Kimbolton 6th and 7th March 2009 MSA Club meeting

My first meeting of 2009 at Kimbolton on the 31st January and 1st February 2009 was postponed due to snow and I was very disappointed having tested our newly rebuilt engine and was immediately on the pace at Whilton Mill.

I was eager to put our new engine through its paces under race conditions; so we opted for the next Kimbolton meeting over the weekend of the 6/7th March 2009 instead of the National Schools Championships meeting at Camberley in Surrey.

Kimbolton was a new venue for us this season. This meeting had in excess of 250 drivers with 48 entered in my category "junior rotax". This was because the top drivers in the country had entered for this meeting as practice for the Formula Kartstars, the premier championship in this Country backed by Formula 1 supremo Bernie Eccelstone.The championship is being promoted as the road to Formula 1. We had considered doing this championship but I was on the upper age limit and my weight was 7 kg too heavy; so I would have been at a disadvantage straight away. A few of my friends: Alex Magee Chris Sittersfield and David de Rosa all took part in this championship. I started racing with Alex and Chris when I was 8 years old back in the Whilton Mill junior days and still have a good race against them in club championships. Alex also races in the Super 1 British Championships and in Europe. The standard of racing in this country is very high and some of the professional teams are spending in excess £50,000 a season to compete at the highest level.

Practice went well on the Saturday with my times improving during each session; and we were in high spirits for race day. I was just about on the pace with the fast boys and my confidence was brimming and couldn't wait for race day. My School pals Jack Wilson and Sam Hack were also entered for this meeting along with Sam's younger brother Eddy in the cadets. My pal from Leicester Freitas Lynch joined us in our pit bay and the two Tony karts parked side by side looked really cool and professional in our awnings. (See photo.]

Race day was very frustrating. The weather was awful; rain then sunshine then sleet then rain, high winds; by the time racing was over the sun was shining. "Typical". In heat 1 I started in P 26 and by lap 2 I had settled into a rhythm lapping well and up to 14th position from 32 starters when I was shunted from behind pushing me onto the grass and my front pod came off. That was the end of that race. Heat 2 was similar when a driver caught my front pod when I was in 10th position. Again I had to retire when it came off. We put on the spare pod for the B final and I finished 8th from17 starters on a rain soaked track. I enjoyed the weekend, got a bit wet on Sunday, but didn't have any significant damage to my kart. Overall the set up on my kart was spot on, it handled really well and the engine was fast and my lap times in both the wet and dry were quite good.

National Schools natSKA Kimbolton 28th April 2009

The National Association for Schools Karting welcommed Jack Wilson a new member to the Ashlawn Team and he finished with an excellent 3rd place podium in his first NATSKA meeting.

I finished second overall loosing out by 1 point to the overall winner, Dan Dunham from London but following a lengthy Stewards enquiry I was judged to have made a dangerous overtaking move following a protest and was excluded from heat 3 and was also given a 22 point penalty. That put me back into 8th overall from 22 drivers.

150 competitors from all over the country were blessed with glorious sunshine at Kimbolton in Cambridgeshire for round 3. We couldn't make round 2 at Hooton Park because of family commitments. 22 drivers had entered for class 15 rotax, as this was a qualifying round for the Nationals at Buckmore Park in July. It was a very strong field with Harry Kightley, who had been racing all that previous weekends with Formula Kartstars, together with National Champion Ben Beasley and 3rd ranked driver Dan Dunham, Harry Heath, Lewis Penstone-Smith, Graham Roberts, and William Glennon together with newcomers and established A license MSA drivers Greg Jackson and Steven Brotherhood. They were all eager to lay down the gauntlet.

I started from the back of the grid in practice not to give anything away but I couldn't resist putting the hammer down and putting in some very fast laps.

I started in pole position in heat 1 and was pushed all of the way by Harry Keightley who started on P 3 in the 12-lap race. Harry was excluded for having the wrong coloured number plates. He hadn't changed them from the formula kartstars the previous day. That moved Dan Dunham up to 2nd place having started on P12 with Harry Heath 3rd who started on P4 and newcomer Steven Brotherhood 4th, Jack Wilson 5th and Greg Jackson 6th. I felt really gutted for Harry, as we had put on a great race for the spectators. Jack Wilson drove well. He started in 5th spot and kept that position at the end of the 12-lap race. My Dad and Jacks Grandad were absolutely delighted with a 1 and 5 for Ashlawn. National champion Ben Beasley was disqualified because of an illegal carburetor airbox.

I started on P 18 for my second race and managed to get through the pack and finished 5th. Dan Dunham started on P4 and drove faultlessly and took a comfortable win with Greg Jackson 2nd Graham Roberts 3rd James Crutchley 4th and National Champion Ben Beasley in 6th spot. Jack lost his front pod on the last lap. Although he finished the race the race steward deemed it a DNF (did not finish].

I started on P7 for race 3. It was in this race that the Clerk of the Course excluded me for an improper overtaking move. I didn't think it was too bad. I had been following Samantha Jones for 2 laps and she was defending really well but she left a gap going into turn 6 and I went for it pulled along side of her and she pushed me onto the grass. I kept my foot in and didn't back off and she caught the back of my kart and spun off. I went onto to take 3rd place having made a mistake at the same corner 2 laps from the end and Harry Heath nipped through. Jack started on P 6 and again drove an intelligent race to finish 4th. Celebration again for the Ashlawn team. The race was won by Ben Beasley with Dan Dunham promoted to 3rd place and Jack in 4th.

