Blimey, I think I fixed the RSS feed problem. If you have a newsreader or aggregator, you can click the link on the right-hand-side to subscribe to the RSS feed. Let me know in the comments if you have problems or want help.

This post is as much a test as info for you. I’ll post a comment to let you know if it works for me.

BTW, this my second post today. Don’t forget read the other one.

My karting buddy (also named Colin) and I went to Lakeside Karting Raceway again yesterday for an arrive-and-drive session (it’s ’bout time they sponsored me or gave me a discount at least). It was busy for a change, and it gave us the opportunity for some overtaking.

The circuit had mini-moto practice all afternoon, and a couple of sessions for privately owned karts. We arrived at 2pm, but they couldn’t get us on track until 3:40 and 4:40.

There were eight drivers. Some had not raced before. Most of us went out in the twin-engined Pro-Karts, but two people did the first session in single-engined Senior Karts.

I had planned to compare lap times for smooth driving and manic driving, but due to the amount of traffic I decided to just go for it and practice my overtaking. Some of the drivers used conventional racing lines and some used, let’s say, unpredictable lines.

Session 1.

I was in kart 35. I “won” the session, and posted the fastest lap. Colin (the other one) was slow for the first part of the session until he realised that one of his engines had stalled. He pitted and did about six laps on two engines. Looking at his lap-times, the second engine makes an eight second a lap difference.

I did plenty of overtaking, learned a few lessons, and most overtaking was fairly easy. The most difficult people to overtake were those using “unconventional” lines.

Lakeside Karting Raceway is a clockwise track. Scroll down their page for a photo of the track, and hold down your mouse button on the red spots for corner info.

I have to admit to a bit of illegal overtaking. I didn’t realise at the time it was illegal, but in hindsight cutting corners is probably not legal. It’s full throttle from the exit of Hairpin 2 to just after Devil’s Drop. There’s a quick right-left that you straight-line on the Back Straight and there’s not a lot of room there. I was next to a car approaching the left-right hoping they would give me room. They didn’t, so I took to the grass on their left, cutting the corner. Of course, I kept the power on and it worked fine, so I did it again with another car later.

Session 2.

I was in kart 6. Again I won the session and posted the fastest lap. Colin was second with the second fastest lap.

My favourite part of this session was overtaking six cars in half a lap. Going down the Back Straight, I could see a group of cars at Devil’s Drop. By the time I got to Arena I was right behind them. I had to slow a bit at the apex of Arena to avoid running into the back of a car, so I didn’t have to use all the track on the exit. I got a good run out of the corner anyway, and went past the first car just after the exit. I stayed in the middle of the track as I passed him so he would get held up by the next car as I passed it.

The third car to pass was center-track so I moved to the right (ahead of the two cars I just passed) to set me up on the inside of the first turn of The Complex. I normally start braking just after the apex of this turn and finish braking halfway between the start of the kerb and the apex at turn 2 (the line is shown by the cars in the photo). I passed the third car before I got to turn 1 and got up the inside of two more cars. I had to brake earlier into turn 1 so I could give the other cars room between turns 1 and 2, but by turn 2 I had passed them.

I passed the sixth car up the inside at Hairpin 1. That compramises the exit of that turn, so I defended at Hairpin 2 and was set for the full throttle half of the track.

I hope I haven’t given away too many secrets! Stay tuned for an invitation to meet at Lakeside (in Essex) for an “all welcome” session.

Two last comments - I’ve still got to solve the problem of the RSS feed not updating. Sorry about this, but I’m new to that part. Until it’s solved, you’ll have to come to the site for updates. Please tell your friends about the site.

Fisichella takes fourth 5/1000th of a second ahead of Ralph, and Heidfeld takes sixth 5/1000th of a second ahead of Button.

I think Jenson could do well again this race. His Q2 time was second quickest and he’s very smooth and consistent which helps at Turkey. My only worry is his engine, it’s its second race, and Turkey is a tough on engines.

Barrichello should be doing better, and DC too. Maybe DC is unsettled (or threatened) by the news that Webber is his team-mate next year.

