GPWizard F1 Forum
Everything Else => Events & Special Offers => Topic started by: Alianora La Canta on September 08, 2009, 11:29:12 AM
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After the success of last year's competition, I'm organising a second running of the F1 Bloggers and Friends Karting Competition (http://formula1home.com/forum/weblog_entry.php?e=830).
It's on Saturday January 16 2010, which is the Saturday evening of Autosport weekend. The start time is 6pm, so please try to arrive before 5.45pm if at all possible.
Full details can be found in the above link.
The price is £50 per karter (pay via Paypal) and Free per spectator. All entries and payment will be due by 30 November 2009 to allow plenty of time to give exact numbers. Please e-mail me at alianora. lacanta @ yahoo . co . uk (removing spaces) to enable me to invoice/confirm you.
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Hiya Ali, I'm sure I'll be able to scrape some money together for this event. :good:
Neil.P
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I'll be there...let's see if we can come up with some ideas for a bit of socializing before and/or after. Last year a few of us went for a beer at the bar about 20m away...good fun. A few also met for a bite beforehand by Newstreet...also nice to chat and plan race strategy ;) . Anyone who wants to do that would be welcome. Being based in Switzerland I would prefer if someone else suggest the eating venue, but I suggested to Ali that if anyone is going to the show on Saturday, maybe we could meet 4:30-5pm somewhere near Teamworks for a quick energy boost. Last year I went to Autosport on Sunday which worked better for me since I arrived on Saturday (and my EasyJet flight was 3hrs late).
This year I think I'll try to sneak away on Friday and come back Monday so I'm not so stressed for the race. I'll be staying at the Newstreet Ibis Hotel.
I hope a lot of you guys come...although the small turnout last year meant we had more kart time.
PS - I never saw any breathalizers, so although they might boot you for being obviously drunk, you could probably have a beer with lunch.
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I'm gonna have to come up with a plan so I can fit a couple more beers in after the race Scotty. :good:
Neil.P
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Get Slugger to drive :D
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You fancy a beer with me too Neil, I'm gonna get my head down and go for it this time.
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You bet Ian, it's been long overdue mate :good:
Neil.P
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Too true, I'm looking forward to it mate. :yahoo:
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Flight booked - check
Hotels booked - check
Autosport show booked - check
Waiting for Ali's invoice
asked wife - oops, oh well, I'm going anyhow.
See you guys there. Can't wait.
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I like your style Scotty. :good:
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16 stone weight restriction :o
That's me beat :'( Unless I can get some training in to lose two stone??
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I would definitely have come again and driven this time but unfortunately this is the day after my wife's birthday and I have a feeling we may be elsewhere (skiing maybe).
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Looks like I will probably make it now :)
Is anyone else going or just Neil, Scott, Ian and Ali??
Your link isn't working btw Ali.
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Scott - Are you coming over on the Friday? What day are you going to the show?
Neil & Ian - Are you going to the show as well?
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Slugs, how are you mate, afraid I can't make it now, fridge and hoover have died on me so there goes my cash. :'(
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Come on Ian...get your priorities straight...get a broom and some ice and get karting! :D
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Scott - Are you coming over on the Friday? What day are you going to the show?
Neil & Ian - Are you going to the show as well?
I'm coming in on Friday afternoon. Booked the show for Sunday. Out again on Monday.
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I'll let you tell the missus to sweep the house with a broom Scotty. :DD
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So is it down to 3 plus maybe me?? lol
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My blog has gone down :( so I've had to move stuff over to the wiki (http://alianoralacanta.wik.is/La_Canta_Magnifico_Blog/2nd_F1_Bloggers_and_Friends_Karting_Competition). The trouble is that I don't have an original copy of the original entry and must therefore try to remember what went in there. If I've forgotten anything important or you have any questions, please ask.
As for who's going, I've only got four people confirmed so far (myself, Andy, Scott and Patrick) because I'm only confirming people when they've paid after last year's difficulties. May I assume that Neil and Slugger would like invoices so that they can follow suit?
