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Location	Lakeside Circuit, Thurrock
Date	01/09/2008
Cost	£95
Spaces	36
Deadline	25/08/2008
Event Information	This event has now taken place.

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Event Report

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Sunny weather greeted everyone at Lakside Raceway on Monday. A brand new venue for csma Karting and with only a few people sneaking in some practice ahead of the event, everyone was eager to get on track and get on pace.

With the normal, obscene, amount of track time compressed into a shorter schedule for the day, the early eagerness had turned into aching moans and groans by the end of the endurance in the afternoon!

With relatively low numbers, everyone was on track all at the same time. This did mean that there was plenty of close action everywhere you looked - however, it also leaves this report relatively short and one-sided as I haven't got a clue what was going on right at the sharp end!

During qualification, it was the usual suspects at the top of the time-sheets. Oli setting the pace, just breaking into the 41's bracket with a 41.936. Tony and Alan just about a 10th behind. Terry found himself lower down the order than normal having found a kart that was slow down the straights.

Race 1 followed immediately after qualification. I'm not sure how everyone else was feeling, but my arms were already about to fall off... so, this is where it all gets a little sketchy on the front end of the field as after what can only be described as an "eventful" first lap, I had been firmly bumped, pushed and bounced back to the rear-end of the field.

In fact, that first lap was pretty eventful for everyone - and I think even Oli might admit that he used a number of karts as brakes going down into the tight pit hairpin! Still, Oli was successful in making it through the field - climbing to the top spot by the end of the race and with a great lap time of 41.380, a time that wouldn't be bettered all day.

Following right on Oli's bumper was Alan W, trailing in a mere 0.19s behind at the finish. Third was taken by an on form Gary M.

A well earned 5 minute break followed the race, before it was right back to it for race 2. Another bumper car session ensued in the first lap with everyone aiming to make as many spots as possible early on. Again, having to go by the results sheet due to lack of vision from right at the back of the field! - Tony came out on top of the pack this time, with a good 7 second gap over a resurgent Terry, now in a kart that would go down the straights.

Oli was in close attendance in 3rd with Ian W in a great 4th place. Gary M suffering a slower kart and a rear of field starting place failed to make an impression in this race.

So, onto the final... I definitely shot myself in the foot by arguing for a lack of reverse grid in the final. It helped all my closest rivals in the championship, whilst putting me way at the back od the grid. Still, I think it was the only fair way to do things as reversing the grid again would have falsified the grid and overly penalised good results in the earlier qualification rounds.

The A final, however, wasn't without it's controversy. With a very close battle being fought between Terry, Alan, Oli and Tony at the front, the quartet pulled away from the rest of the field.

However, when the final standings came out, Terry was 1st, Alan 2nd and Tony 3rd. Oli was classified way down in 11th place. As the story unfolded itself, it turned out that Oli had miss read the chequered flag and had come into the pits a lap early. At the time, he was leading the race by a very small margin. What can only be described as a stewards enquiry ensued and after a group vote carried out by everyone, unfortunately for Oli, the results remained official.

A fairly sorry way to have to finish a race, especially one that appeared to be so close and exciting.

Now, I was looking forward to an hours lunch break... sadly, we were over running and therefore this actually turned out to be more like 10 mins. Pairings for the hour long afternoon endurance were devised by Allan Goddard

With everyone on different strategies as far as driver changes went, the field soon spread out over the length of the track. However, this disguised a very close battle taking place at the front of the field. At the lights, it was Alan W and Mark F who ended up victorious by a mere 0.86s over Oli W and Andy Champman. Nick B and Roger coming in 3rd. Nick rounding off a great meet with a trophy.

Overall, a great days events and a nice change of venue for everyone. Thanks to the track staff for keeping everything going and to Allan for his organisation and dedication that makes these events possible for us all.

Please take a look at the online gallery put together by Focus Digital Events Photography (see link at top of page). You can of course order prints if you see a photo you particularly like.

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