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[Sam-KK24]

I'll keep your support and confidence of me with me all weekend

Thankss

[Sam-KK24]

Well, I'm back

Was going alright on Saturday but nothing really special..

Qualified second on the grid, 2 tenths off pole, but 4 tenths quicker than the rest..

Heat 1: From lap 2 I was being blocked from P2. I then went from P2 to P4, before fighting back to P2 on the last lap.

Heat 2: From P4 on the grid I was on the outside, so went into P5 by the first corner. Went for a move going for third but made a meal of it and spun. Rejoined in last about 6 seconds off.. But managed to regain about 3 positions and was the fasest man on the track by a massive 6 tenths.

Pre-Final: I started from P3 on the grid. Got a poor start and maintained third. Blocked all the way (Championship leader - the guy I have had a few run-ins with) I was settling for P3 as it would ensure I got the inside line for the final. Anyway, I pushed him about abit to try and panick him a bit and feel a bit rattled.

Final: Started third. Got a decent start but could only maintain third. Championship leader was all over the track again, so I gave him a "friendly" nudge and swiped across and got by. By this time (Lap 3) the leader was already 4 seconds ahead, which shows how defensive he was driving, on lap 2!! The leader got another 2 seconds on me in 9 laps, but he was so far ahead I knew I just had to get it to the finish.

So I think I am now 2 points behind the championship lead, So I am right back in the hunt now.

[7UpJordan]

So I think I am now 2 points behind the championship lead, So I am right back in the hunt now.

Well done again Mr Moffat, another good weekend and you'll go into the lead.

[Sam-KK24]

Next round of the Championship is 1 month next weekend, at my hometrack Crail, on the new circuit which I have only done about 20 laps on.

I think I'm going up on Saturday to get a good set-up for the new track and get the good lines now that some rubber has been layed on it!

[woody2goody]

Sam, just out of interest,

One day I would like to take part in motorsport in some shape or form. My goal is to do touring cars in 10-15 or so years. not sraight away but through karting or something else first.

How much are we talking for a season of karting? You don't have to give me an exact figure, but are we talking hundreds, a couple of thousand, over 10,000?

This is so I know whether I'll be able to give it a proper go one day.

[texasmr2]

Way to go Sam and it seem's you kept a clear head, the sign of a great racer!

[Sam-KK24]

Woody: Well, that all depends on how competitive you want to be. I think at the end of the season we will have spent something in the region of 5K-10K. Although some of the people who are fighting for the British championships are spending in excess of 25K a year. They get their engines rebuit after every race, new tyres all the time, the best equipment. Now think about this. In my class (Junior Rotax) the engines are sealed, so how cannot tune them or anyting to make them go faster. So when the standard price for an engine is about 1K, why is there being engines sold in excess of 5K!?

Tex: Thanks mate! I think I'll have a clear indication of how the next round will go after the weekend when I go and have a look at the track.

[texasmr2]

Sam,
I dont think anyone here is more proud of you than I am, I just wish you had vidoe's to share with everyone. Where ever you finish in the championship you will still be the champion in our mind's.

Gregg

[Sam-KK24]

Thanks Gregg

I really think that we can do it this year though, after coming third the last 2 years.. I feel this time we have got it.

06 was a good season for us, first time we were really competitive, the Winner was then crowned the British Open champion and the battle for 2nd place then went down to the last race of the season - I lost

07 was a great oppertunity for me to win the championship. Despite the change of class we finished 3rd in the Championship, despite a broken arm and missing a round.

I think the key to winning it this year is not panicking! The Scottish championships has had 12 races throughout 3 events, and the leader has not passed me once yet. If he starts ahead he will try and block me, but a little "lovetap" here and there and I can make my way through!

As for videos, I may be able to get some footage of this weekends testing, but probably will have to wait till next month when I am racing for some videos

[texasmr2]

Sam,
Dont fret about the video stuff as that is just another expense and hassle for your team. Just keep up the good work and the focus ontrack that's all that matter's. The fewer distraction's you have off track mean's you can focus on what really matter's right?

