Back to Events REPORT BACK: GO-KART EVENING 27TH AUGUST 2005
After a break of over 7 years, your committee eventually decided that it was time to have a go-kart outing once more and I am sure that from the enthusiasm displayed by the participants, it won't be another 84 moons before we find ourselves back at the track.
After all, this allows you to punish the racing equipment without having to worry about the repair bills, of course always at the risk of some bodily injury, as GP can amply bear testimony to !! Shame, GP experienced a flip-over during the run-down lap, after connecting with the tyre-wall. It all happened very quickly, GP and Kart flying through the air with GP landing underneath. He was out from under the kart very, very quickly and thank goodness nothing more that a bit of shock and bruised shoulder, arm and ribs. Gerhard took him to hospital for a check-up and latest reports are that he is recovering well.
At about 14.30 on the Saturday afternoon, a motley crew of 24 "racing drivers", some clad in the proper stuff and with their own helmets, and in the company of some supporters, descended on the Kenilworth Go-Kart Track to find out who would be able to push current Go-Kart Champion Gian Mani, off the winners podium! Yes, believe it or not, 7 years ago, Rookie Gian showed the more experienced hotshots of the time how it is done - but Allah - not this time. As you will see from the results pages though, it was another Rookie, a Youngster, who put everybody to shame! Not that the "proper" racing drivers such as Mike and Neil as well as Go-Kart "Professional", Tim Cruise weren't in the mix !
Well it all started off by dividing the 24 into groups of 6, and the first lot got off in the qualifying race of 10 laps by about 15.00. Each group runs 2 qualifiers of 10 laps and the FASTEST LAP time of each participant determines not only the position in that race, but also eventually, whether you make it to the FINAL !
The groups consisted of the YOUNGSTERS, the OLDIES, the GIRLS and the REST. Some interesting race tactics were observed and soon also emulated, so much so that it became apparent during the second session who would end up in the final. Tim Cruise always drove a perfect racing line, but the challengers in the form of Mathew and Sean as well as Mike and Neil were pushing for inclusion in the final.
The really interesting racing, however, was done by the girls and newcomers Juliet Hart (of Hart fame) and Bridget de Gersigny (Mathew's sister) were right up tops with the boys in terms of lap times. Nerina did prove a point in being not only faster than most of the male participants, but in particular in beating the current champion! - PFUI TOG ! Jenny Hart couldn't quite match her daughter's performance, but seemed to have really enjoyed the outing on the track!
Well, when all was said and done, the 6 finalists were the ones with the fastest lap times of ALL during the qualifiers - or wasn't it that easy? No, 6th place was a TIE !!. Mike and Bridget had to draw straws to find out who would be in the final, for the both had the SAME fastest lap time in one of the races ! So what does Mike do, the Chauvinist ? HE DRAWS THE LONGER STRAW !! Can you believe this, NO gentlemanly behaviour !
Anyway, soon the 15 lap FINAL race started with Tim Cruise in POLE position (when you climb up Kilimanjaro, the always say pole, pole, meaning slow, but that's not the meaning of this POLE, DUMMY!)
From the start there was jostling and a bit of pushing and into the first chicane, Mathew was already ahead of Tim, having shot past him from the start! Not bad for a newcomer! But he wasn't going to keep P1 for long, as Tim, experienced in karting as he is, overtook Mathew in a slick manoeuvre in the main bend! Mathew, however would not give up, and whilst Sean was playing catch-up with the two, and nearly succeeded, Mathew managed to give Tim a little nudge and slipped past him to maintain P1 for the rest of the race. Experience or not, Tim had to eventually succumb to Sean as well and the final standings (as per fastest lap times) were:
Fastest lap time
1. Matthew 15.780
2. Sean 16.600
3. Tim 16.630
4. Neil 17.130
5. Mike 17.290
6. Rietoff 17.410
Gerhard had duly organized medals for the winners and Matthew and his sister Bridget (so brutally prevented from getting into the final by Mike) were the recipients of the Men's and Lady's silverware!
The idea was, after the race, for all to sit around at the bar, have a couple of drinks, chat a bit and to then proceed down to the Clubhouse for a stir-fry, but in the end, there were NO TAKERS, except Gian, Bob and Neil. After consultation with top management it was decided not to go down to the clubhouse to open up for 3 people ! Whilst we made an attempt to contact the ONE member who conceivably would turn up for such an event, Chris Schultz and Marion, we did not succeed and then left it at that.
However, HOW WRONG WE WERE ! Chris and Marion duly pitched at the Clubhouse, only to find it locked and dark and it is at this point that I extend my SINCEREST APOLOGIES for the inconvenience you experienced, Chris and Marion. I know , I know, what's in the Newsletter is the Gospel Truth (expect for what Mike writes) and we should at least have gone down there, collected you and brought you into having supper with us elsewhere ! I for one, did not fancy spending a cold and somewhat lonely evening at the Clubhouse, because that Clubhouse is, not even with the wildest stretch of your imagination, a COSY place! Well, a jolly good time was had by all and I believe this is an event well worth repeating. But learning from this one, SANS stir-fry afterwards!
Tanti saluti GIAN MANI