by 3 karts!
I was like at the very tail end again!

Crap... how could I do so bad at the start... again.
Perhaps I should have not meddle with the carb setting in anticipation of more cool weather.

Anyway it was a good lesson learnt, and I had seen the differences in what each setting does.

To make myself feel better, I managed to recover nicely from 8th in the 1st corner to finish 4th.

Considering that I had not even think I was kart on Sunday to doing 2 heats it is good to have some muscle ache on Monday.

Yipee!

30 August

Went to the track yesterday.

Early part of the day, I thought it will be a wet wet track and I
just told myself to just clean the kart and relax.

However, the track remain relatively dry with some light spots
of rain every now and then.

After doing some cleaning of the kart, and draining the radiator
I was ready to do some laps on the old Vega Blue SL5.

10 Laps completed and was just getting 47 flat.
I could feel vibration from the front end, as the front tyres were
already showing some bald patches.

After that, I changed to the Vega White which is too soft for race
but I guess I will just use it for practice runs.

The 1st few laps I went out with it, I kept hearing some plastic
dragging the track when I was at the Spoon sections.
Came back in, and check if the side pod is loose.
Nope..

Thinking I could misheard it, I went out again.

Some noise occurred and so I returned to the pits.
Telling Jason what I heard.

He took a quick look and felt for each tyres, and realised the right
rear was leaking air. It was due to one of the retainer was not
tighten enough.

Giving some time for the tyres to cool down before I relook at its
pressure I took the chance to chill and spoke to Alan Lange.
Which is interesting as I realised he will be getting another engine.
A small 250cc 4 stroke engine.
Our chit chat gave me some 15 mins.

Then I got some to 'work'.

Got the pressure to where I wanted it, and off I went out.

It was lunch time, and there was no other drivers on the track
which is good.
Hence I simulated an actual race.

The rolling start and imaging James Lee chasing me (HAHAHAHA)

All in all, I managed 1 lap short of one heat race distance.
It was very tough.

Racing is 'easier' as there are people around me to chase or to defend.

Doing it alone on the track really take some discipline, and mental
strength to keep on pushing.

And the result was quite very satisfying, when I saw that I recorded
a personal best of 45.66s!

Even though it was not consistent at this time, I am glad to be able to
do so.

At least now it give me a real target to work for.

Which is a consistent 45.8s on track B.



And now I look forward to the coming race on 5 Sept!
Just hoping to get some good result

Still Learning Happily

28 Aug

Last weekend, had the chance to learn from Jason on how to change
my brake pad.

Although it was easy it was definitely essential, I feel, to have someone
like him to teach while I hands on.

In these few weeks I think I had learn a bit more than usual about the
kart. And it is like a year on since I got this nice GP chassis.



Louis now had some 'promotion' with his 'race kart'.
Brand new Storm karts with Iame and Comer engine respectively.
RM900 for an hour.
Good deal?
Up to individual la