The last club event of the year was held at East Hull Wheels/Fast Track. But with a difference. After the loss of BUMPS, a deal had been agreed which would see us race at Fast Track at a very competitive price, in fact for little more than what we were originally paying at BUMPS. It was initially intended to start from next October (the start of the next academic year), but we decided to try and give the format a test run this year. And so, gone were the high prices we had paid to race here on our first 2 visits.

The race was dependant on a good turnout, something which has not happened very often this year. Realistically, we would need 15 drivers in order to make this work, and for a long time it looked like this would not be happening. But with some hardcore recruiting, we had an unthinkable 19 on the day. For the second race running (the first being the Old Boys Race), the amount of drivers had actually exceeded expected expectations. Conversely, the last time before the Old Boys Race where we had a sign-up listed that wouldn’t be regarded as disappointing was the first Inter-Uni race in November.

The format was relatively simple, but also sounded like a very good one on the surface. The drivers were split into 2 even groups (one of 10, the other of 9) in terms of ability. The top 5 from each race would go into the A Final, with the rest making up the B Final. Each of the 4 races would entail 5 minutes qualification followed by a 15 minute race. That was the plan anyway.

And thankfully, the stupid chicane on the start/finish straight had been re-profiled in such a way it was now possible to go flat out through it. Thank god for that. The track was now a lot better.

HEAT 1

The first heat would see Mark, Tom S, Sam Firth, Mike and Tom B joined by newcomers Dan, Ben, Roaul and Phil. Those not taking part looked on with great interest, could there be an upset, or would the expected 5 make it through to the A Final?  As expected Mark took pole, but Sam Firth and Tom Buxton put in great performances to qualify 2^nd and 3^rd. Tom S could only manage 4^th, but the big shock was Mike languishing in 8^th, behind 3 of the newcomers.

The green flag fell and Mark quickly stole a march on the rest of the field and scampered off into the distance. Behind him, a very exciting 3-way battle between Sam, Tom S and Tom B ensued, with Tom B taking 2^nd from Sam, although Tom S would eventually pass them both to take 2^nd. But even so, he was made to work. When Tom S overtook Tom B going into Turn 7, a piece of opportunistic driving from Sam saw him nearly re-pass both of them, and only just failing to do so.

Further back, Dan and Ben both put in sterling performances on their first HUGS outing, initially keeping close to the battle for 2^nd which raged in front of them, and for a long time it looked as if a recovering Mike would have to make do with a place in the B Final. Mike did eventually pass both of them, but nonetheless it was an impressive start. Roaul and Phil also did well, keeping the kart facing the right direction and not in the barriers. As such, yellow flags were relatively minimal.

Sam did eventually find a way past Tom B into 3^rd place, but it was Mark who took a dominant win ahead of Tom S, with Mike completing the Top 5.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the sheet with the race/laptimes from this race. If someone has got it, do let me know

1. Mark Foley
2. Tom Smith
3. Sam Firth
4. Tom Buxton
5. Mike Miller
6. Dan Reynolds
7. Ben Rea
8. Roaul Louw
9. Phil Shelley

HEAT 2

The second heat saw Josh, Jon, Marcus and Liam take to the track. They would be joined by Paul, Adam and Roger, who are all capable of making the A Final, and newcomers Gaz, Tom W and Laurel. Qualifying proved to be tricky, especially due to Laurel’s kart picking up a puncture at Turn 3, and the marshals taking their sweet time to remove the stricken kart. In fact, some drivers probably didn’t get a clear lap in, as the yellow flags waved persistently. The karts waited to be gridded up, but were instead told to return to the pits, so the kart could be fully removed. After what seemed to be an age, the karts lined up on the grid, with Marcus on pole, Liam 2^nd, Josh 3^rd (despite being initially told he was on pole) and Jon 4^th. I can’t remember what it was after that. But as everyone prepared for the start, Tom W’s kart also picked up a puncture. With no other spare karts, everyone was forced to wait for the kart to have the tyre replaced. Which took 3 of them an absolute age. Never mind how many (insert whatever here) does it take to change a light bulb, how about how many Fast Track marshals does it take to change a wheel? And how long?

Problems solved, the race finally got underway. Josh made a poor start and dropped to 4^th, as Marcus held onto the lead, with Jon looking to find a way past Liam in 2^nd. He did manage it, and set about catching Marcus, whilst Josh also attempted to pass Liam. When Liam ran into the back of the lapped Gaz at the exit of the hairpin, Josh dived up the inside going into Turn 9.

