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KARTING, EMOTION & PASSION
INE
W E I V
E R P
125 MAX EVO
PERFORMANCE REVIEW AFTER FIRST RACE
CIK DROOPING FRONT FAIRINGS
THE DEBATE IS ON
GAMBLE LEADS BRITAIN GAMBLE, MCCARTHY AND CANNING HIT A 1-2-3 FOR THE UK AT THE ROTAX WINTER CUP IN CAMPILLOS.
ONE ON ONE
JOHN SURTEES OBE - 50 YEARS OF A LEGEND
CLOSE UP A LOOK INTO 125 KZ, THE QUEEN CLASS OF KARTING
PHOTO © T. DECK
FOCUS
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DARTFORD KARTING – OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR
www.kartstore.co.uk contact Maria at sales@kartstore.co.uk BAYFORD MEADOWS KC www.bmkr.co.uk contact Ian at info@bmkr.co.uk
SHENINGTON KC www.sheningtonkrc.co.uk contact Graham at Graham@sheningtonkrc.co.uk
BUCKMORE PARK – DARTFORD KARTING www.kartstore.co.uk contact Maria at sales@kartstore.co.uk
TRENT VALLEY KC www.tvkc.co.uk contact Clare at clare@tvkc.co.uk
CUMBRIA KC www.cumbriakrc.co.uk contact Malcolm at malcolmfell@yahoo.com
WHILTON MILL KC www.whiltonmill.co.uk contact Debbie at debbie@whiltonmill.co.uk
FOREST EDGE KC www.fekc.co.uk contact Colin at carolyne.wright@btconnect.com
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LLANDOW KC www.llandowkartclub.co.uk contact Colin at llandowcompsec@hotmail.co.uk 6
AND IF YOU ATTEND THE SUPER ONE SERIES, FIND IT AT THE S1 INFO CENTRE
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CONTENTS
MARCH 2015 - N. 15
news
12 MONDOKART - News & Previews 20 YOUR TKM GUIDE Ready to hit the track 22 ROTAX MAX BEGINNERS’ TIPS If your thing is “second hand” 24 ONE ON ONE John Surtees OBE
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FOCUS 30 125 MAX EVO FIRST RACE
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34 DROOPING FRONT FAIRINGS 38 CLOSE UP 125 Gearbox class 44 PRODUCT OF THE MONTH ALTO Camber castor master kit 70 FITNESS Mental training 74 VINTAGE 11th Annual VKA reunion 78 2015 NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL CALENDARS
race
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46 6th ROTAX WINTER CUP 50 20th WINTER CUP 54 CLUB100 SPRINT SERIES RND.1 58 PLD CHARITY RACE 60 SHENINGTON KRC WINTER CHAMPIONSHIP RND.2 62 BUCKMORE PARK KC WINTER SERIES RND.2 64 CUMBRIA KRC CHAMPIONSHIP RND.1 66 TRENT VALLEY KC WINTER SERIES RND.3 68 HODDESDON KC CHAMPIONSHIP RND.1
www.vroomkart.com info@vroom.it www.facebook.com/vroomkart twitter.com/vroomkart
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ONE ON ONE J O H N S U R T E E S O B E
50
years as legend
The myth began half a century ago, when John Surtees became the first man to win the World Championship on both 2 and 4 wheels. And to add to the legend, he did it on a Ferrari, the F158. His achievement, still unmatched to this day, makes Surtees a fantastic ambassador for motor sport and Karting, which he has been passionately involved in since 1998. REPORT S.MURTAS / PHOTOS S.BURCHETT, C.WALKER (KARTPIX.NET), ARCHIVE
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Two decades of racing at the highest level, almost equally divided between 2 and 4 wheel racing, and five World Championships in both disciplines. John Surtees is by far the most iconic motorsport character having been able to master two different disciplines at the highest level, something no other racer has ever been close to achieve. The legend came alive in 1964, when after four years of F1 racing, at his second season at the court of the ‘Drake’ Enzo Ferrari, Surtees landed an unprecedented – and still unmatched – World Championship title on the F158 to add to his already four motorbike world crowns. And as you would expect from an all-round, motorsport passionate character like John Surtees, over the years he has established strong links with the Karting scene, which he passionately nurtures thanks to his involvement with Buckmore Park, one of the most prestigious karting facilities in the country.
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f
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125 MAX EVO FIRST RACE
THUMBS UP FR O
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OM THE TRACK After months of speculation, and the highly anticipated first international race of the season, we review the actual performance of the 125 MAX Evo vis a vis the standard MAX engine. REPORT S.MURTAS / PHOTOS T.DECK, D.PASTANELLA, C.WALKER
THE TWO CRG DRIVERS DE CONTO AND KAMALI ON DIFFERENT ENGINES AT CAMPILLOS. NOTE THE RED HEAD OF DE CONTO’S ENGINE, WHICH DISTINGUISHES THE 125 MAX EVO FROM ITS PREDECESSOR.
