Monday 30 July 2007

LYDD SUPER 1 ROUND 5

Following last years success, this year has been a testing one in many ways. At most rounds of the championship, Mike has been on the pace by the end of Friday and very confident. The TEC-MEC chassis is just one amongst may JKH or Tony varieties, but it does its job well and is competative. This season, the Saturday on a new set of tyres causes the chassis to 'grip up', which in the wet is an advantage, but in the dry, it then struggles to get out of the corners quickly allowing others to slipstream and pass on the entry to the next corner. Initially Mike was able to drive defensively, but now as the circuits get warmer, the team are looking to lose grip.
The race rubber seemed to make matters worse, and times qualifying was only a few tenths off the pole, but at this level differences are measured in 1.100ths of a second, so Mike was just out of the top 10. In the first heat, he gained a few positions from his starting position but in the second, he started last and withing a lap his chain guard snapped, so he was forced to retire. In the final heat, he progressed well through the field, until the tyres became too hot, gripping the kart up even more.
The final grid position on row 10, was one of the worst this season, but with the clouds coming in and the track getting cooler, Mike started to make progress. At Lydd the kirbs are very high, and destroy a Kart over a weekend. This proved to be the case, as a stub axle snapped a front wheel off at the end of the main straight, sending Mike into the 'kitty-litter' and out of the final.

Congratulations must go to his young team mate, Billy Baxter. who won his first heat in Juniors, and then drove to his first podium in a Super 1 Junior TKM final. Hopefully some of Billy's luck will rub off on Mike when here returns here in a month for the Motors TV championship.

Sunday 22 July 2007

Ginetta Test at Rockingham on 1st August 2007

Following a recent visit to Ginetta cars, Mike has been invited to a test session with the current championship contenders on 1st August 2007. Mike will continue to assist with the development of the TEC-MEC chassis with Klaassen Motorsport, and provide assistance at kart meetings from the awning, but providing there are no clashes in dates, he plans to contest the Texaco series in 2008, either as an owner driver or subject to his testing performance with a leading race team.
For the test, Matt Nichol-Jones, who currently leads the 2007 championship, has kindly offered Mike the loan of his car and mechanic for the day, and will be at hand to pass on any driving tips. Mike has never been to Rockingham before, but we were suprised how close it is to us when we checked the route. Mike has never sat in a Ginetta although it was planned that he should test with Ben Elliott earlier in the season. Now he will be thrown in at the deep end!
If all goes well, another visit to the factory is booked for 2nd August to meet Richard Dean their Commercial Director. On the face of it the 18 round race budget we need to generate will be little more than our existing Karting one for Motors TV. Super 1 and the other National events. The only difference is the initial purchase of the car at £15000. Fingers crossed it all goes to plan.

Monday 16 July 2007

SHENINGTON O PLATE TEST SESSION

A good test weekend. At the last meeting Mike finished 6th, but was always struggling for grip. With a slightly stronger field this month the quicker drivers were on the Tony Kart, so much so that eventual winner Marcus Allen switched onto one during the meeting! With the exception of the Jade and the rapid Helen Gardiner, Mike managed an 4th from 11th, a win and then an 11th from last in the heats. A grid of 4th was better than expected and Mike stayed there for about half the race, then Helen slipped past and just before the end so did James Bartlett on another Tony. The Klaassen team gained some valuable experience which should also assist at Lydd Super 1 and the Kimbolton Festival, which are both similar style of tracks.

Wednesday 11 July 2007

ENGLAND SELECTION AGAIN

As a result of his excellent drives for the England Junior TKM team at last years Internations, Mike received the call this evening from England Manager - Martin Capenhurst to request his attendance at this years event.

This time Mike will be driving for the England Senior TKM team and is a reflection on his performances this year in Motors TV, where he has had to drive from the back rows in every round. We understand that fellow Motors TV front runners Luke Caudle and Will Read will also be driving along with Will Waterman, who assisted Mike in the Junior teams victory last year. No doubt Scotland will select his main TKM rivals, Lyell, Napier and Macaulay and the Welsh will be calling Alex Jones. No doubt Sky will be broadcasting it with the help of Motors presenters Ben Constoduras and Sam Park.

After last years English white wash in Llandow, lets hope for a repeat.