It was all on the last race between me and Dan to take overall honours on the day. Drama was to unfold as I had been called to the Clerk of the Course with my Dad. We hadn't heard the tannoy across the other side of the track, as we had been busy changing the gearing for the last race .My Dad was told that I could complete the final race and then report to his office. We were not sure why we had been called to his office and the Secretary of the meeting didn't say anything.

I started on P 9 and Dan Dunham was on P 3. He got a flyer and went straight into the lead. I needed to get through the pack quickly and stay in touch with him but second place driver William Glennon was defending well and I couldn't get past him. I finished 3rd but needed that second spot to beat Dan overall. Graham Roberts finished 4th with Steven Brotherhood 5th Ben Beasley 6th and Jack in 7th. After the race the scrutineers checked my engine, carburetor and air box in park ferme to make sure that I wasn't cheating. That took ages and then I had to go to see the Clerk of the Course with my Dad. We sat in his office and he called in a Marshall who explained that I had been excluded from race 3 for a dangerous overtaking move on kart 10 (Samantha Jones-Sandbach]. He gave me a chance to explain what had happened but the Marshall was very clear that I was at fault. I was gutted but Dad told me to accept the decision take it on the chin and move onto the next race meeting. We could have appealed the decision as plenty of witnesses were prepared to suggest that it was six of one and half a dozen of the other but that would have cost us £90 and we would probably still have lost. Never mind you win some and loose some.

The final results on the day were1st Dan Dunham (Amery Hill, London] 2nd Harry Heath (Taporley, Chester], 3rd Jack Wilson (Ashlawn Science College, Rugby], 4th Steven Brotherhood (Bulkington], 5th Graham Roberts (Christchurch, Ellesmere port, Liverpool], 6th Greg Jackson (Long Sands College, St Neots], 7th James Crutchley (Christchurch ] 8th Ben Slater ( Ashlawn Science College] 9th Lewis Penstone-Smith (Barclay,Stevenage ] 10thAran Amoto (Barclay] 11th Emma Jones (Sandbach, Chester]] 12th James Williams and Sean Glenon (Barclay] 13th Mat Wood (Tarporley, Chester] 14th Sameer Al-Mammi Zoheb ( Edmonton,Enfield] 15th Megan Williams (Sandbach ] 16th Nicola Gillat (Our Lady's, Loughborough ] 17th Samantha Jones (Sandbach] 18th Katie Thompson (Our Lady's] 19th Harry Kightley (Shenley Brook End, Milton Keynes] 20th Ben Beasley (Barclay]

Ben Beasley was excluded from the meeting for a technical infringement with his carburetor and Harry Kightley had engine problems.

Jack and his Grandad had packed up and left the circuit before presentations began and I had to ring him to give him the news that he had finished in 3rd place. They were just about to get onto the A 14 when they turned round and came back to the track.

National Schools (NatSKA] 2nd May 2009 Whilton Mill

I was all fired up for this meeting at my local track. We missed the previous meeting at Hooton Park because of family commitments.

The 20-kart grid included some very good opposition including Dan Dunham, Harry Heath who had been on the podium at all the previous meetings, former super 1 (TKM] driver Simon Porter from Liverpool, Harry Kightley, Anthony Sargeant from (1165 ATC Staffordshire] who finished 5th at the Nationals last year and his team mate Ryan Jones who were both absent from the Kimbolton meeting. With only 4 races remaining until the Nationals this meeting was an opportunity to get a psychological advantage over your rival competitors.

We arrived at the track at about 7.15 am in time for scrutinering to open at 7.30. Most of the teams had already set up. Some of them had arrived the previous evening or had set off really early that morning. The kart passed scrutinering and then it was time to set up the awning and equipment and get the kart prepared for practice.

It was very hot and tyre pressures would be crucial to the handling of the kart and any mistake with set up would prove costly. It came to practice; my Dad advised me to start at the rear of the grid, so as not give anything away. I had several things to check during practice: brakes, engine and tyres. We had recently put a new set of brake pads in and I needed to 'bed' them in. I had never ran the newly rebuilt engine at Whilton in the dry; I was curious to find what it would rev to and to see what jet and sprocket would be needed.

The drivers all pulled way from me on the first practice lap so that I could get a clear run on the track. We only get 3 laps practice so I had to make sure that everything was in order and then put in a quick lap. The jetting and gearing was good, but I wasn't getting enough grip from the rear end as it was sliding in the corners under acceleration. I did manage to get in 1 fast lap and the motor was rapid. We had the engine rebuilt by Grice Racing, a top engine tuner and we were told that it was a very quick engine and in the top 10% in the country.

The Clerk of the Course had decided that, the carburetor and air box had to be sealed after a fellow competitor at Kimbolton was caught cheating with their air box. This meant that the Technical Director and his staff had to mark the jubilee clips, which fasten the carburetor to the engine, and air box, were sealed with yellow paint. After practice we made a few changes to the rear of the kart to eliminate over steer. Over steer is when the rear of the kart slides across the track going through fast corners; it slows you down and prevents fast lap times.

I couldn't wait to get started. Dad attended Team leaders briefing and then Jack and myself attended drivers briefing. This is compulsory. If you don't attend you could get a hefty fine or even excluded from the meeting. The Clerk of the Course sets down all of the safety requirements for the meeting and other matters regarding marshalling. At NatSKA meetings all of the teams are allocated marshalling posts. Jack and I didn't have to marshal at this meeting. It's usually the bigger teams like Tarporley or Barclay. Its good fun. You get to wave flags responsibly and communicate over an intercom. I had to pass a marshalling test last year to get my NatSKA license. You get to see the racing really close up.