In the end, it all came down to racing. The response of the track is always the best answer to paddock talk, and when many were keen to criticize the long-waited evolution by the Austrian manufacturer – evolution of the 15 year old, pretty much unchanged, MAX engine – only the track could reveal the all story. Hence, the importance of the first international single-make race for Rotax engines, the Rotax Winter Cup, which has served as test bench for all top teams. The first opportunity to test and race the new stuff in racing mode. Needless to say, no one really knew what to expect from the Spanish weekend, and in the end, the feedback is unanimous: the new 125 MAX Evo does exactly what it’s supposed to do – it’s easier to set-up, it can be taken to the top without the help of a tuner or carb expert, and out of the box engine has improved. We talked to four high profile experts whose enthusiasm for the Evo came as surprising to them as it was to us.
Two engine tuners – Tony Cruttenden from Supertune and Steve Ogden from Ogden Motorsport – and two team managers – Warwick Ringham from Strawberry Racing and Ash Orchard from KR-Sport – whose weekend in Campillos proved to be a revelation. The general experience was somehow similar. Many brought to Campillos the standard engines which provided a safe bet, as well as being a useful (and necessary) comparison with the Evo. If some went for out-of-the-box Evo motors, others went by mounting the evolution kit on the standard 125 MAX. But in the end, all agreed that decision was mostly taken on driver’s preference rather than actual performance. If Ringham was cautious about some aspects of the engine, and didn’t feel quite ready to reveal any detailed technical information, the key issue of the pre-season debate was soon dealt with.
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C L O S E U P 12 5 K Z G E A R B O X C L A S S
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On a European level (and consequently a world wide level) there are no more doubts on which is the queen class: it’s KZ, that is, the 125 gearbox class. In fact, since the 100 cc direct drive was stabbed in the back, KF has never taken off. Just KF3/ KFJ has had a bit of success, however, in any case insufficient, not enough to keep up this type of engine, a 125 Tag type taken to extremes, so much so that CIK has already launched a new course for 2016. Consequently, KZ has come through stronger and not just on a level of international titled races, but also with the national classes of each country; a trend that has been happening practically everywhere and to a lesser degree, in the United Kingdom. How come? Let’s try to look into this matter and see the pros and cons of this class, and consequently the actual situation in the UK.
MAGIC (GEAR)BOX BY MAURIZIO VOLTINI - PHOTOS D.PASTANELLA, C.WALKER
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6th ROTAX WINTER CUP
RACE
CAMPILLOS (SPAIN), 15th FEBRUARY 2015
GAMBLE LEADS BRITISH TRIO IN SPAIN After a nail-biting Junior Max Final in the classic international Rotax season opener in Campillos, DHR driver Tom Gamble took a superb win over fellow Brits Jack McCarthy REPORT & PHOTOS T.DECK and Tom Canning.
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Over 100 drivers from more than 25 countries took part in the 6th Rotax Winter Cup. In addition to winning the prestigious title, the winner in each class was given a free season in the 2015 Euro Challenge, and free entries to the podium winners. As Campillos marked the first race of the new Evo engines, more than 15,000 fans followed the event on the official live timing and many more joined the live streaming, promoted by RGMMC Media.
JUNIOR MAX In the biggest grid of the Winter Cup (50 entries), Strawberry Racing Dean MacDonald set the best lap in qualifying with 1:05.595. Behind him, Dutchman Dikkie van der Wal stopped the second fastest lap time, missing pole position by only 0.055 seconds. Local hero Marta Garcia impressed with a strong performance worth third overall, as the top 36 drivers were all within one second. The heats were highly competitive with five different winners in six races. Best
of all was MacDonald, who successfully defended his top position by taking two victories. Next to him on prefinal front row, Tom Gamble improved his 7th position of qualifying with a 5th, a 2nd and 3rd. Dutchman Leonard Hoogenboom (one heat win) boosted himself into third sided by Jack McCarthy in fourth. Then Van der Wal (sided by Hoggard in 6th), Oliver York and lady driver Marta Garcia also grabbed a heat win. Canning, Charpentier and Kenneally rounded up the top-10 with some strong heats, as top pretenders Alex Quinn and Kiern Jewiss showed some great pace but were caught in few contacts that cost them dear. In the prefinal, MacDonald kept the lead and defended it bravely up to the finish line. At first it seemed that only Hoogenboom was able to keep the winner's pace, but as the race progressed, Gamble proved really quick closing the gap with the leading duo, also advancing to second place right before the flag. In the final MacDonald suffered a setback. Despite keeping the lead at the start, he soon lost pace and positions, finally ending the race in tenth position. It was Hoogenboom to inherit the lead,
Left, DD2 podium with Crg standard-bearer Paolo De Conto (left), Ferenc Kanksar and Spain’s Oriol Dalmau. Top, the Senior field gets going with Gary Donnelly (240) and Pierce Lehane (206) sharing the front row. Opposite page, Junior Max podium with Tom Gamble getting the spoils on an all-British podium. Jack McCarthy and Tom Canning were two worthy opponents.