So, what do I predict? Jenson will finish better than he starts if his car doesn’t die. Michael will pass Massa before or during the first pit stop. Raikkonen will pass Heidfeld and Ralph. Apart from those, the top ten will be in relative order.

Christian Albers made me laugh, sitting in the car in the pits after Q1. “Just a question, am I through or not; do I need to stay in the car or do I get out?”
His race engineer, “You are through. Position 16 always goes through.”
Albers, “I’m sorry,” nervous laughter, “I didn’t know.”

Hi all.

Thanks to Les at ik Software for sorting out some problems for me that have prevented me from posting. Those posts now appear below.

August has been a busy month so far, and I haven’t had time to do any karting or anything racing related. I’m hoping to have an arrive-and-drive session next week. Depending on what my karting buddy is doing, I’m hoping to do two sessions; one smooth and one manic, to see which gives the best times.

After that session, I’ll probably arrange an “all welcome” session. I’ll post details here so anyone reading can come along for a drive. Since the RSS feed isn’t working, you won’t know that the “all welcome ” invitation has gone up on the blog unless you come to the site. If you want me to let you know by email about the “all welcome” session, leave a comment including your email address. I will NOT publish the comment with the email address, but I will email details to you when the date is set. I won’t use your email address for any other purpose.

When I get the RSS feed working, I’ll write about how to use RSS to get notified of new posts automatically.

So, what has been keeping me so busy? I’ve been to Hever Castle for a day out (including the Jousting Tournament), Chatham Historic Dockyard with my Dad, attended one of those new-fangled Civil Partnership things, had a couple of days away for the English Heritage Festival of History event (see below), and a long weekend camping with some friends in Kent. On top of that, I’ve been working quite hard for a couple of clients. That’s all in 18 days. There are a few things going on over the next few weeks too, then we have a five-week period with only three events booked in; time for a rest - and some karting!

I’ll post later about Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix, maybe after the qualifying session on Saturday.

Hi all,

I’ve been to the biggest English Heritage event of the year today, Festival of History in Northampton.

It’s the annual big do for English Heritage, held over two days. We’ve only been for the Sunday this year due to other commitments. With over 70 events, it’s the biggest history festival of its kind in Europe.

This year, an addition to the programme is seven authentic World War 1 planes (Sopwith tri-plane, Nieuport 17 Scout, two Junkers CLIs and three SE5As). These planes took part in mock dog-fights, two of them flown by pilots in their 80s, one of which had flown in WW2 and made three kills.

Other battles included the English Civil War, The Viking Invasion at the Battle of Fulford Gate (the Brits lost), the Battle of Hastings, the Wars of The Roses, and the Spanish Civil War. There were also Romans showing combat skills and Roman Artillery.

I composed this post at the event (at the end of the day) and submitted it via mobile phone. [I added the photo later]

This event is one of the reasons that I probably won’t get any racing in in August; we’ve got a lot booked in.

BowenRacing is sponsored by ik Software at www.ik.com

There’s no F1 for the next two weeks, and no chance for karting during August. It’s a quiet month for me motorsport-wise. On the other hand, there’s so much other stuff going on for me, so I’ll be busy anyway.

I’ll post some of this other stuff if I get time.

If anyone has some motorsport news, you can post it here. Just post a comment (click comments below). The comments come to me by email first, so don’t worry if the comment doesn’t show up straight away. I then publish the comment. If it’s warranted, I’ll post it as a new installment of the blog. If you want to include your email address so I can contact you, please post it as a separate comment - I won’t post email addresses on the website, that’s why you should send it as a separate comment.

I’d also like it if you would post a comment just to say Hi.

Thanks,

Colin.

BowenRacing is sponsored by ik Software at www.ik.com

Congratulations to Jenson Button on achieving his maiden win in F1.

A perfect job from Jenson from 14th in the grid, and a perfect race tactically from Honda. Amazing!

Hi all.

Probably no top ten predictions from me for the Hungary GP, simply because I won’t have time.

I do predict the following though:
Kimi might make a few mistakes; it sounds like he’s not 100% healthy.
Jenson will be in the points, so will Michael and Fernando.

If anyone else want to make some predictions, please do so in the comments. Kaz? Anyone?