With about 30 minutes before the start of racing my Dad told me to get in to racing "focus" mode because I was starting on P2 for heat 1; I was eager to get an early win under my belt as it would help take the pressure off for the rest of the races.

Racing started and it seemed like ages to me. I sat quietly under the awning with no distractions and prepared mentally with some concentration techniques that my Dad had taught me from his Sports Psychology Course.

Race 1 was a catastrophe. Dan Dunham was on pole and when the light turned green after the formation lap he shot off like a bullet. I tucked in behind and slipstreamed him and we pulled away from the pack. Simon Porter was in 3rd place but about 2 seconds down on us. I was trying to pressure Dan into making a mistake; he is very good driver and extremely difficult to overtake as he defends his racing line really well. Although great rivals on the track we often have a laugh and joke together between races and always congratulate each other. In MSA racing the camaraderie is not so good. It's all about winning and not giving the opposition any help or advice with set up. If they can get away with it they will barge you off the track or even worse drive over you to get past. It's all about huge budgets and for some drivers' lots at stake for the next rung of the motorsport ladder. I have driven against the best in the country and without their huge budgets, the best engines and equipment and top mechanics they would be very average drivers. They may be the next Lewis Hamilton, but in this game money does buy success.

Returning to my race! It was on lap 6 whilst trying to make a move on Dan that my revs went up and I lost momentum when the sprocket came loose off the axle carrier and threw the chain off; luckily I was right by the pit lane entrance so I could cruise back in; gutted! Dan won this race comfortably with Porter in 2nd and Aaron Amato 3rd. My team mate Jack Wilson; unfortunately was excluded after allegedly overtaking on a yellow; which he didn't see until he was well into his overtaking move when it was too late to back off. I felt really sorry for Jack as he drove a strong race and deserved to finish high up the grid. Nobody likes being excluded but that is the way it goes; you have to take it on the chin and move on.

Jack was also involved in a heavy shunt with Steven Brotherhood from Bulkington Boys Club. Jack was in amongst several karts when Steve braked early into Zulu. Jack couldn't avoid him and unintentionally drove over the side of his kart catching the Bulkington driver at the same time. Steve came to a halt and was uninjured but the radiator on his engine was damaged and that meant a new one at £200 or the end of his racing for the day. Not wanting to see the young Bulkington driver pack up and go home my Dad tried to sort him a replacement radiator from one of the teams. He managed to get one and he was back in business. My Dad is like that he will help anyone to get back on the track so that we can have a good race. It was in race 2 that Dad along with his friend Pete Kightley came to the rescue of Megan Williams (Tarporley]. Her engine just would not start on the dummy grid. Dad and Pete did all of the usual checks but the engine just would not burst into action and she was asked to remove her kart from the dummy grid. After the race my Dad along with Jacks grandad Pete Clarke went to help their team. We lent them our spare battery but the engine was seriously dead. No compression!! I felt sorry for her, as she had travelled a long distance to race.


After a poor first race; Team Ashlawn had to knuckle down and get good finishes for the rest of the day if we had any chance of getting the elusive one, two finish! It came to heat two; my worst grid of the day I started on P17; I had to get through the pack quickly to at least get a top 5 finish, Jack was starting on P3 and he had a great chance to win it. I got a good start as did Jack who took the lead, I got up to 8th after the first lap; I was on a charge to catch Jack. By lap 10 Jack was sitting comfortably in the lead and I was racing Harry Heath for 3rd position when Dan Dunham was involved in a racing accident causing him to crash heavily into the tyre wall resulting in a red flag and the race was stopped and the ambulance was called to the track side. I was very concerned for my good mate and waited anxiously for him to appear from the back of the ambulance. Luckily he survived with some cuts and bruises a bit shaken but was declared fit to carry on racing. I was relieved along with most of the paddock for both Dan and his mum and dad Claire and Rob. Claire looked as white as a sheet after the accident and Rob as usual was trying to lighten the situation. My Dad and Rob are also great mates and always share a laugh and joke in the paddock. The kart was a bit of a mess but the camaraderie amongst parents and drivers is unique at NatSKA and there was no shortage of help to get Dan back on the grid. Jack took the win and I finished fourth. I was very pleased for Jack; it made up for that exclusion and it really made his day. A good result for Ashlawn a one, four.

My good friend Alex Burrows arrived with his dad to provide some support for my remaining races; they couldn't resist getting their hands dirty as we had a minor problem with a seat stay. A seat stay makes the rear of the kart stiffer and it prevents over steer. Alex is a first class mechanic. In his spare time when he is not racing a 250 national kart and not studying at the Race Drivers Academy and doing his A levels he works for Jade Karts who are one of the top professional teams in the country. Alex and I were great rivals in our early days at Whilton Mill Juniors and Covkartsport.

I started on P7 and Jack on P13. I got a good start and was up to 6th after the first lap gradually making my way through the pack. I was sitting in third when first and second place drivers took each other out; I nipped through into the lead and took control pulling out a lead of over 6 seconds. I was delighted but disappointed for Harry Kightly as he was involved in the leading shunt with Robert Jones. Jack had an incident causing him to loose his font nose cone resulting in a DNF; I again felt really sad for Jack as he drove a strong race


It all rested on the last race of the day; I had to finish in the top 5 if I had any chance of winning overall. Dan had to finish in the top 3. I started on P11. Dan, James Williams and myself all picked our way our through the traffic to finish 4th, 5th and 6th respectively. Jack finished 7th; a very good result for him. Steven Brotherhood (Bulkington Boys Club] won; a good finish for him and it made up for his day with 2 DNF's and a 2nd place finish.