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I'm coming Ali, I'll PM my e-mail over to you :good:
Neil.P
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The karting wiki is empty of entrants...just a reminder anyone who is coming needs to sign up pretty soon (I don't want to win just because nobody else shows up) :tease: :tease
Ali, are any of the sidepodcast people coming? We haven't heard from Steven Roy for ages - is he coming again? Mr. Me, Andy, Stuart? If any of you belong to other F1 forums, and want to spread the word, even if you can't make it, please do. It would be much more fun to have more people this time.
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Mr Me is undecided - several people at Sidepodcast are helping me try to persuade him.
Andy is coming (he's one of the three four confirmed so far).
I don't know if Stuart is coming yet.
If you want to spread the word, please do :)
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I've asked Stuart who came along with me last year. He's moving house next month, so can't commit himself at the moment for some reason :DntKnw: ::)
Neil.P
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Wiz? I thought you said you were coming this year...c'mon sign up. You might be more of a draw than me, Neil and Ali. :tease: :tease:
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Don't Panic! I will be there with a bag of sweets for the winner. Personally I like liquorice Allsorts, so I'll think I'll get them. :tease:
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It's not about you being there with sweets...it's about you being there with gloves on your hands and a helmet on your head. :P
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I'm racing (I mean winning ;-) )
Ali - I'll PM you with an email address for the invoice.
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I'm racing (I mean winning ;-) )
The first mention of sweets and look who shows up! :DD
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Ask for lighter trophies Ali, I almost went over my luggage allowance last time. :P :P
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Ask for lighter trophies Ali, I almost went over my luggage allowance last time. :P :P
Don't worry Scott you won't be taking anything back with you this time >:D
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I'm racing (I mean winning ;-) )
The first mention of sweets and look who shows up! :DD
Just make sure you get sugar free ones. They do them in Boots :D
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Wizzo, I like liquorice allsorts too :)
Scott, unfortunately I don't get to pick the trophies - the organisers provide those. Please ensure there is enough luggage space for you to haul one out of the country, should you perform the way you did last year ;)
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Invoice received and paid.
Hotel booked. Scott, Kathy is coming to watch the karting and go out for some drinks too. We are booked in to the same hotel as you :)
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Cool. Will I have to sit on your lap while Kath drives us back in your little two-seater?
Just kidding - we can drink around the BullRing - the place is crawling with bars.
:P :P
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You think we're leaving the little two seater out for the night in Birmingham? :nono: :DD
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You think we're leaving the little two seater out for the night in Birmingham? :nono: :DD
Don't blame you...we should take taxis.
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We'll be coming up in our little chugga bug. Then I think we should get taxis to the karting and back. We can then stagger to and from the drinking :)
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I'm looking forward to checking out what it's like to ride in Neil's car.
http://www.autosport-international.com/public/caterham (http://www.autosport-international.com/public/caterham)
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I had a go in one of those a few years back at the Auto show, well worth the experience but quite expensive for the amount of time you're in the car.
Got a vid somewhere? :DntKnw:
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That'll be a blast Scott. What time are you arriving on Saturday?
I think Ali has got a couple of spaces available for the karting if anybody knows somebody who can come along. I'm trying to get a couple of people interested but they are being far too miserable at the moment.
Neil.P
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I come in on Friday actually - late afternoon. Staying at the Ibis Bullring.
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OK, I might be getting the train up, I'll probably try get there mid afternoon on the Saturday. See you then :good:
Neil.P
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I have spaces available, but pleased be quick - two of the three spaces are reserved pending payment.
I'll be coming down to the karting for around 5:30pm because I'm going to be busy helping family out before that. I'm getting a lift over there from Dad.
Note: if you have got a place or are about to get a place, I will be sending an additional e-mail to you in the next few days. Please do not panic - it will just be an e-card with some important information, including a contact number if you get stranded in the snow or something on race day.
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Houston, we may have a problem.
The karting has been moved to 7:30pm due to a large event being in the way of the original start time. If this is a problem to anyone, please PM or e-mail me.
