Coming up for Mid-day through the 2017 Season – what a season it’s been so far. Once again the Monday after Junes round, we sold out within an hour of the phones opening up with one team already on the reserve list.

This month we welcomed two new teams. The Heros Return – made up of father and son Ken & Stanley Jones and RHPK regular, Wayne Edwards. Ken is very well respected within RHPK, having run the series for a number of years ~2004-2008. He paved the way for a unique Pro-Karting Series – Great to have him back racing with us.

TNR Racing (64) was another brand new entry into the series. The team headed up by Matt Tucker spectated for the whole race last month. Armed with their 7Kart MK1 they were looking to make a mark in their debut race. Sam Read who previously stood in for Artifex joined the team. Richspeed Racing and JAB Racing both returned this month.

SJ Lambo is back on a new chassis after writing their old one off last month in a very unfortunate crash which resulted in a red flag. The team looked very promising in the early stages of practice.

Team Karting Magazine changed their line-up this month and looked like a brand new team.

The team Leigh Babage, Luke Cousins and Andrew Cooch are now on a 7Kart XV powered by RPM Engines. The team was looking mighty strong throughout morning practice.

The RHPK Pace car this month was Bmw e36 325i Drift Car driven by the up and coming 2016 Pro-am Drift Champion, Danny Grundy. Danny put a number of laps in before the start of the race. Before the event we held a competition for a passenger ride alongside Danny. We had over 30 entries! Darrell Lowe from SJ Lambo won the seat!

 

This month we were visited by Kelgate Kart Brakes (Rene Lubbock & Jim Benson) who sponsored the Saturday Sausage fest along with RHPK Regulars, Pelam Racing. 

Lunch was provided once again by the Polish Camp, Sausages and Burgers were available to all of our teams.

 

Qualifying

Despite the clouds early on in the morning, Qualifying was a very hot and sunny 25c. With so much at stake in the Championship at the moment, there was a real sense of anticipation this round. Qualifying was back to the normal 30 minutes, some teams choosing to set their kart up further – Polish Lambo completing no less than 41 laps!

BMH failing to add lead to their kart was a costly mistake – as it meant they started at the back of the 36 kart grid.

At the front ABA Racing put a very quick time in, which was later beat by RPM Racing. Piers from ABA responded with a mighty 41.235 to set pole. RPM 1 had to settle for 2nd with a 41.337 and Helicopter Services seemed to be back up on form with a 3rd place, 41.413.

The biggest surprise of the day was Team Karting Magazine, with their strong pace in the morning, Luke from the team managed a well deserved 4th place.

In Clubman the show was stolen by Time Crisis with a Super time of 41.837. Yet another strong qualifying time for the newly formed team. RHPK are closely monitoring…

Amigos 2 took a well deserved 2nd place in Clubman with a time of 41.952 and SJ Lambo who out qualified all of their sister teams, even the red number 8 on the 3rd spot in Clubman – 14th overall. Clubman favorites, March Racing took 4th spot on the grid and JND who looked to be struggling for pace was a little further down in 24th place.

Race

Chris McCarthy’s legendary grid walk this month speaking to our teams about their highs and lows of their qualifying positions.

Ben Bishop from ABA Racing who has been out of the seat due to an injury was back in the kart for the start of the race. As 36 Karts went into the first corner it was Helicopter Services who emerged leading after lap 1.

Highest mover on lap 1 was JND, gaining 7 places to take them up to 16th place. Polish Lambo drop 5 places on the first lap, down to 21st. Time Crisis despite losing a place to JRH remain the front runners in Clubman closely followed by Amigos 2 and SJ Lambo.

Lap 2, RPM waste no time getting past ABA for 2nd place and chase down Helicopter Services. Custom Rods taking 4th spot from Titan Motorsport – however the battle between the two teams would not end there – as they get locked in a close battle for the next 45 minutes chasing down ABA Racing for 3rd place.

Jack Goldsmith from Amigos 2 makes a move down the inside of Time Crisis on Stadium bend for the Clubman lead (10th overall) allowing GKD to follow through in some very close racing.

Time Crisis having to yield to GKD, Stephanie from SJ Lambo takes advantage and takes them down the inside for the first hairpin.

GKD hot on the tail of Amigos 2 closely followed by SJ Lambo.

APL Racing take Silverline for 22nd place and Burton Power Racing take Artifex Racing for 30th place.

Lap 5, Team Karting Magazine managed to get past HRS1 for 7th place, the position is promptly taken back on the next lap and then reversed back the following lap! They look to be on the move chasing down Team Amigos.

Burton Power Racing are slowly moving up, 26th place now after taking NMA Racing. In their 2017 return to RHPK, Richspeed Racing take Artifex for 32nd place.

As the race gets into full swing what can only be described as a rollercoaster of events for many teams. Custom Rods having to pit a little earlier than expected due to a loose steering wheel.
Team Karting Magazine who were looking so strong, having to pit earlier due to a cracked rear bumper – nothing that a number of cable ties can’t sort! Leigh goes back out for the last stint but the bumper ends up rubbing on the rear tyre – the team having to retire.

In the later stages of the race, March Racing is out front for the Clubman class, Lap 286 Polish Lambo followed closely by sister team, SJ Lambo take the lead! The lap after SJ take March for second in class.

Lap 293, disaster for March Racing as they lose a wheel bearing which completely removes them out of the running for a decent result after a lengthy pit stop.

Lap 300 – just less than 20 minutes to go until the chequered flag, RPM Racing who looked to have the race in the bag are forced to pit after losing a side pod. They get back out but in 4th place, the next 20 minutes a real push to real in Helicopter Services but they run out of time – just 2 seconds behind.