I thought I had clinched the win but I hadn't taken into account Graham Roberts who drove exceptionally well; consistently in the top 4. Graham and I were equal on 9 points each and it was on a count back score, which secured Graham the overall, win on the day; with his 9th place finish and my DNF. I was really disappointed but I was also pleased for Graham, Harry Heath finished third with Dan in 4th spot

National Schools NatSKA Glan-Y-Gors Park, North Wales 23rd May 2009

This track has always been a favourite of mine set in the picturesque landscape of the Snowdonia National Park This was my 6th visit to this track. We left early on Friday morning hoping to get in some practice but due to heavy traffic, and hold ups on the Motorway and the A5 we didn't arrive at the track until 3.00pm.It had also just started to rain. Typical welsh weather!!!

Steven Brotherhood had arrived on Thursday evening; and used Friday for track time and set up on his kart; he had put in over 200 laps of practice.

Saturday got off to a great start. I was starting on the front row; in 2nd place. As we were leaving the pits the pole position drivers kart did not start handing me pole position on a plate and the advantage into the first corner. I took advantage and made sure I had an early lead; but at about half race distance Steven Brotherhood overtook me when I made a mistake pushing too hard; dropped a wheel coming out of the fast long hairpin onto the grass and lost my momentum; but settled for 2nd position. Jack however did not have the right gearing for the track and was not pulling out of the corners very well resulting in a miserable finish. I started on P10 for my 2nd race. I needed to get through the pack as quickly as possible; Jack started on P2 and had a great chance to clinch victory. The race started and I got up to 6th by the end of the first lap and then slowly made my way through the field; this was one of my favourite races as I had a great dicing battle with Harry Heath for 2nd and 3rd position; I couldn't get past him and settled for 3rd. Jack however was still struggling with set up and yet again had a terrible heat, ruining his chances of finishing on the podium.

Back in the paddock Dad and I helped Jack get the right set up. I started on P5 for my 3rd race. I got a great start and was up to 3rd place by the end of the first lap behind Greg Jackson. I sat on his bumper slip streaming occasionally and showing him my front pod but he made a mistake under pressure and I nipped through into 2nd place. Harry Kightley was chasing down on me but I defended my position and took 2nd place by a wheel length at the line. Jack had a slightly better race and was near enough on the front running pace, lapping consistently with respectable lap times; but still no front pack finish.

The last heat of the day was eventful; the overall positions rested on the last heat; it was all to play for. I started on P7 whilst Steven Brotherhood, started on P9. We had to work together to get through the pack. I made my way through the pack and up to 3rd place behind Samantha Jones. Going into the tight hairpin, a gap opened up and I made the move up the inside of her but she tried to defend the line, collided with the side of my kart and ended up spinning off the track; I thought it was my fault and this is going to be a repeat of Kimbolton. I finished second behind Steve Brotherhood but anticipated a formal protest for an inappropriate overtaking move. Although members of her team had mentioned words on the trackside a formal protest was not made and it was forgotten.

Steven Brotherhood took the overall honours on the day and I finished 2nd Jack had a good final heat; finishing in mid pack.

National Schools NatSKA sprint championships. Whilton Mill 6th June 2009

I had been studying very hard for my GCSE exams; so not much preparation could be carried out on the kart. However I was in good hopes and I needed a break from my revising.

We got to Whilton Mill nice and early for this meeting; it was supposed to be a double header but due to it being in the middle of the GCSE's exams Sundays' race meeting was cancelled. I was in good hopes for this meeting coming off a high at G-Y-G with my second place finish; and I was keen to make this one a win.

21 karts had been entered for class 15 rotax. The day got off to a bad start with the kart failing scrutineering due to a loose seat; however this was tightened up and forgotten almost immediately. The weather was horrible with moisture in the air and drizzle making the track greasy and damper by the second; by eleven o'clock there was standing water on some parts of the track! Full wets were the main tyre choice of the morning heats. It came to practice; I wanted to save my scrubbed up wets for racing so I fitted some intermediate wets but this was pointless as the kart developed a misfire and did not want to 'wake up' in the horrible conditions. The three practice laps were excruciating as I could only lap the circuit at walking pace; frustration set in as the culprit was a faulty HT lead connecting the spark plug cap with the spark plug not fastened correctly!

I started on P6 for race one and I was keen to get an early race win under my belt. My main opposition Jack, Steven Brotherhood, Dan Dunham and Greg Jackson all started behind me. I had a terrible start going back several places after getting tangled up in a first corner crash; I had to fight my way back through the field to secure even a top three finish. This race however was not good; the kart felt very underpowered; the air box had worked its way loose and was drawing in too much air resulting in the fuel: air mixture being too high and flooding the motor. This prevented me challenging for second position; I settled for third and claimed a fast lap time even with the underpowered kart! Jack finished in mid pack

It came to heat two and the track was drying by the second but still very greasy. This time I started at the back of the grid and had to get to the front as quickly as possible. I made up lots of places on the first corner and by mid race distance I had taken the lead, However with race victory in sight I lost concentration and made silly mistakes which allowed fellow competitors Sam Beasley and Steven Brotherhood to catch up. Sam powered past me when a back marker unintentionally got in my way, they are supposed to give way to fast approaching traffic .I lost 2nd place but settled for 3rd. After the race several drivers commented on the speed of Sam Beasley's engine and the possibility that he had tampered with the power valve which restricts the more powerful senior rotax engine in class 15 giving him an advantage over the junior engines. It couldn't be proved so we didn't lodge a protest.

