Kihikihi King Country Superstock Champs 10/12/06

After the disappointment of not racing at Waikaraka on saturday due to the bad weather we decided to haul the 53a car down to Kihikihi for their club champs. We had not been able to test the engine after putting a fix in place for the camshaft oil leak problem so it was a concern traveling so far incase the problem wasn't sorted. With this however going to be our last meeting for a short time we couldn't pass up the opportunity.

Oh unfortunately no photos this week, it was just too dusty to risk using the camera.

Before the meeting started I think there were 16 Superstocks ready for racing representing a few clubs. Its good to see people willing to travel so far to help support another club, and congratulations to 33p for taken out the champs. Unfortunately for us the trip didn't have the outcome we had expected.

Because of our previous visits to Kihikihi and knowing how rutted the track becomes we increase the ride height of the car. Then we tightened the car up as it was way to loose at Huntly and corners at Kihikihi feel even tighter. This would mean the car wouldn't turn into the corners as easy, but the rear end wouldn't step out of line as easy either.

Race 1.
Starting off from Grid 5, I made a slow start making sure the new shifter was working fine and engaged top gear properly. Once I was happy it was down on the gas and off we went. Coming out of the first corner I put my bumper on the inside of the (69r?) car ahead of me and started to push him sideways, but looking my mirrors I weighed what could happen next and came off the gas. Down the straight and it was apparent everyone had a push on heading into the corners. I got past a couple of cars and headed towards the 51a and (someone else), I got good drive out of the pit bend and ended up having much more speed at the end of the straight leaving me no choice but to use 51a as a brake. With the slippery track I held the car and got past them both a couple of laps went by and I caught up to the 5h car once again with more speed entering the corner. Unfortunately I hit him to far into the corner and end up half spining myself. I grabbed the shifter and hooked second gear, but do you think I could get top gear again! I took a breath and tried again got the gear and pulled back onto the track. But by that time I had cruised around the infield and lost over half a lap. So I pulled back out on the track with the 69r car up ahead. With only a couple of laps left I pushed hard, all the time watching the rev counter around the corners keeping it above 5000rpm. I was catching him quickly enough to possibly make the pass before the race end but I went into the second to last corner to fast and over cooked it.

Never mind, the car went really well so I was happy anyway. I flicked on the water sprayer to start the engine cooling process and the temperature quickly fell from 110 to around 90 by the time I exited the track. Back in the pits we checked for oil leaks but all was looking good. The day was looking good.

Race 2.
It was easy to tell from half way through the day that the Kihikihi track was turning into its normal dust bowl and beginning to rut up. The water truck was gently spraying some water on the track, but going the wrong way around the track which was very bizarre. Starting near the end of the grid for race two. For some reason everyone must have forgotten how to grid up or no one even bothered to read the grid board when driving out onto the track as it seemed to take forever. The heat and all the waiting got to much for a couple of the cars and they had to pull off.
For me, the race was over much quicker than the time spent waiting to start. The flag dropped and we headed up the front straight, I turned the wheel, hit a rut, the car hit the ground and I watched my front right coil spring fly off up into the air. That was the end of my race and I was left sitting on grass watching.

Race 3.
Sitting in the queue ready to head out onto the track all the drivers were told to be careful of a large hole appearing in the track on the pit bend. Once out onto the track I thought, I wonder which one he was talking about. The track looked like a scale model of the Himalayan mountain range with a gapping hole which could have been a home for a Sarlacc Beast. I started from the back of the grid and decided I'd take it easy heading around turn one for the first time and see if the cars ahead would make a mistake first. I went around the bend carefully missing the beast, dumped the accelerator but one of its tentacles must have got me as the car fell down another rut and hit the ground violently breaking the rear shock this time dumping the car onto the ground and I had to pull off. Needless to say I was rather annoyed. I have not had this sort of failure at all over the past couple of seasons.

So sitting on the infield yet again having to watch the racing. The pack roared down the front straight and the 24h car hit the hole, picking the car up and shooting it towards the wall. It must have broken the diff links as he soon pulled off the track. A bit later I saw daylight under the 33r and 11a car as they flew out of the hole. By the end of the race everyone was driving across the grass to miss the hole! I even saw one car pass another on the inside and both cars were on the infield! Hang on, what's up with that? At any other track those cars/drivers should have disqualified or something for driving on the grass. But the track was such rubbish that I guess the officials decided that it was acceptable. This is the track that is to hold the North Island Superstock Champs over two days in February. They need to get their act together and work out how to prepare a decent track because that one just didn't hold together.

I delayed writing this update to be more polite as I do like traveling to Kihikihi and racing during the day. I have been there a few times now with both my own car and the 73a machine. Hopefully some of the Kihikihi cars are able to travel up to Auckland in future.

Catch ya......MadPhil