Catch that Pikey!
November 2009
With the championship battle getting more intense between Auditing Armageddon and the KOKS, the pressure was really on going into the penultimate round of the season. While Auditing Armageddon inched into the lead with a 5 point advantage over their sole rivals, Team Pikey Racing scored an emotional first Intermediate win.After incurring a penalty in practice, The Pikey’s started at the back of the 35 kart grid as did Rum racing. Auditing Armageddon took the pole ahead of MoFoCo with the KOKS looking strong on the inside line in third. Drive Fast Don’t Crash were well up in fourth but still breaking in a new driver were unlikely to remain there for long.
Pole sitter Doug Fidler was not confident of holding on to the lead prior to the race.
“I’m surprised because I struggled with traffic a bit at the start but then got a few clear laps towards the end which was nice. I’m not sure I’ll hold the lead but we’ll wait and see.”
As the Union Jack flag fell, Auditing Armageddon slithered their way into the lead from pole with MoFoCo following suit. The Bored KOKS had a dismal start with Andy Davies going off on the first lap. A second off in his first stint would leave the team with a mountain to climb to get back in touch with their rivals. Doug Findlay from the Pikey’s made a brilliant start from the back and managed to avoid any first lap carnage to come round in 18th place. Auditing’s Doug Fidler was back after a log break away and admitted to struggling to maintain his race pace especially in the back marker department.
The KOKS’Andy Davies admitted that he was pushing too hard and gave his views of his two early race incidents.
“I lost it at the beginning because I didn’t take into account the cold tyres through Café curve. The second one I think I got taken out but I’m not sure. There wasn’t much I could do about that but the first one at Café was my fault because I just didn’t want to lose touch with Auditing and MoFoCo. We never like to make things easy for ourselves but if things stay as they are we’re still looking good.”
MoFoCo and Teamcraft were again looking to have good pace and were definite contenders for the win if they could stay out of trouble. The Pikey’s were making great progress after their penalty and were rapidly working their way towards the front. By half distance they were challenging for a podium position.
It hadn’t rained since the morning races and the track would slowly dry throughout the day but the greasy surface caught many drivers out. By half distance, Teamcraft were looking like the team to beat and were enjoying a great dice with the Pikey’s and Auditing Armageddon, who were driving sensibly for points. Their rivals, the KOKS, were fighting their way through the field but not looking like challenging for a podium.
A solid middle phase of the race by Jon Buck had put Auditing Armageddon back in the lead and comfortably ahead of the KOKS who were not doing their championship hopes any good. Despite at least two spins, MoFoCo were looking in good shape for a podium finish.
Despite being once again overseen by the newly crowned Clubman champions, Alpha Kenny Body were struggling out on circuit. Darren Price:
“We struggled a little bit in qualifying but I managed to avoid three accidents on the first lap and got us up to about sixth or seventh but then when I was overtaking Drive Fast Don’t Crash into the hairpin, I gave them loads of room but he was on the inside with no grip, T-boned me a took me out. It was a racing accident but that’s made things very difficult for us.”
After a good qualifying, Lucid Initiatives again suffered during the race. An injury from his team mate in practice meant Paul Martin had to do the entire race on his own. Rum Racing were another of the rapid teams out of luck again. Team captain Pat Nicholls admitted to not having great pace in the damp conditions and left them relegated to the mid field.
Gaucho Productions were again showing a good turn of speed and were quietly getting on with the job. Despite an unfortunate incident with a yellow flag, Allistair Weaver was happy with his team’s race pace.
“We qualified well down which was very disappointing but I had a mega first session and at one point we were actually leading because I think a few people fell off. I really enjoyed the mixed conditions and was able to quite aggressive but unfortunately I was following someone quite closely and they panicked when the yellow came out, slammed on the brakes and I hit them and got a black flag. It was a bit unlucky but fair enough I suppose.”
After a brilliant last fuel stop, Teamcraft had a comfortable 7 second cushion over the Pikey’s and 10 over Auditing Armageddon, who had a bizarre incident in the pits when they stumbled upon and kart being pushed on a trolley that blocking their way. Rumours of any involvement by the KOKS in this incident are purely tabloid slander!
Painfully, with only 8 laps remaining, Teamcraft spun at the bottom of Symes sweep while attempting to avoid another incident, ending their dream of a win yet again. This left the Pikey’s a surprised first. So surprised were they in fact Chris Kent did another full lap because he didn’t believe the chequered flag was being waved for him!
The Pikey’s Doug Findlay was almost speechless after the race after what was a truly brilliant performance from this popular team.
“Cuffed to bits. Absolutely chuffed to bits. We had the race of our lives today. We started on the back row of the grid and came in first place; I can’t believe it. Brilliant.”
Chris Kent was just as astonished.
“I though we were fighting for third and I knew Auditing Armageddon were behind us. When the chequered flag came out I thought we must be a lap down because I didn’t think it could be for me so I did one more racing lap just to make sure. I can’t believe it. Amazing.”
It’s just as well Club100 don’t award prize money otherwise Team Pikey Racing would have to be paid in travellers cheques…
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