Heat three and the track was still damp in places. I started on P 6 and had a good chance to win. I made a good start and got up to 3rd by the end of the first lap, you could throw a blanket over the leading three drivers and we were pulling away from the rest of the pack. I was challenging for the lead when I was pushed wide on a slow corner and dropped down to third! I then re-over took the 2nd placed man; but I felt him trying to drive over the top of me! I don't like driver's who do this as it is not racing and it can become quite dangerous. I pulled out a gap and tried to keep my head down and catch the leader but I couldn't and I settled for 2nd. Jack had a good race and finished strongly in the field.

I started at the rear of the pack for the final race of the day and I had to get through the pack very quickly. By the end of lap one I was in 10th position and with a late breaking move into a slow hairpin I got up to 7th. I then picked off other drivers lap by lap and eventually got to second place where Jack my teammate was leading; I thought 'should I sit behind him and make it an Ashlawn 1-2 or should I go for the win'. I had a great dicing battle with Jack and eventually took the lead; and pulled out a three second lead but again I was caught by Steven Brotherhood; I made a mistake going way too deep into a corner and messed up my exit; which allowed Steve to pull in tight and have a run into the next corner; I was gutted and really wanted the lead; I slip streamed him down the straight and tried a very late breaking into a hairpin but Steve had it covered and cut back underneath me. Dices like this make Karting enjoyable to watch. I thought I should settle for second as we where slowing each other up allowing the 3rd placed man Dan Dunham to catch up. The chequered flag dropped and I finished 2nd narrowly missing out on the win but that's racing. I finished 3rd on the day behind Steve and Sam.

The scene was now set for the Nationals at Buckmore Park. This is the big event of the year with a National title at stake. This is the race meeting that the drivers and teams had been preparing for.


NATSKA Nationals-Buckmore Park 4/5/6th July

Friday was practice day and I finished 3rd fastest overall and had the pace to finish on the podium. Steve Brotherhood was very quick along with Dan Dunham and my teammate Jack.

Saturday morning started with practice followed by 3 heats out of the 6 over the weekend. The weather was fantastic, bright sunshine and very hot. In my first heat I started on P3 and made a good start keeping with Dan Dunham and 2008 champion Ben Beasley but wrong tyre pressures caused the tyres to go off after 3 laps from the end; which allowed fourth placed man Steven Brotherhood to overtake me on the last corner. Jack had a strong race finishing well in the front pack.

I started on P 14 near the back for heat 2 and I had to push hard to get through the pack; I made my way through the pack on the twists and turns uphill and downhill gradients of this famous track and eventually finished in 5th position just behind Graham Roberts. Jack had a good race finishing high up; with two good heat finishes from the Ashlawn duo it looked good for an Ashlawn 3, 4.

I started on P 7 for the last race on Saturday and I knew that I had to finish in the top three to be in contention for a final podium position. I made a great start overtaking 3 karts by the third hairpin and was gaining on James Crutchley, when I was involved in a multi kart pile up that put me Dan Dunham and Steven Brotherhood out of the race. My Toni kart was badly damaged with a bent rear axle, damaged radiator, my two race old rear slicks wrecked and the brackets and euro bumper twisted. I got away without serious injury just a few bruises but I was very lucky because the driver who was behind me in the race had caught the back of my kart, when I had to brake suddenly which launched him into the air narrowly missing my head. I ended up in the straw bales very angry but Dan had also been caught up in the incident when he tried to avoid the mayhem and ended up under the tyre wall in a very dangerous and vulnerable position. Dan unfortunately tagged Steve and he ended up in the straw bales. Both karts looked a bit second hand but both drivers were not seriously hurt. The race was not stopped and Ben Beasley went onto take the win and put him in contention for the defense of his title but he had been summonsed to the Clerk of the Course. Jack finished 3rd. We had 30 minutes to make a protest and both my Dad and Steve's Dad went to see the Deputy Clerk for his advice and was told that it would cost £150 but without substantive evidence we could loose the protest .It was not clear who was at fault for the accident so we decided to avoid a lengthy protest procedure and get on and repair the kart ready for the following day. We later learnt that a video recording had been made of the incident and their team leader did not want to release the film until the protest period had elapsed. The following day my Dad spoke informally to the Clerk of the Course who had seen the video and advised that we would have lost our protest as the incident was a racing accident and nobody was to blame.

Glorious sunshine greeted the drivers on Sunday morning. The previous evening we had rebuilt the kart put in a new axle, repaired the radiator, straightened the rear bumper and put on a brand new set of slick tyres. With 5 races counting from 6 I knew that I had to finish all of my races to be in contention for a podium finish and couldn't afford to have any mishaps. I was under a bit of pressure to perform as a seeded driver. Dad helped me to relax, concentrate on my driving and just enjoy myself. I was on a mission during practice and laid down some very quick lap times. Steve and Dan were also very quick whilst Jack looked very relaxed and smooth. He also recorded some very quick lap times My Dad had reckoned Jack was the dark horse and could surprise everybody with a podium finish.

I started on P18 and Dan was on P19. Steve had a front pack position. After some very good dices with James Williams and my teammate Jack Wilson I could only manage 7th position but I didn't let this finish get to me and I tried to stay focused for the next heat.

Heat 5 seemed like an eternity; class 15 was due out on track at 1:15pm but due to several serious racing accidents the race finally got underway at around 4.00pm. I started on P16 and on the opening lap the race was red flagged and stopped when Ryan Jones crashed heavily into the tyre wall. The ambulance was called to the trackside. Robert had broken his ankle; after another long delay the race was restarted .I made it up to 5th place and absolutely flying when my axle snapped in half coming down the hill into the fast right hander; the kart hit the floor and violently spun around until it hit the tyre wall; ending my race and any hopes for a top 5 finish as only 5 of the 6 races would be counted. I couldn't believe my bad luck as the axle had only just been replaced. My weekend was over with 2 DNFs and Heat 6 was cancelled as the track curfew came into play, I think this was a good thing as I would not have been able to repair the kart in time. In the end I finished 9th and my teammate finished 3rd I was proud and very pleased for him. Steven Brotherhood finished 1st and Dan Dunham finished 2nd, I was pleased for them and glad they finished so well!.