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No problem - hey everyone - let's meet for dinner somewhere first! Open to suggestions, but if we go to the same place as last year (Slugger or Neil can help me with the name), we should make a reservation because they only have small tables and it might be hard to get a couple together.
Oh yeah, and if someone wants to drive me to the NEC fairly early on Sunday morning, I'm taking offers (I'm staying at the airport hotel Sunday night, so I need to drag along my luggage, and with that bloody heavy trophy in it, I'm sure it will be a hassle :tease: ).
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We'll probably have to book a table for about 5.00 to make sure we leave by 6.50
I'm guessing we need to be at the karting place for about 7.00?
5.00 is rather early for me but I'll have to manage I guess. I'm not sure if the place we met last time will take a booking as it was a bit "pubby" but I'll try and find the name again and check. Otherwise there are plenty of other options.
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Ok, I'm pretty sure last time we met at The Green Room http://www.greenroomcafebar.co.uk/
Looks good enough anyway even if it's not the one and they take bookings.
If we can agree numbers and a time I'll sort out a reservation.
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Yeah, that's it, and they do take reservations, so we need to sort out how many will make it for 5-ish.
I just booked it for 5pm 8 people...not sure that many will make it at that time.
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Lol no messing. Well there's two of us plus you so only 5 to find :-)
I bet Neil can make it for 5 ;-)
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Neil, Wizzo, Mrs Wiz (?), Ali should be in town by 5:30pm with her Dad, so that makes 8 assuming they want to size up the competition before karting. Maybe Wiz can even convince Ian to sneak out of the house for the night. David can book a last minute flight in from Ireland for a little less than a hundred quid round trip with RyanAir http://www.bookryanair.com , so I could see a real party happening if people just get their priorities straight! Not sure where John S and Williamsfan are located, but c'mon, England isn't like flying across Canada, is it? :P :P
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I'll will be bringing up Neil and Deano so that makes another 3 (5 in total). As Scott says ALL are welcome even if you're not racing, dare I say it (gulp!) the first drink is on the Wizzo! :'( :D
Seriously if any members can make it then we would love to see you, just let us know you're coming.
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You're bringing Neil? Lol how did he swing that one?
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Ah you know what he's like, I could put up with the begging but once he started sobbing I cracked and gave in. :D
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Ah you know what he's like, I could put up with the begging but once he started sobbing I cracked and gave in. :D
Yeah he's good at the old sobbing trick is our Neil.
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We'll probably have to book a table for about 5.00 to make sure we leave by 6.50
I'm guessing we need to be at the karting place for about 7.00? {Slugger - 9 posts ago}
Slugger, I'm telling everyone to be there for 7:30pm - the safety briefing will be some point between 7:40pm and 8:00pm, but by giving everyone 7:30pm, hopefully people will arrive in the right amount of time to be ready. I'd prefer not to make the event start later than I have to.
Full details are on my wiki (http://alianoralacanta.wik.is/La_Canta_Magnifico_Blog/2nd_F1_Bloggers_and_Friends_Karting_Competition) and I've also e-mailed all the karters.
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Neil, Wizzo, Mrs Wiz (?), Ali should be in town by 5:30pm with her Dad, so that makes 8 assuming they want to size up the competition before karting. {Scotty - 6 posts ago}
Sorry, but I'm unlikely to be in the area at that time because I'm reliant on transport from Dad and therefore going to be going straight to the venue for somewhere between 7:00pm and 7:20pm. I don't think I'd be able to persuade him to turn up earlier to go for a meal.
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I'll will be bringing up Neil and Deano so that makes another 3 (5 in total). As Scott says ALL are welcome even if you're not racing, dare I say it (gulp!) the first drink is on the Wizzo! {Wizzo - 6 posts ago}
Would you like me to e-mail the other karters so that they're aware of what's going on?
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I may have found someone to join you at the Green Room. One of our fellow karters has asked about food and drink options in the area...
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For me the more, the merrier. We might have to send them away during the strategy session (kidding).