There were more yellow flags in this heat, but were being caused by the more experienced drivers, as Jon’s attempt to race Marcus into the single-file chicane was never a good idea, and he ended up facing the wrong way on the exit, elevating Josh up into 2^nd place. Paul also found himself buried in the tyres on the exit of Turn 9, bringing out another yellow.

Jon was racing his way back through the field, in order to avoid ending up in the B Final. He passed Roger and Adam, getting back into 4^th, setting the fastest lap of the day in the process, but would run out of time, and that was where he would stay. Marcus won (despite the timing screen telling otherwise), from Josh, from Liam, from Jon, from Adam, who would make the A Final.

1. Marcus Stuttard
2. Josh Overhill
3. Liam Lau
4. Jon Beagles
5. Adam Hibberd
6. Roger Palmer
7. Paul Hutton
8. Gaz Lockwood
9. Tom Wilkinson
10. Laurel Deegan

With it now known who would be in the A Final and who would be in the B Final, we could now proceed with those races. Well, that was the theory. The extortionate amount of time lost was not given back, in what was a major black mark against the marshals. It meant that the finals would be reduced to a 7-minute or so dash to the flag. They also made a hash of who was meant to be in each final, with Marcus down for the B (though this was due to a bug in the timing), and Roger and Paul would also start in the wrong places – Roger should have been 2^nd and Paul 4^th, not the other way round as was the case.

B FINAL

Dan made a good start to hold the lead into the first corner, but was soon under attack from Paul, who took a somewhat bizarre wide line going into Turn 3. Everyone filtered through the first few corners facing the right way. Paul took the lead on Lap 2, whilst the yellows were deployed as Ben found himself buried in the tyres on the exit of Turn 9.

Paul’s lead did not last for long, as he slammed into the wall going into Turn 1 on the 3^rd lap, and the closely following Dan clattered into him, but was able to recover before Paul could and re-took the lead. Paul held onto 2^nd, and stayed in close proximity but with the race so short, did not get a chance to attempt to re-take the lead. Victory was Dan’s, with Paul 2^nd, and Roger 3^rd.

1. Dan Reynolds
2. Paul Hutton
3. Roger Palmer
4. Roaul Louw
5. Gaz Lockwood
6. Ben Rea
7. Tom Wilkinson
8. Laurel Deegan
9. Phil Shelley

A FINAL

The drivers were lined up in accordance with where they finished in their heat, so the two winners filled the front row, with Mark in front of Marcus, due to the former having set a quicker lap in the heat. Josh took 3^rd ahead of Tom S and Liam. Did the drivers get a sense of déjà vu on the grid? If not, they probably should have done. This was exactly the same top 5 that lined up in the iron man here in February, in exactly the same order.

The green flag waved, and just like that race in February, Josh got off to an absolute flyer to beat Marcus off the line and take 2^nd going into the first corner. But Josh’s kart’s brakes decided this would be an apt time to give out, and would soon have major problems slowing into the hairpin in Turn 8. As Mark sneaked away, Josh had his work cut out defending from Marcus. Marcus dived through going into Turn 8, but slid wide allowing Josh to re-take the place. Marcus was at it again a couple of laps later, but just as it looked as if he had 2^nd nailed on, Josh dived up the inside going into Turn 10, and Tom took the same line and was also past. Marcus then subsequently spun at the chicane, dropping to the back.

Further back, Jon was recovering from his lowly grid position to run 5^th after Marcus’s spin, his attempt to pass Liam went awry, and a piece of excellent opportunistic driving from Sam saw him grab the place instead. Marcus would recover to 8^th, having overtaken Mike and Adam.

As Mark had the race won, Josh was hanging onto 2^nd by a string, as the brakes were causing trouble going into the hairpin, but despite a couple of hairy moments and some aggressive defensive driving (I admit), would just hold onto 2^nd. Liam was 4^th, and Sam Firth in 5^th after the 6^th-placed Jon was unable to find a way back through. Tom Buxton finished 7^th after a very strong days work.

1. Mark Foley
2. Josh Overhill
3. Tom Smith
4. Liam Lau
5. Sam Firth
6. Jon Beagles
7. Tom Buxton
8. Marcus Stuttard
9. Adam Hibberd
10. Mike Miller

Despite the loss of track time, all in all, a successful way to end the year’s club programme, with just the Inter-Uni race at Teesside left. This deal with Fast Track will be great for next year, so it was great to try it out this year. What an absolute shot in the arm for next year’s exec.

Fastest laps are on the track guide page (East Hull Wheels). I know some of you may have gone quicker, but these times are from the sheets I have.