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CLUB 100
RACE
SPRINT SERIES RND.1, BUCKMORE PARK, 22nd FEBRUARY
KEEP SMILING! Club100 Racing’s blue riband Sprint Series begins its 2015 UK tour with its traditional Buckmore Park opener. REPORT C.SIMPSON (COOL THINKING MEDIA)/ PHOTOS A.ROACHE
Race reports at this time of year are peppered with references to the weather and this will be no different. I make no apology. Only 3 months after serving up “Waterworld” at our finale Buckmore Park did it again. Blue skies and sunshine at dawn were pretty but the hard frost even left a tricky off camber right-hander on the access road. At least it 54
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wasn’t raining. Yet. And oh how it rained in a very “Dad can we please go home now” style. But we keep going. Hard work and liberal salt spreading by the excellent circuit staff lifted the black ice, Ginetta GT Racer Tom Oliphant won PREMIER CLASS Heat 1 ahead of Darren Teal. Drivers in the turn 1 tyres necessitated a restart
to Heat 2. Poleman James Burton reversed into the same barrier, the heat carried on. David Robinson took the lead, but Steve Bartlett took the win after running Jack Harding deep and wide in turn 1. Excellent progress from reigning champion Ian Blake gave him the points for Pre Final Pole. Jay Elliott made a great move around the outside of turn 1 from grid 2 and led off turn 2, Ian on his bumper, leaving Chris Powell, Oliphant, Bartlett, Lee Hackett and Anwar Beroual-Smith to slow each other up. Elliott was an unconvincing leader even ending lap 1, Oliphant
slid down, Anwar moved forward, Blake went around the outside of hairpin 2 for the lead on lap 3, edging away every lap to the finish and maximum points. Elliott defended but after a brief respite when Anwar moved for 3rd, it was only a matter of time before Anwar emerged 2nd from the top of the circuit. Jay held off Powell into Garda but this set himself up to be passed at turn 2, Chris towing Baby Prem Bartlett through to 4th. Elliott was left frustrated, Blake suggested his kart was a rocket but the lap times showed it was just like all the others. A 46.3sec lap from Dave Waters in the Pre gave him Pole for the trophy final. Scott Martin tried to pull off the same move Elliott had,
Above, the Lightweight A final podium winners (LR) Tom Powell, Thom King, Harry Neale, and the Premier Podium with (L,R) Ginetta GT Racer Tom Oliphant, Final Winner Anwar Beroual-Smith, and fellow Baby Prem Steve Brown. Below, Clubman final with winner Oliver Knights (14) leading Miles Sharman (3). Bottom, James English (52) ready to channel his inner Mansell. Opposite page, custom paint helmets for Luke Hornsby (3) and Harrison Darvill.
but Waters led downhill ahead of Martin, Oliphant, Beroual-Smith, Teal and Robinson. Anwar moved on Scott for 2nd and towed Oliphant through. Anwar made his move for the lead over start finish, Waters covered but could not hold the tight line exiting turn 1, Anwar inside with his Tom caravan in tow. This backed the field
up into a scrum, which released the leading duo, and RoboMick lit up start finish with driving warnings like a disco dance floor. Steve Brown emerged in 4th engaging with Martin and Teal to wrest 3rd from Waters, and they did. Steve getting on to the podium. But the last 10 laps were about Tom Oliphant
hoping for a mistake that Anwar never looked like making. Baby Prem Anwar modestly refused to be drawn on title contention but he’s a player. Running in the morning session Andrew Green won the Pre B Final in LIGHTWEIGHT CLASS, Thom King won Pre A, Christopher Powell ran away with the B Final to get a backdoor into the A Final. At the 2nd attempt King failed to convert Final Pole, Harry Neale got the drop from grid 3, Tom Powell
slotted into 2nd. Neale edged clear but lifted for a yellow flag in Esses, Tom ‘not so much’ and that led to his move around the outside of hairpin 1 on the next lap. Then Harry appeared to run wide at the first hairpin in close company with King, and Thom moved into 2nd. Two laps later Powell’s lead was gone and it was a four way dice, with was a fast starting Dominic Green, fighting over the lower podium steps. Thom King edged clear and by VROOM UK
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fitness
TRAIN YOUR M MENTAL TRAINING
In sport as in life you become a winner by using your head and leaving very little to chance. “The difference between one champion and another is just 20 centimetres. The size of the brain.” 70
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BY DR. NICOLINI GIADA, MENTAL COACH FOR PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORT - PHOTOS D.PASTANELLA
R MIND
Let’s try asking an athlete. How much time have you dedicated to physical/athletic preparation during your career? And to the technical/strategy aspect? A detailed answer will undoubtedly be given, for all sports. Let’s try to ask him: how much time have you dedicated to mental training during your career? A very surprised expression would most probably be his answer. In sports, your ability to concentrate, control emotions, avoid distractions, tolerate frustration and anxiety, ability to pick yourself up when things go wrong and have your wits about you being able to decide there and then, is very important indeed. Everybody
knows this, but often the real importance of mental preparation is
underestimated!
