250 Superkart Race Report Oran Park 8th November
Oran Park was shaping as a good day out for the twins
with a six karts on the grid for the day. Sam Zavaglia was backing up from
just missing out on a national title in SA the weekend prior and the day was
also seeing the return of two of the NSW clubs favourite sons Rami Viitanen
and big George Koutros.
Qualifying
I really only got a couple of good laps in for qualifying as the old tires on the back were finding my driving a little wanting, I drove in thinking, well that should be enough to keep me in front of the 125’s on the grid but that’s about it. As it turns out I had put the 1800 Bumper machine on the front row alongside Sam Zavaglia. The second row was filled with Sam Rose in third and Rami Viitanen in fourth, the next two spots were filled with Mike Wayne and big George who was having a heap of trouble with a new seat that was giving him heaps of trouble.
Race One
It was over pretty fast for me in race one, I got a nice
little tour of the track from the front row for the first time before being
jumped by every twin on the grid bar big George who was feeling the pinch
with his seating arrangement when the flag fell. I was dirty at myself for
letting it slip as Sam drove off into the distance. I was tucked in behind
Rami for the first couple of corners when Pelly stuck his 125 into the mix
going over the bridge. I took Pelly down the straight and that’s when
patience and experience ran out. I tried to go deep under brakes on Rami and
the back end just locked up putting me in the dirt. I had grabbed the clutch
but the sand was to deep and the back just spun. After a lap and a half I
got it out and restarted but that was it for me and it was ruled a DNF due
to lack of laps. Up front Sam had run away with first and the Rami and Sam
Rose had a good old dog fight for second with Rami eventually taking second
from Sam Rose with Big George coming home fourth after Mike Wayne found his
rear axle moving under him and retired.
Race two
There was no big George on the grid for race two due to problems with his seat that were deemed to bad to go on.
I was at the rear of the grid behind all the max guys, I don’t think there is anything more scary for both parties than a much faster gear box kart carving the Max karts while they are trying to have their own race. Thankfully the Hyper guys had the mirrors and some of the NSW guys were running HRT items. This makes life so much easier for everyone as you feel a lot more confident that the blokes are going to see you as you approach.
I had a really good start and Mike Wayne was still behind me as we cleared the traffic on lap one and got down to business. I have a heap of respect for Mike as a driver and during the race was waiting for him to pull up along side but it never happened. Instead I had a pretty quiet race trying to haul in the front runners.
Up front it was Sam Zavaglia again entertaining the crowd
and flag marshals with some fantastic driving in the Stockman Yamaha. Second
was once again Rami who was looking like he had never been away. I managed
to come home 3rd for the twins and 4th outright with
Mike coming home just behind me and Sam Rose in 5th.
Race three
This one saw Mike Wayne put it away due to on going problems with the karts rear end so this meant only four of us fronting up for the race. I got a great start thanks to some good advise from Jeff Reed in the pits. I managed to sit in behind Rami for the first lap but as we came onto the straight I knew it was over as the micron died. It is the first sign of a dead battery when it won’t turn on again. I managed to go around for two laps before I lost the fuel pump and it died. Sam Zavaglia had taken the win and Rami had run a clear second with myself and Sam Rose getting sideline seats.
Race four is my best race to date as I had to come from up the back of the grid again with Sam Rose right there as well. I managed to get a great start and got all of the Max guys before turn two. I followed Memhet in his 125 into turn three and got a new respect for the guy as I witnessed his kart move in about six different directions in the one corner. As I got past Mem I managed to chase down Pelly over the first lap and then set about trying to haul in Rami. I really didn’t think I would be able to do it but close to the end I got him under brakes at the end of the straight . Rami then went straight back under me again and we had a drag race to turn three with nothing in it between the Yamaha and the Honda. Lucky for me I had the line and Rami being hard but fair gave me room and I got the position. Up front Sam was Sam and I got home in 2nd ahead of Rami in 3rd and Sam Rose in 4th.
Overall the days went to Sam Zavaglia for Stockman Superkarts, second was Rami Viitanen for Lombo concrete and third was yours truly Jason Laker for 1800 BUMPER.
Well done to Sam and Rami.
I would like to thank the NSW Super kart club and all the guys that came from interstate to the meeting to make it such a great day out. I would like to give a special mention to Wayne and Shauna who are working really hard for all of us in NSW Superkarting and Clint for all his work on the day.
Jason Laker
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