It had been an eventful 3 days: fun, frustrating, very disappointing and expensive. Last year I finished 7th at the nationals at Llandow in South Wales. I also crashed and had a puncture at that meeting; perhaps it will be 3rd time lucky next year at my local track Whilton Mill in July.

Kimbolton MSA club meeting 8/9th August 20098

We travelled to Kimbolton near Cambridge for a summer round of the club championship I was looking forward to this meeting, as I hadn't raced at an MSA meeting for a long time. It was a two-day meeting.

We had bought the latest 2009 rotax engine and we were eager to find out how quick it was during practice on Saturday. To be competitive at this level you have to buy, rent or lease the fastest engines. Most of the grid were on the new 2009 barrels and clutch which have been designed with less tolerance in the sleeve of the barrel and new clutches have also been fitted to prevent cheating by greasing the clutch drum allowing more revs out of a corner. The new 2009 engine was to allow a level playground with the emphasis on driving ability and not so much on money buying the best engines to stay in front of your competitor. Although the engine was rapid quicker than my super quick 2004 engine, we struggled to get the kart dialed in and on the pace with the top 10; however towards the end of the day we managed to find half a second.

Sunday arrived and I was eager to get onto the track; I went out for practice and with only half a lap in the chain flew off and I glided to a halt. We inspected the kart and discovered that an engine mount had vibrated loose allowing the engine to move about on the chassis; we tightened this up and I was in good hopes for the first heat of the day. We ran down to the dummy grid knowing that we were a little bit late. We were only 10 seconds late but the previous race had left park ferme and the rules mention you have to be in position before the previous race leaves the dummy grid. I was demoted to the back of the grid; ruining my day and any chances of a top 10 finish in the final. I had to work hard and push through the pack; but half way into the race the chain started to slip and skip across the sprocket leaving me with hardly any drive and shortening my race. The cause of the chain slipping was a damaged sprocket; due to the practice problem it had destroyed it.

Heat 2 arrived and I was starting at the back of the grid, I had to push hard and get to the front as quickly as possible. I made a good start and was up to 13th by the first corner but got tangled up with the multi kart pile up on the first corner and I lost all those places and ended up half a lap down; with a bent track rod and a badly handling kart!

I was starting to lose my hopes for the day but after a pep talk from my Dad and Pete; Jack's Grandad, I focused and tried to keep in high hopes. Just before my third heat my good friend Alex Burrows and his dad Phil arrived. They are continuously having a joke and laugh with me and my dad so that gave me a great boost and motivation and confidence to make this a good race. I made a good start, overtaking 4 karts on the first corner but got sandwiched in mid pack and I lost two places; but managed to hold onto the back of the middle pack.

It came to the Final; I was starting right at the back of the grid on 24th position; I had to push hard to get through the pack. I made an excellent start overtaking six karts, then dicing with karts throughout the race getting myself up to 15th position and being the quickest I had been all weekend, I was pleased with my driving in the Final as I could now take something positive out of the weekend and keep in high hopes for the next Kimbolton club round.


NatSKA National schools Whilton Mill 12th September

I was looking forward to the weekend of 12th and 13TH September. We had entered for a double header of racing. The first meeting was on the Saturday at Whilton for the National Schools and then straight off to Kimbolton for a national club meeting on the Sunday

The Saturday NATSKA meeting was a nightmare; it went from bad to worse. We arrived at the 'crack of dawn' getting the awning set up and the kart race ready. Scrutinering did not go well as the kart failed on a minor technicality but we quickly resolved the problem and the kart passed. Morning practice went well and I was in high hopes for my races.

I starting on P 2 for my first outing and knew that I had to push hard to stay in front of my rivals. The race was started after a few false starts and I made a break overtaking the pole sitter into the first corner; Dan Dunham started 5thwas soon bearing down on me after a lightning start making up three places in the first couple laps. I really had to keep my head down and not make any mistakes; but coming into the hard braking zone just before the boot; I misjudged my braking and went in too deep into the corner; I tried to hold my position going into the next right hander but Dan had the better of me; placed his kart on my inside for the next corner and made a clean fair move to take the lead. I fought back going into the flat right hander and edged closer going along the start and finish straight; we were neck and neck; Dan held onto the lead but we were slowing each other down and allowed Robert Jones to catch up and he was soon on my tail; I had to defend for the remaining laps eventually bringing the kart home in 2nd position and a good first race result. Jack Wilson had a fantastic race gaining 3 positions and brought the kart home in 4th position.

I was summonsed to the Clerk of the Course after the race and was penalized for illegally jumping the start; by a couple of thousands of a second and was dropped 5 positions; promoting everyone else behind one place and I finished in 7th. A big disappointment to a thrilling race!

The second race was also a disaster. With a half a lap into the race I had my front nose cone swiped off when trying to overtake a fellow competitor; I was gutted and I knew this had ruined my chances for a strong overall position at the end of the meeting as only three of the four heats counted and with a poor first and second race my confidence was in tatters. Jack Wilson again had another strong race finishing well in 5th position; still in for a very good chance of finishing high up at the end of the day; at least one Ashlawn driver was having a good day and that's the main thing!

