Race #13

Lian leads off the second heat.

This week there were five present in Lian's class.  All but one were looking to improve their points situation in these last few races so intensity was high.  The weather also was a challenge in that it was cooler and slightly damp.  Watch the two lead cars carefully during the  warm up laps for Heat 1.

Lian started in fifth for the first heat and passed one driver who had a problem.  She started in the front of the second heat.  Second place got ahead of her in the first turn but she was able to hold on to second to the finish.  These results gave her a third place start for the Feature.

More interesting incidents occurred on the first lap of the Feature.  The leader had a spindle (front axle) shear just before the hairpin and caused a backup in the turn.  If you watch closely, there is moisture on the lens in this video.

The number 25 got straight and caught up with Lian.  After some increasingly rough bumping, Lian got passed for third.  This frustrated her because she has received warnings from the volunteer flagman for less-rough driving than she experienced.

Lian finished 4th in the end and joined with another 4th place finisher that she befriended from the Senior Animal class for this picture.

I was proud of her performance overall in that she didn't ever spin-out and yet drove hard.  Even with the weather, this group was only a few ticks off of their best times in this class so they are a talented group.  To gain on any of them is impressive.

The club has nearly enough money to contract for the proposed track expansion which will add two large turn loops to the existing course.  That means two things, we may shorten the season by a race or two and we may have a really neat season next year with numerous configuration options for our racing.  I'll keep you posted.

Race #12 Getting up front

Not much work needed on the kart leading up to this race.  Just had to get a friend to trade with me so I could go.  Lian has been getting busy with marching band and picked up a little bit of a cold before this race so we tried to keep her rested between sessions on the track.

Before I describe the action, I wanted to share this trophy picture from the night race two weeks before.  Things finished so late that they postponed the awards until this race day.
 

Night race awardees.  Ladies placed one-two!

Practice went smoothly and we made a small adjustment to the rear track to help a push condition.  She seemed comfortable with the kart and the speed was good so I was optimistic we would have a good day.  Lian's starting positions were to be 4th and 3rd in Heat 1and 2 respectively in a field of six racers.  

Starting outside on the second row, Lian had a strategy to improve her position right at the start of the first heat.  She knew that the second place driver started very fast and she hoped to stay on his bumper and gain on the third place kart through the sweeper.  This strategy actually put her slightly ahead of the pole sitter!  Unfortunately, she pinched low and tangled with the number one starter costing them both several positions.  Here is the video from the GoPro and the sidelines.

Lian went on to finish 4th in that heat.  Heat 2 went uneventfully and she finished where she started in 3rd.  This placed her 4th for the Feature start.  She was going to have to run hard to finish on the podium.

She wanted to try the strategy again that almost worked for her the first heat.  Attached is another video of an exciting start.  Notice the right hand of the leader.  He thinks that the start is going to be waved-off (the flagman had waved of several already).  He started slowly and this helped her strategy.  She was able to get ahead of third-place and hold that position to the finish!

I'm very proud that she backed-up her second place with a third place.  She is definitely a force to be reckoned with out there!  We didn't get a podium picture because it was again very late when we finished all the races but here is our driver at home with her prize.

Maybe that flame hair does make a difference!