These fun races are a hoot. Laura (DJ Motorsports) puts on two or three of these each year and the format is designed to get new drivers into the karts. Instead of the Thunderkarts that we drive on Wednesdays, for the fun races we use 390 Pros. These are not so highly tuned and the handling is set up for the less experienced driver.
The race is over one hour and is divided into four 15 mins slots. The rule is that each team must change driver every 15 mins. There are two classes:- 'family' and 'expert'. Family teams comprise (usually) one regular driver and one novice; expert teams, two regulars.
Caron and I entered, naturally, the family class, and I qualified us ('Lambstales') 8th on the grid out of a full 35 (!!) teams..... and 3rd in the family class.
The 'expert' drivers take the start and by the end of lap 1 we were in 5th having got a good start, and maintained this until the driver changes started when I moved up to 3rd. Caron rejoined in 4th, but this became 11th by the half hour mark as 'expert' teams passed her. She was driving very well for a novice and passed several back markers with ease! Only one 'moment' blotted her copybook when she spun going into hairpin 1. In her defence, this could well have been from a tap from behind by another driver, and she only lost 6 seconds and two places as a result.
I took over again at the 30 minute mark and managed to work back up to 7th by 45 minutes when a full course yellow came out. Now, I'm thinking 'what a brilliant time to do our last driver change, I'll indicate to Caron that I'm coming in.' For about four laps I'm searching the pit wall for Caron - nothing!! I'm now planning our divorce (ONLY JOKING!!) whilst Caron is deep in conversation with another man!!!
Turns out the 'competition' was an erstwhile team mate complaining of his ills, and Caron eventually appeared at the wall, helmet on and ready to take over whilst the yellow flags were still out - a marriage saved!!
She drove brilliantly for the last 11 minutes to come home 10th overall and 4th in the family class. What is really impressive though, is that we were the top placed team with a lady driver, the next being way back in 24th overall and 13th in the Family Class. How proud am I!!!
If we carry on like that, Laura will put us in the expert class next time.......
Here is a link to Laura's race report - http://www.djmotorsport.co.uk/Reports/se1rr.pdf
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