A tale of Times

23 May

The blue beast was locked up last weekend... so was my soul! haha


However, it provide me some time to delve into the lap times from the last race. Before we do so, we must 'ignore' the times set by Mary-ann while she is racing a Rotax Max she had no weights on the kart. Also I had edit/ deleted Lai Wee Sing, Louis and Jordan times as they raced in different engines without any weights regulations to give this timing sheet more perspective, at least for myself la.

Qualifying

As mentioned in my last post, my qualifying lap put me in third and was 0.3s away from the top 2. What was interesting was that Leo's initial time was 45.62 for his 1st run, and when he went for another he shaved off a massive 0.6s!! Looking at these, I wonder if I should do likewise then and try to gain some positions (read Pole). I could have tried, and who knows. So I guess I will for the next one which is next week. It was definitely nice to see that of the 10 125cc runners, 7 did a sub 46s lap for our qualifying. Great stuff, and it only can get better I'm sure.

Heat 1 Times

For Heat 1, we can see that the average lap times for Sin Wei is 45.75, and mine was 45.81. His best time is 45.16s and mine was 45.22 which was faster than my qualifying time and my ever fastest. I definitely should try to do one more set of qualifying. Thankfully I had managed to hold off Leo before his 2nd race tyres was giving up on him after 8 laps. If I did not have the chance to jump him at the start I could be stuck behind him and be open to attack. Note: start is very important. Given the overall average time of 45.81s I am obvious delighted. However, I hope to narrow my lap times variation to 0.3s which means all my laps must be 45.5s calculating from my best lap (45.22s). Another target to aim for!

Heat 2 Times

Clearly, I was able to match the lap times with Sin Wie all the way... only until lap 8. Then I could felt it. The unmistakably feeling... the strain. I just could not eke out more in hope to chase him down for the lead. From an average difference of 0.06 to this average of 0.5s was a significant pace decrease on my part. Further, I lost out a huge chuck of time somehow in the 1st lap alone, which is 0.8s. Double Note: start is very important!

The races to come will be very interesting, and I hope to do similar or even better!

cheers

Round 5, 3rd Race

16 May

It was overall my best result yet in finishing 2nd at the end of Heat 2. I should be delighted but I do not felt so.

I cannot explain or elaborate my feeling, strangely enough.

Starting from the Qualifying, I went about and did about 4-5 proper laps and was slotted to start 3rd place behind Sin Wei (1) and Leo (2) . I was about 0.2 second off these 2 who did 45.06 and 45.08 respectively. Since I was on a 45.37, and thinking to myself if I could do something more to overhaul to be on the pole... the honest answer is 'No'. To drive for another 0.3 seconds faster need really something extra, and that day I felt I did not have it.

On the other hand, I was happy to settle for third which means I will be starting on the inside of the track. Therefore, my aim was to have a good start and see about the race from there.


An almost perfect start I had in Heat 1. I was helped by the front guy getting a clean getaway and I just followed through rapidly and leapfrogged to 2nd. Needless to say, Leo was all behind me. Knowing it, I just have to drive as fast as I know to fend off his challenge, and also to see if I could challenge Sin Wei for the lead. Thankfully, at about half way of the race Leo challenge faded and I could breathe easier.

That leaves me and Sin Wei at the fore. He was almost 1-2 kart in front of me constantly and making no major mistakes for me to attack him proper. All I can do is to keep the pressure on, and have him think about me. Meanwhile, I was half thinking "Man, this is crazy pace! Can I still sustain in Heat 2?" I was feeling the strain of constantly running around the track at 46s flat.
It did not help as I had headache for the week, and taking medicine for my gastric too. But I held on for a second place finish in Heat 1.

The issue of a second place finish is that I will be placed on the outside of the track, and Leo will be on where I started in Heat 1. Interesting!! I need even a better start than previous.


Very luckily, the good start I hope for occurred in Heat 2. Somehow Leo was stuck behind a slow Sin Wei for a split second and I was able to move into the gap and in front of him. After which, it was much like Heat 1. Except for the very fact I was really feeling the strain on my neck. Seeing that the second place finish was safe, and the race was left with about 5 laps to go I did not attack the corners as much to save myself from this punishing race!

All in all, it was a good race with a 22 points haul for overall second behind a young boy who is almost 20 years junior than me.
To me, be it that the fellow is younger or older does not matter because once we go onto the track, this is it.

Perhaps it is "Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose." that what bothers me.

Have to work much harder to be at the forefront! Beside more physical I need to understand the engine more after the rebuilt as it was surely pounding better power delivery. I just need to harness the full potential of it.

old piston, used for 1 year !!

Awaits for the next race!