Bad days karting :(

Went Karting at Camberly today .. I had a run of misfortune

First mistake was that I went out on slicks, it was still damp and very greasy ... it was treacherous ... no misshaps per-say, but a wasted session ...

Next up went out on wets, still greasy, but much better to drive than the slicks. Going well now and then a dude span it in front of me, managed to avoid him, but had to cross the rumple strips/leave the track ... when I rejoined the track something was very wrong ... long story short, bent rear axle ...

At that point I could have gone home as the kart was well and truly rogered like that, but thought sod it, lets see if I can straighten it enough to be drivable (it was not realistically drivable as it was) I got my club hammer and tried to straighten the axle as much as I could, but even with massive blows, I only reduced the run out by 50% for what it was ...

Ok, so next venture out, sure enough you could still feel the axle out of true, but it was more drivable. About 4 laps in and the front wheel nut must have come adrift!!!! ... noticed the wheel beginning to fall off on the exit of a chicane, so luckily it wasn't high speed ... on inspection, sure enough the single wheelnut that holds the front wheel on was AWOL!!!

As you can tell, I hadn't really had any quality tracktime yet

Next session - about 5 laps in, just starting to enjoy it and the engine pinched up/blew!!!

I always take a spare engine (or two) so made the transplant before my next session.

Next session, all was going well again 3 laps in? .. then the engine just span up (like the chain had come off) ... turned out the Woodruff key on the engine sprocket sheered ...

I had spent a lot of time fixing and stood at the side of the track with a broken down kart, far less driving so far!!

It was now last session of the day and they reduced them to 6 mins as the light was fading ... had a cracking session (bearing in mind I still had a bent axle, so it was like riding a horse not a kart!! ) .... but it was all over far too soon

All in all not a good start to my 2008 karting season I now have more hassle and a hefty repair bill (for the engine and the axle) too!!

Why do I choose hobbies like these ... where is the fun in that?!!??

[Wideboy]

you've been having some troubles with this kart, is it a old one?

splash zee cash and get a new one





and give you your old one

Ouch!

What's the Kart (and no i don't really know a lot about them so not just the name )

I couldn't face the cost of Karting. It's a buzz but I'll just have to stick to the SV. A couple of years ago I did a day through an independant company and got to do a number of sessions in a Rotax class. That was an experiance and quite different from any of the Thunder things you get at normal corporate events. At the end of the day I also got a go in a geared kart. That was absolutely fookin' awesome. The track was too small and twisty for it really, once i sussed what I was doing a little I didn't get out of 3red but I luuurved properly powersliding it through corners (it might not the be the correct or fastest technique but it's the most fun imho) and upsetting the better drivers (in lesser karts) by ham fistedly driving round them.

Now that has got to be a seriously unlucky day. Never mind Blue. At least you didn't get injured.

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

Why do I choose hobbies like these ... where is the fun in that?!!??

As you are a 9 year old boy, in a mans(thats a moot point) body?

Originally Posted by 2mths

Ouch!

What's the Kart (and no i don't really know a lot about them so not just the name )

This is me in my kart!! blue in his kart... I have got a proper race suit now, so that professional looking boiler suit is now superseded

And a little onboard footage

Its a Direct Drive 100cc aircooled 2-stroke, ~20hp. So about 4 times the HP of the standard 4-stroke 'hire' karts and less weight

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

Direct Drive 100cc aircooled 2-stroke, ~20hp

Sounds very similar to what I had a go in. It was a real eye opener (and closer else I'd have lost my contacts). First time I found out what a 2-stroke 'powerband' really was and after I'd soiled my pants a couple of times I was just grinning like a madman come the straight (whilst still soiling myself).

(Like the footage)

Originally Posted by 2mths

Sounds very similar to what I had a go in. It was a real eye opener (and closer else I'd have lost my contacts). First time I found out what a 2-stroke 'powerband' really was and after I'd soiled my pants a couple of times I was just grinning like a madman come the straight (whilst still soiling myself).

(Like the footage)

Yeah, 100cc sounds a bit lame, but boy do they go (my mater had been banging on about it, but I didn't believe him ... I just figured his threshold for 'quick' was way way lower than mine ... but no, I had an eye-opener too!)!! ... they run on castor oil too so it smells just like an RC aeroplane!!

They are good for ~18,000 rpm ...

Go on, get one, you know you wanna!!

Not impressed at all. No where near enough footage. Grrrr

Loads of opposite lock. Was it slippy out there or was you giving it too much welly out of the corners

Originally Posted by BigApe

Not impressed at all. No where near enough footage. Grrrr

Loads of opposite lock. Was it slippy out there or was you giving it too much welly out of the corners

There is always more footage

Another forward view:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-4tnPOzIbo

A rear View:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq1_KheaiBk

And one in the wet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHWV1PE-ibk

And yes, the rear end is a bit 'flighty' to say the least!!