Test Day - Phillip Island - 6th May 2006
Well this is the first time I'm taking MR2-90 for drive. I've driven 1000klms (620miles) from Sydney to get to Phillip Island and use it as a test day for Round 1 of the National Titles 2 weeks later. The track was damp in the first session, whilst it was still good for slick tyres, most corners had rivers running through them and so this would be a good session just to ensure all the "new" kart preparation is working fine.
The second session is actually a "Race" held by the Victorian Superkart Club. Their timing wasn't working in the first session and so I was asked to start from grid position 4. This is a "dry track" so I'll be able to see how MR2-90 is performing. Within 50 metres from the standing start I was in position 1 with an opening lap time in 1:37, next lap was a 1:34.88, half way through lap 3 the MXL dashboard displayed a predicted time in 1:33, but the Honda crankshaft lost one of it's weights and was never to be. I couldn't help myself but completely strip the engine down at the track. The back wheels had completely locked up within 0.6 sec at 13,000RPM (according to the datalogger) and I'm now out for the rest of the weekend. A very long way to go for only 2.5 fast laps and no real chassis/engine testing as I planned.
So, what should I do for the 2006 National Titles once I get home???? Should I take a chance and fix the new kart, or bring out what I know so well....the "Old Faithful" Laguna Seca kart.
Photos Courtesy of Trace O'Rourke Photography
