8th August 2006
5th - 6th August, Eastern Creek Raceway
Well this was my first time back in my new 250 twin since the National Titles at Phillip Island. I have really been looking forward to setting up this new kart with some twisty corners and a dry circuit for a change. Saturday was a private practice day and I found a setup in the kart that was quite fast but still far from perfect. Once I had settled and worked on a base line, I was able to circulate in 1:30's with some fairly old/used tyres with much more still left in the chassis, engine and gearing to dial in. This made me very happy for the journey home on Sat night.
On Sunday Race Meeting, 2 qualifying sessions saw karts spread all over the track and it was hard to get a good lap in without being interfered with by slower traffic, the kart's setup was still much to be desired in many areas but I still managed to score Pole Position with a 1:31.23, closely followed by Warren McIlveen with a 1:31.70.
Race 1 - The Stockman/Honda's had the front row for Race 1 and from there Warren took the lead at turn 2 and started to roll out 1:30 lap times. On the last lap, my rear tyre had deflated at the exit of Turn 1 full tilt, I managed to drive it home to the chequered flag to still finish 6th.
Race 2 - I started from 6th and made my way to 3rd by turn 2. The track felt very slippery from the previous race of the Alfa Challenge cars, but I soon passed Anthony Zulian's Stockman/Honda and then had Warren in my sights. I was getting around in low 31's while Warren was circulating in high 31's and on the last corner of the last lap we met, I stuck my nose in and Warren politely gave me some racing room and I was able the lead him down to the chequered flag. I was very happy with the result, especially considering that I'm still confident in dialling in better lap times from many areas within the kart.
The results sheet looked quite amusing, Stockman karts dominating the front spots except for Chryss Jamieson who finished 4th in his Anderson which is prepped, setup and powered by a Stockman Honda anyway.
Race 3 - Warren put on brand new tyres for the final. I quizzed him about this as I only finished 6th in the first race and he responded that he was just going to scrub in a new set of tyres for Morgan Pk race meeting. I knew him better than that, I suspected he was out to find a new lap record but he wouldn't say anything just in case. When the flag dropped the bullshit stopped and Warren was gone....on my opening lap my logger told me I did a 1:36.5 (a fast standing start time), 2nd lap the logger says 1:31.0, but I could not see Warren anymore as he was already around Turn 1!!!!! By this stage I knew it's not me going slow, Warren MUST have done that LAP RECORD but I wonder what it would be? I was still circulating in low 1:31's when another rear tyre deflated again but this time through corporate hill (Turn 8). I managed to still keep it on track and had no option but to pit instead. When arriving into pit lane, I made my way to the pit wall and congratulate Warren as he got the chequered flag. While some might have looked on wondering what I'm doing, I knew Warren had done something special but I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the official time sheet. He rolled out a 1:28.72, followed by a 1:29.62 to keep it all honest! Congratulations Warren, very well done mate.
As for my tyre punctures, I cut the tread open with a Stanley knife to inspect from the inside, the story is simple, the bead locks have cut into the inside wall of the tyre under high loads such as turn 1 and turn 8. Is this a result of more mechanical grip through better handling and higher loads through weight increases?? This could be debated but I got no time to argue with all the so called experts and know all's, I've already made my own plans and mods to overcome the issue to ensure it won't happen to me again at Eastern Creek come National Titles round November 24-26. With only 5 points between Warren and myself for the Australian Championship, I still have some expected improvements to come, this is shaping up to be a real GRAND FINALE!!!!!
In the 125 Gearbox class, Russell Jamieson come down from Queensland, and Brad Stebbing came up from Victoria both with Stockman/Honda's. They used the weekend as test time for the Nationals come November and both showed good promise. However it was Russell Jamieson who won the battle over the weekend and Russell also pulled out some very respectable times. In the final he managed a 1:37.74, my best 125GB time last year was a 1:37.32, but we know that Warren McIlveen has been round about 1/10 quicker than that many years ago. I know Russell has his eyes on 1:37.1 to clear the way for a new 125GB record, I know he has the ability, let's see if he can rewrite the books come November.