Who's coming Ali? Are some from sidepodcast joining us again? Steven Roy? That Andy guy?
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OK change of plan, Neil is travelling up by train because I am spending the day at the Autosport show trying to keep Deano off the glamour girls there.
If possible it would be worth putting together some sort of time table so people would know roughly where to find us at anytime. Just a thought.
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Make sure you get some snaps of the girls, er I mean cars wiz. See you lot on Saturday.
Neil.P :D
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OK change of plan, Neil is travelling up by train because I am spending the day at the Autosport show trying to keep Deano off the glamour girls there.
If possible it would be worth putting together some sort of time table so people would know roughly where to find us at anytime. Just a thought.
I'm just going to be hanging out at the Bullring and area taking in the sites of beautiful downtown Birmingham while trying not to get drunk...anyone who is around before 5pm can leave a message at the hotel that they are around and I'll call them when I check for messages - fairly often. I'll pm my mobile to you guys, but be warned if you call it, you're calling a Swiss number, so it's better to text me.
Who's Deano? :DntKnw: :DntKnw:
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One of the Wizzo clan
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I thought it was just Mr., Mrs and Toby...
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Who's coming Ali? Are some from sidepodcast joining us again? Steven Roy? That Andy guy? {ScottyD - 6 posts}
For confidentiality reasons, I'd prefer not to name names, but I can confirm some people from Sidepodcast will be coming.
Steven Roy hasn't told me he's coming, but it's now possible to last-minute book through Teamworks' site (via the 16/01/2010, 20:00), so I cannot definitively rule him out until the competition starts.
I'm not sure which Andy you are referring to - it doesn't help that the bloke who runs the trackside operations is called Andy as well as at least one of the commenters at Sidepodcast...
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Just to let you all know I'm away from early tomorrow morning so those of you that have my number, call or text me if you want to get hold of me :)
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Have a great time, Slugger!
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I'm at the Bullring at my hotel, and since the crummy wireless doesn't make it to my room, I'm stuck using this useless TV internet. Anyone who makes it earlier than 5pm tomorrow to the area can text me, and we'll meet up.
Anyone who's going to 'Autosport tomorrow - hope you enjoy it and have some tips for me on what to avoid. Anyone who's going on Sunday, I'll be there the whole day and watching the live show at 12:30pm.
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Hope you all have a great weekend. :yahoo:
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Yes guys, have a great weekend. :good: :good:
Next year I hope to have the funds to be there myself, and to have lost the two stone required to compete in the karting. ;)
I can't complain about not getting away as I was at a conference in Whittlebury Hall just beside Silverstone this week. I managed to have a few pints in a rather interesting F1 themed bar in the hotel. They had some real nice memorabilia to look at while you supped your Fosters. Well what else would you drink in an F1 bar??
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Everyone have a good time and enjoy
the racing
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Well we sure had a good night.
It was superb to finally put some faces to names and have a good chat. The karting venue was good and very well organised (www.teamworkskarting.com (http://www.teamworkskarting.com)). I had never driven an electric kart before and have to say I was mighty impressed although being an indoor track I thought it was a little more slippery than good old fashioned tarmac.
Seventeen drivers were at the event, with GPWizard being represented by myself, Ali, Slugger, Scott, Neil and Deano. Each driver had to race in 5 heats from various randomly picked grid positions and the top 8 drivers were entered into the Grand Final. The races came fast and hard with little time to rest before you were being pushed to the limit again. ALL GPWizard drivers were excellent and upheld the honor of the site despite some VERY tough competition.
After the heats were run the top 8 drivers were chosen with 3 making it from GPWizard, Slugger, myself and Neil. It was a 12 lap race with the competition at its highest level of the night.
The Grand Final Results (I won't name the other drivers for data protection reasons ::))
Start Positions Finish Positions
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. Slugger 3.
4. Wizzo 4. Slugger
5. 5.
6. 6. Neil
7. Neil 7. Wizzo
8. 8.