The bad luck does not stop there, with less than 10 minutes left, SJ Lambo’s throttle pedal snaps writing off their race – they were 2nd in class, Absolutely gutting for Joe, Darrell and Steph.

Titan Motorsport who have driven an absolutely flawless race taken a well-deserved win. ABA Racing who were chasing down Titan at the end but again ran out of time, come in underweight on the weighbridge – netting them a 10 lap penalty, down to 19th place.
So second goes to Helicopter Services followed closely by RPM Racing 1. Custom Rods take 4th and a real turn of pace for JRH Racing sees them taking the last spot on the podium in 5th.

Team Amigos who have not had the best of luck in their first year in Supers, finished a very well deserved 6th place, just missing out on the podium.

After a real battle in the Clubman class, the win goes to Polish Lambo, their first win of the 2017 season! The team has had a real mixed season so far, being on the pace but time after time unable to turn it into a win – as soon as their name is announced in the presentation for the win a big cheer is given to a truly unique team & family.

Time Crisis finish 2nd, a well-deserved podium place for the newly formed team. Despite their slower than normal pace, JND manages to hang onto 3rd, Amigos 2 after some great battles all the way through the field take 4th and KA Racing secure the last spot on the grid in 5th.

Two notable mentions, Artifex Racing just missing out on a podium and Team CET who look stronger each round finish in 7th – still holding their 100% race completion record.

 

Round 5 - July 2017 Qualifying

Pos	Kart	Team	Class	Laps	Best
1	3	ABA Racing	Super	17	41.235
2	17	RPM 1	Super	12	41.337
3	1	Helicopter Services	Super	21	41.413
4	10	Karting Magazine	Super	28	41.558
5	19	Titan Motorsport	Super	8	41.682
6	22	Amigos	Super	17	41.729
7	2	Custom Rods	Super	9	41.8
8	62	Time Crisis	Clubman	24	41.837
9	14	HRS 1	Super	14	41.84
10	4	JRH Racing	Super	24	41.857
11	24	Spectre Racing	Super	25	41.893
12	25	GKD Racing	Super	28	41.905
13	59	Amigos 2	Clubman	14	41.952
14	57	SJ Lambo	Clubman	39	41.98
15	53	March Racing	Clubman	22	42.052
16	32	Polish Lambo	Clubman	41	42.058
17	8	Lambo Racing	Super	30	42.121
18	7	Team JAM	Super	13	42.123
19	54	Burton Power WAGS	Clubman	24	42.141
20	36	KA Racing	Clubman	30	42.282
21	41	Artifex	Clubman	25	42.284
22	33	Silverline Racing	Clubman	36	42.338
23	31	Burton Power Racing	Clubman	16	42.345
24	55	JND Racing	Clubman	39	42.393
25	64	TNR Racing	Clubman	36	42.425
26	56	APL Racing	Clubman	26	42.463
27	35	Team CET	Clubman	11	42.568
28	34	NMA Racing	Clubman	22	42.73
29	30	JAB Racing	Clubman	38	42.803
30	58	HRS 2	Clubman	8	42.883
31	37	Pelam Racing	Clubman	31	43.032
32	46	Richspeed Racing	Clubman	31	43.091
33	67	Sticky Dickies	Clubman	34	43.382
34	63	The Heroes Return	Clubman	0
DNS	40	BMH	Clubman	0
Ex	42	Team Eyrie Also	Clubman	29	42.112

Round 5 - July 2017 Race

Pos	Kart	Name	Class	Laps	Behind	Best
1	19	Titan Motorsport	SP	341		41.531
2	1	Helicopter Services	SP	341	20.732	41.455
3	17	RPM 1	SP	341	22.916	41.378
4	2	Custom Rods	SP	339	2 Laps	41.48
5	4	JRH Racing	SP	338	3 Laps	41.826
6	22	Amigos	SP	338	3 Laps	41.713
7	14	HRS 1	SP	338	3 Laps	41.628
8	8	Lambo Racing	SP	337	4 Laps	41.907
9	32	Polish Lambo	C	336	5 Laps	42.01
10	25	GKD Racing	SP	336	5 Laps	41.772
11	62	Time Crisis	C	336	5 Laps	41.853
12	55	JND Racing	C	335	6 Laps	42.191
13	24	Spectre Racing	SP	335	6 Laps	41.894
14	59	Amigos 2	C	335	6 Laps	41.77
15	36	KA Racing	C	333	8 Laps	41.958
16	41	Artifex	C	332	9 Laps	41.986
17	35	Team CET	C	332	9 Laps	42.222
18	31	Burton Power Racing	C	332	9 Laps	42.287
19	3	ABA Racing	SP	331	10 Laps	41.451
20	7	Team JAM	SP	330	11 Laps	41.932
21	42	Team Eyrie Also	C	330	11 Laps	42.3
22	57	SJ Lambo	C	322	19 Laps	41.959
23	46	Richspeed Racing	C	322	19 Laps	42.891
24	37	Pelam Racing	C	320	21 Laps	42.742
25	64	TNR Racing	C	319	22 Laps	42.394
26	67	Sticky Dickies	C	318	23 Laps	43.023
27	53	March Racing	C	316	25 Laps	41.84
28	40	BMH	C	315	26 Laps	42.435
29	56	APL Racing	C	295	46 Laps	42.238
30	10	Karting Magazine	SP	285	56 Laps	41.63
31	54	Burton Power WAGS	C	254	87 Laps	42.407
32	34	NMA Racing	C	207	134 Laps	42.928
33	58	HRS 2	C	202	139 Laps	42.78
34	33	Silverline Racing	C	185	156 Laps	42.927
35	63	The Heroes Return	C	133	208 Laps	42.926
36	30	JAB Racing	C	79	262 Laps	42.685

 

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