I dont believe I have ever mentioned how much I appreciate that you keep us all up to date on each race or event schedule and result's as I know you have alot on your plate but thank you.

[bud]

sam what data logger do you run?

[Sam-KK24]

I'm on an Alfano Pro just now. Although I really want a PI Data logger, but far too expensive

[Sam-KK24]

I meant to add in a previous post:

I think I know why this season I seem to be doing a bit better. I don't know if you all read a post of mine a couple of months ago, saying I wanted to lose 10 Kilos, but would settle with a 5 Kilo loss..

Well, after a lot of hard work, I have lost just over 11 Kilos now, which I feel has improved my racing by a lot. I feel so much stronger and mentally able to keep my focus for a whole race

I have been saying that I was going to lose weight for a long time, but now I finally have and I feel great this is the lightest I have been for about 2 years

So I hope to keep it up and stay in the same class next year and hopefully mount another challenge

I will be testing this Saturday but I believe it will be on the old layout (the Scottish event will be on the new layout) so it won't be so benefical as I have done over 10,000 laps on the old circuit

[Sam-KK24]

Testing went quite well, despite almost wrecking the kart in quite a foolish incident.

I was quickest by a couple of tenths every session so we were just testing a few bits.

The track was wet at one part for the first couple of sessions. I braked very late going into a wet patch and I locked up, went onto the grass and almost collided with the barrier at high speed. I was lucky the grass was so long as it really slowed me down in time.

I was plaqued with mechanical problems at the end though, the engine was cutting out and eventually gave up on me twice while on the long straight. We located the problem and it turned out to be a faulty battery.

So overall it was quite a productive day, with the next round of the Scottish Championships there next month I feel really confident. I know that a win would put me level on points so I am fully focused with the task in hand..

On the NKF front. Round two is on Sunday, I will be missing it however as I have to revise for my History exam .

This puts me at a major disadvantage, but with the Round Three next weekend at Larkhall I am experienced enough to finish in the top 4. I look forward to that challenge as we will have big grids so it really will be great racing

[Sam-KK24]

Well this weekend was a bit of a disastor, but turned out OK!

In testing we were miles off the pace, about 1.5 seconds and couldn't put our finger on what it was.

Heat 1: Started P4, on the outside... Made a good start and retained 4th but down at the hairpin there was a pileup and I was involved, destroying my track-rod but managed to keep going, well down though, finishing 16th and still 1.6 secs off the pace.

Heat 2: Started 10th, on the outside again. Was pushed wide into turn 1 and was into 16th by the end of lap 1. Made some good overtaking manouvers and clawed my way back to P9 and only 1 tenth from the 8th placed man in Britain!

Heat 3: The Rain had come. Started P14 (AGAIN ON THE OUTSIDE ) Pushed wide again and was in P17 by the end of the first lap. Made some great overtaking manouvers and got back into 8th position, then I had an off, putting me back in 11th. I then made my way through the field again, being the last of the late brakers I actually managed to pass 3 in the one corner... And then got back into 6th.. Then went for 5th on the last lap but it went horribly wrong and I finished in 10th.

Final: Lots of rain by this time. Started 8th. (You guessed it, the OUTSIDE!) Forced down to P13 so had to make some places up. Kart was going quite well and was back up to 7th, but was demoted to 8th when I was passed on the long straight.

So 8th overall, but in the NKF Championship I think I finished 5th overall for the round so not too bad.. I am currently sitting in 3rd last at the moment, but that was because I missed a round and the dropped score has not been put through yet. However, I think I am only about 40 points behind the championship leader. I think winning it is not out of the question, but it will be very tough... Top 5 would make me delighted so I have to aim for that!

Next race will be Crail for the 4th Round of the A.S.K.C Scottish Championships. Currently 2nd, with 3 rounds to go I am only 2 points from the lead!