My dad told me before the third heat to just go out and enjoy the rest of the day; try and finish well and aim for a good lap time. I went out for my third heat and I started on P 5 and had to get a good start to get to the front but carburetion issues prevented the engine from performing at its maximum and I struggled with top speed on the fast straights. I finished third and got some vital points. Jack had another good race finishing one behind me; posting in a blindingly quick lap the second quickest overall on the day!

I started on P 7 for the final race of the day. The engine was still 'bogging down' (a technical term for no acceleration] coming out of the slow corners which lost me 5 tenths of a second off the leaders pace; however I still finished fourth and was happy with my last two finishes after a poor start to the day. Jack was very consistent at this meeting and gained very good results; he finished 3rd overall and I was very pleased for him!

Kimbolton MSA club meeting 13th September 2009

We travelled to Kimbolton; my favourite track, the day after the disastrous Whilton NatSKA event. We arrived early again to get the kart safely through scrutinering; it passed and I was confident for the days racing. It was a mad panic under our awning as we raced to fit the new slicks onto the rims before drivers briefing.

I went out in practice on the new circuit layout not knowing what to expect; I had to learn the circuit quickly. After practice I only had a small amount of time to fine tune the kart to get it set up correctly for this different circuit layout. I started on P 8 in my first race; and going into the first corner another driver was pushed onto the top of my kart and his rear bumper caught my exhaust ripping it off; I had to stop otherwise I would be given a mechanical failure flag. I was gutted and with this DNF automatically put you on the back foot going into the rest of your races.

I started on P 10 for my second race; and again going into the first corner I had to avoid another huge incident; I lost several places; I had to keep my head down and work hard to maintain my pace and make up a few places; I eventually came home in 18th position; not a good finish but at least it was a finish. The first corner after the start and finish line at Kimbolton is notorious for shunts and accidents. If you can survive the first corner normally the drivers spread out and you can plan your race.

In heat three I started on 21st position; right at the back. I had to push really hard to make it to the front and not get caught up in any first corner melee. I made a good start; overtaking a few karts getting myself up to 15th by the end of the first lap; however I was struggling with carburetion problems yet again and lost 3 places over the course of the race; I eventually brought it home in 18th; not good!

I started right at the back of the grid for the final and I had to push hard. I made up lots of places at the first corner and got into a 5-kart train; where I battled my way through to the front of it and pulled away. This race was really enjoyable as we changed the carburetion setting and it was much better. I was disappointed because if we had resolved the carburetion problem earlier in the day the overall outcome may have been better. I finished 16th in the final and set my fastest lap of the day.

Kimbolton MSA club meeting 11th October 2009

I was looking forward to this meeting for a long time. We couldn't make practice on the Saturday due to a family wedding and Dad and I needed to get some brownie points! So that we could get a few more meetings in before the end of the year.


We arrived very early Sunday morning; to a wet Kimbolton. My friend Graham Roberts and his Dad had set off from their home in Cheshire at 5.00am and arrived just after us. We set about putting up our awnings and got the karts ready for scrutinering. The rain had started to ease off but the circuit was still very wet. It was windy with the sun trying to break out and by the time racing had started the circuit had completely dried out.

A strong line up included some very good regular club driver but also a number of drivers from the British Championship series (Super 1and Formula kartstars] and European Championships (Euromax Series]. Their championship series had finished so these drivers were looking for some trophies.

This was a huge meeting for Graham. Apart from the National Schools Graham usually races in the north west of England against his club mates. He was a bit nervous but I knew that he was quick and just needed to get the first race under his belt.

NatSKA were well represented at this meeting and included my teammate Jack Wilson, Lewis Penstone-Smith, Greg Jackson and Steve Brotherhood (national NatSKA rotax champion. We had decided to have our own driver's competition (see pic]

I started on P 2 and made a good start staying with the leader; however I did not have the pace to keep with him for the whole race. It was on the last bend of the race comfortably in 3rd position when I was deliberatley pushed onto the grass which allowed a train of six karts through dropping me to 9th position; I was annoyed but it was a strong finish out of 27 karts.

I was in high hopes for heat two; I started right at the back of the grid and Steve Brotherhood was just in front of me. He was tagged going into the infamous first bend and ended up sideways in the middle of the track. I went to avoid him but he carried on rolling back and I ended up in the tyre wall with a bent track rod. I quickly pulled my kart out of the tyre wall jumped back into the kart, fired it up and carried on; I was right at the back dicing with last position with an ill handling kart; all I could do was just finish. I was later called to see the Clarke of the Course for a dangerous move on a novice driver. I got a verbal warning but no points on my license or exclusion.

I started on P16 for race 3; I went out and made a good start; overtaking a few on the first corner and held onto my position. I finished strongly and with 3 race finishes all I could hope for was a middle of the pack start for the final.


. I started on P 16 for the final. The kart was not handling well due to the earlier crash and I dropped three places throughout the course of the race; I was gutted with this race, as I knew I had the pace for a stronger finish. However this was the last meeting on the Tony Kart chassis. Steve took the honours in the NatSKA fun class after some very frustrating heats with me just behind. Graham enjoyed his day. A baptism of fire but he drove extremely well against some very good opposition and hopes to return to the circuit for the last meeting of the year.

Whilton Mill 7th November 2009 National Schools Karting,

This was my first meeting on the new Alonso chassis

A damp track, but bright and sunny conditions greeted over 150 competitors for the final meeting of the season for the National Schools Karting association.

A strong entry included my teammate Jack Wilson, Dan Dunham, Harry Heath, Graham Roberts and Harry Kightley.