“An American military officer, Colonel George Hall, was caught and kept prisoner in Vietnam for some years in terrible conditions for his health. Without a shadow of a doubt he was not allowed to practice his favourite sport, Golf. To keep his mind occupied and maintain a mental balance he used to play golf mentally, on his favourite golf course at least once a day. This he did for five and a half years, the time he spent in Vietnam as a prisoner, despite being in isolation in a cell that measured 2,5X2,5m. Before leaving for Vietnam he had reached a professional level. Five and a half years later, when he got back home, he was asked to play, do a few holes with his friends. They were surprised that despite his physical weakness, he played just as well as he did before. They were amazed and told him it was amazing to see him playing so well despite he hadn’t played for five years or more. He replied by saying that, on the contrary, he had played mentally every day for five years and he knew every obstacle, each blade of grass and every shot that he had ever taken well.”
This story shows how important our mind is; its role is an essential element to get the desired results. Often the athletic preparation, a good technique and perfect strategy aren’t enough to get maximum results, whether it is in sports or other fields of life. In most parts of the world, especially America and Australia, mental training is considered key to one’s success. Above all, most athletes, the best, not only do physical exercise to improve their skill; they also support it with mental training and coaching, which represent their winning card. It is what makes the difference and makes them stand out from the others who are equally technically skilled! It’s not silly, it is true: great champions have always gone through the “psychologist’s room”, and it is also true that the best athletes have at least once in their career lived through “difficult” moments. MotoGP super star Casey Stoner, at the peak of a brilliant career, with several wins and
titles, stopped after a difficult season: he no longer races, too much stress. Flavia Pennetta , a top Italian tennis player, the first ever Italian to enter the top ten list of world tennis, retired before a match against feared Dinara Safina, as if she felt she wasn’t up to the task. And even Federica Pellegrini, the golden girl of Italian swimming, went back to her winning ways after a critical period, with fear of drowning in the pool. Champions like the fastest man in the world, Jamaican Usain Bolt, manage to beat seemingly impossible records, but then they fall before an unexpected rival: their mind. The same fate that caught out American sprinter Tyson Gay, who after beating the US record, fell apart against Bolt. “In the last 10 years the psychological part of a sportsman is more and more important” says Piero Astegiano, vice director of the medical Institute for sport in Turin. “I have seen unexpected psychological fragility of
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11th ANNUAL VKA REUNION
THE BEST
EVER! From across the pond, the Vintage Karting Association held its annual reunion in California with some outstanding racing machines that have the history of the sport. Frank Weir made the trip to the Golden State to report on yet another successful event.
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Event promoter Louie Figone, in his summing up at the conclusion of the Eleventh Annual Vintage Kart Reunion awards distribution, reiterated what many of the participants had said to him: this was the best Riverside vintage karting event ever. And that was said last year as well - the meeting just gets better and better! Just like the previous ten, the eleventh annual Vintage Karting Association Reunion was held at the historical Adams Motorsport Park located on 24th Street in Riverside California. Eighty eight karts signed-on to race and numerous others took the opportunity to use practice as a track day. The number of competition karts in attendance was increased by the appearance of the beautiful Trailer Queens that only participated in the Friday evening kart show. The weather was typical of winter in southern Californian with temperatures in the low seventies Fahrenheit for the entire meeting.
The Aussie winners. From left to right: Graeme Barwick winner Dual Rear Class, Faye 'Ladybug' Pierson (K & P Manufacturing makers of Bug karts), Louie Figone (Event Promoter), Bruce Barwick winner Over 60 Class, and Peter Ward (multi-times Australian kart champion). Above, Tom Thorin’s 1960 Rocket kart powered by twin Power Products AH58’s. Opposite page, Ron Weimer’s beautiful Special/Yamaha RD250 circa 1970 running direct drive to the rear axle via an axle clutch.
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