A solid performance from Slugger :D, a poor one for me :( and a very good race for Neil who pipped me on the last lap and who now for his efforts faces a two week ban :DD.
Seriously it was an excellent night of racing and it was great to meet everyone, a BIG thank you goes out to ALi and here Dad for organising the entire event and I hope to see you again real soon. Lets hope a few more members can make it next time even if its only for a beer.
Well done guys. :good:
Please feel free to add your comments and post your pictures.
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Two week ban ::)
Well done to Ali for organising, and increasing the numbers on last year :good:
Neil.P
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It wasn't near as good as last year...mainly because I didn't win. But I didn't just not win, I didn't even make it into the final heat. A little bad luck, a few mistakes, and some serious competition, not the least of which were my GPWiz teammates.
It was also great to meet Wizzo and Deano, and of course to see Ali, Neil, Slugger and his wife again. Too bad Wizzo and Deano couldn't stick around for a few drinks afterwards.
As usual, despite the frightening sight of Birmingham nightlife, it was a great weekend - but I'll be glad to be home tomorrow.
The Autosport Show on the other hand was a disappointment. The live show was quite lame this year, the F1 car display was poorly laid out (terrible for taking photos - you couldn't even see the back of the Brawn unless you pretended to stand in line for autographs and used a telephoto lens). There was no Red Bull or Mercedes F1 gear to be found. There also wasn't an RC car race setup like last year, nor RC stuff to buy (had that on my shopping list). One highlight was being a passenger in a drifting Caterham 7, which I thoroughly enjoyed (Wiz, I told you Sunday was quieter - I only had to wait 10 minutes in line). The crowd waiting to hear/see Button was growing way too large already 30min before he was due to arrive, so I gave that a pass.
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Well done all you competitors, a big thumbs up to Slugger for being the highest placed GPwizard team member. :good: :yahoo:
Commiserations to all you others Ali, Scott, Neil, Deano..... and especially Mad Max Mosley -'It's my series I'll ban anyone who gets in me way' (otherwise known as Wizzo). :DD :DD :DD
Good to see Scott will be able to take some extra gifts for the kids in his luggage instead of a weighty trophy. ;)
Drifting in a Caterham 7 sounds cool Scott, although I think our poor banned chum Neil may know more than most about that as he will have a fortnight in which to practice his. :D
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Next year I hope to have the funds to be there myself, and to have lost the two stone required to compete in the karting. {David - 5 posts from end of page 5}
I look forward to seeing you then :)
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Everyone have a good time and enjoy
the racing {dare - 4 posts ago}
I enjoyed organising the event, though I didn't enjoy the actual karting bit much because I felt like I was having to second-guess the kart all the time (not a problem I had last year). I ended up holding the wooden spoon, not only in the GP Wizard section but coming 22nd and last overall. Even my less-experienced brother beat me by 1 point, with a fastest lap 0.12 seconds better than mine.
What made things really strange was that Dad reckoned I was sliding better this year. I still can't find this mythical "third setting" between on and off, though. I only spun twice and the second of those was assisted by someone hitting me from behind (which in turn was probably related to the fact that I was speeding up again after having a conversation with a marshall about pedal techniques).
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I aim to be there Ali and I look forward to meeting you and the rest of the gang. :good:
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Seriously it was an excellent night of racing and it was great to meet everyone, a BIG thank you goes out to ALi and here Dad for organising the entire event and I hope to see you again real soon. {Wizzo - 3 posts from end of page 5}
Thank you very much. It was great to see you, Deano, Scotty, Slugger and Neil. I was surprised how good the standard was and the response was good.
So good that I'm now hoping to set up a summer karting event in addition to this one (which is definitely going to be an annual competition). So you may see me again sooner than you think...
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Well done to Ali for organising, and increasing the numbers on last year {Neil - 2 comments from end of page 5}
You're welcome. Maybe we can get even more people racing next year? :)
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Hey Wizzo, how did you come up with 17 competitors?
(...just trying to get my 11th place look a little better)
There were 22...
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Um... ...some of them mixed in better with the group than others?