I started on P9, whilst Jack was on P3 for the opening race of the day. With a drying track we opted for slick tyres. Jack made a great start and was running with the leaders. I made up several places and soon caught the leading pack but settled for a sensible 2nd position at the close of the race behind Dan. Dan has been selected to represent NatSKA in the Formula kartstars British Championships next season. Jack finished 4th.

A serious first corner multiple kart pile up saw race 2 stopped. I was approaching the fast S bend after the start and finish line when the kart in front of me was involved in a shunt and was sideways in the middle of the track. I couldn't avoid her and hit the front of her kart and was launched 2 feet into the air; but landed fortunately on track on all four wheels and was able to continue. However the karts behind me had collided with each other with complete mayhem with bits of karts strewn across the track and the drivers looking badly hurt. The Marshal had not stopped the race but my Dad had shouted to them to get the race stopped and display the red flag because the injured drivers were in a very vulnerable position and remains of plastic bumpers and fragments were lying on the track on the racing line. The race was stopped and we parked on the track whilst the ambulance was called to the trackside. The karts involved in the accident were completely wrecked and one of the drivers was taken to hospital. He was discharged later that day with minor injuries but very lucky to escape serious injury.

The race was restarted but disaster struck on lap 2 when an electrical fault caused by the shunt, ended my race whilst in 2nd place. Dan won the race whilst Jack struggled with a faulty fuel pump and braking problems.

I started on P14 for race 3 and charged very hard to finish 3rd in front of Dan whilst Jack also had a strong finish. Harry Kightly from Milton Keynes won the race with Harry Heath finishing in 2nd spot

It was all on the final race of the day between myself Dan and Harry Kightley .A serious crash in the Honda 160 class delayed the meeting and loss of daylight brought the meeting to an end when a young driver was airlifted to hospital with neck injuries.

It was a great shame that the season finished on such a worrying note but the young driver was later discharged from hospital with a clean bill of health.

With all 3 races counting Dan took the overall win on the day.

I have my final meting of the year at Kimbolton on 12th December This will be my last meeting with the junior engine as I am moving to the senior category next season with MSA; I will also be racing my junior engine at NatSKA events next season. I would also like to compete in the super 1 British Championships or possibly race in Europe but funds are tight My Mum and Dad have spent a huge amount of money on racing over the years and I am very privileged and grateful for their continued dedication and support. However they haven't got endless deep pockets to finance my hobby and I would truly appreciate some help to progress to the very top level in Karting. I will be entering my 9th season and have completed my apprenticeship and would now like to reach my goals and dreams

Last year I turned down an opportunity to race on the same stage with the best in the world in the Euro Max challenge at Genk, Belgium. This was awarded to me by NatSKA to represent them on this huge stage. Although NatSKA were paying for the entry fee, fuel and tyres it would still have cost an arm and a leg. On average a round of the Euro max series costs about £5000 and I would have needed to take time out of school

I know that a lot of people in Rugby are genuinely interested and have been following my racing. I enjoy my racing but I also work very hard with my studies at Ashlawn Science School. I have my feet firmly planted on the floor and accept that it takes a huge amount of money, luck support and financial backing to move upwards on the motor sport ladder. My friend and racing rival Harry Kightley from Milton Keynes has been recently selected to try out a junior formula ford and has been asked to go back in January for testing The sponsored drive is worth £60.000 and I wish him every success In addition Sam Jones who I raced against this season at NatSKA is looking to compete in the formula kart stars international at the same venue as the Formula 1

I would like some help to achieve my next step on the racing ladder. It doesn't have to be huge financial outlay local companies can sponsor me for the individual cost of a meeting with the entry fees, tyres or fuel a new awning with sponsors name on it or denote a trailer again with sponsors name on it. I can also promote their business with reports in the local press and other local media publications .We can also look at other avenue to publicise their support in such a difficult financial climate I truly hope people can help!!

Jack and myself were presented with top sporting awards at the Ashlawn School Sports Award Evening. Jack and myself were awarded the best individual performance award and also were presented with 1st place, most dedicated boys and the overall winner on the evening for outstanding achievement. We were both very pleased and honoured to be presented with such prestigious awards

Last year I was offered a place at the race driver's academy at Loughborough College but I was too young to attend. This year I decided not to apply for a place because my A Levels studies are very important and I can wait a few years before I consider this course. My friend Alex Burrows is in his second year and having a great time driving racing cars around Silverstone circuit

When I am not racing or studying hard for my A levels I am training to be an official MSA scrutineer along with my Dad under the guidance of the top officials in the country. I have already passed my marshalling tests with NatSKA.

We also spend other weekends either at Whilton Mill or Shenington supporting my local friends from Rugby Sam and Eddy Hack, James Webb and Reece Keeney and occasional Scott Jelly in pro karts. I enjoy getting my hands dirty and Dad and I mechanic for my friend from Northampton Alex Burrows and his dad Phil with their national 250 cc kart .At these club meetings we often meet up with our friends from all over the country.

During the racing year we also try to get to Silverstone, Donnington or Rockingham for some Formula 3, British and FIA GT cars, World Series by Renault, Classic F 1 and Class C cars and modern endurance racing cars raced at Le Mans. We also like to go to Santa Pod for the fastest cars on the planet top fuel dragsters, rocket bike and jet funny cars.

Over the years I have met some famous racing drivers including many F 1 drivers endurance racing drivers, past F1 drivers including Nigel Mansell, and commentators including Murray Walker My dad took to me to my first race meeting when I was 4 and I have been hooked ever since

I just love motor racing I can't get enough of it. It's in my blood.

Ben Slater