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 pointsover 100. Simple. And let's do it!!
