Hunter Go Kart Challenge
23 June 2014 / Rachel Crawford
It was with much joking and friendly rivalry that the hunter club gathered at Thornton Extreme Indoor Karts. With 12 racers booked, but only 2 ladies, both Julie Mittman and Lynda Gray were convinced to give the event a go too!
With the instructional video run and done and the safety gear assigned the group was broken up into two, the experienced drivers hitting the track to lead the way in quali. Looking a bit crash and bash rather than smooth and fast, there may have been a little too much enthusiasm and it was a crash interrupted session. Fastest time was set by Paul Fraser.
So with some trepidation the ladies, and novice men took to the track. Whist it was a slightly slower start to the second session, Mark Gray was determined to post a good time and the blue flags were getting plenty of work. The competitive nature may have come out in the author and I managed a reasonable 21 sec time and second place in the session.
Mark having achieved the second fastest quali time had no rest and was straight back out for the Group A race. Paul's Fraser lap, being significantly faster than the rest, had lapped the field before the half way point. Determination was the name of the game and many of our drivers both clipping kerbs and oversteer with lack of grip caused a number of spins, requiring a couple to be pushed back to the track, none of the drivers got much of a clear run and the laps times showed only minor improvement. Group B race 1 was less dramatic, Keith Harvey starting from the pole position and staying well in front for the majority of the race. I did manage a clear run and just made it into the 19's and did my fastest lap of 19:910 and the best of this race.
Group A race 2 took up from the end of race 1, with all competitors focused on lap time improvements. Mark Gray, having ousted the slow kart from race 1, got into the groove and just managed to pip Karl Mittman and secure 2nd place for the day. Robert Crawford's retirement, due to a bruised rib, caused a bit of a stir. A timing anomaly gave him the centres' all time Lap Record! Much to his bemusement.
Group B seemed to have shaken off the nerves and a bit of red mist had taken over. Lynda, Wendy and Julie battling it out for both track position and quickest times. Tucking in behind Keith Harvey, allowed a couple of sneaky passes between the girls. Having been shown the red flag, I decided that I'd better settle down and put in some consistent laps to cruise to second place behind the long gone Keith. Michael Clark, showed consistent improvement in all three sessions and was awarded "The Stig" prize for his efforts.
All I can say is watch out for Hunter during the NSW challenge.
Driver Best Time Overall Position Ladies Position
Paul Fraser 18.052 1
Mark Gray 18.509 2
Karl Mittman 18.700 3
Chris Rhodes 19.078 4
Stephen O'Donaghue 19.234 5
Robert Crawford 19.594 6
Peter Hilkmann 19.600 7
Keith Harvey 19.628 8
Rachel Crawford 19.910 9 1
Julie Mittman 20.552 10 2
Michael Clarke* 21.342 11
Lynda Gray 21.517 12 =3
Wendy Parsonage 21.517 12 =3
* The Hunter Stig Award - Most Improved
Click here to view Peter Hilkmann's Photos
