Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Chat about Formula 1, V8's, Indycar etc
Forum rules
Please be careful about posting results in threads discussing current sporting events.

Where possible can the first person to start a thread on an event add *spoilers included* (or similar) to the thread title so that all discussion on the event is kept in one place and readers are aware that the content may contain the results.

User avatar
Speed
Posts: 1603
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:14 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Speed »

Umm yeah!!! I don't know whether it's just because I'm in a good place in life or what, but dirt karting for me is one of the best things I've ever done..
It has a really good fun, family environment and heaps of helpful people. Much better fun than bitumen karting which seemed super clicky and everyone kept their distance in case you found out one of their secrets.
And whats not to love about going flat stick, fully sideways in a race kart in a controlled environment.

Thanks. :D
http://500px.com/Warren_Joyce" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Speed
Posts: 1603
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:14 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Speed »

I haven’t reported on how Emjay and I have been travelling for a while so this will probably be a bit long winded.

After my shit run at the state championships last year, (my worst meeting of the year), I’ve been lucky enough to string together a series of good results.
I finished in 2nd place at the first open race meeting after the states, followed by a couple of club day meeting 1st places which enabled me to secure the club championship and the most successful first year driver at one of Australia’s biggest clubs so I was pretty rapt with that.
Dirt karting is having a bit of a purple patch at the moment and our smallest field all year was 14 drivers with an average field of over 18.

I started this year with another meeting win but quickly followed that with a pretty nasty crash when I tried to pass a driver who had run wide but as it was on a decreasing radius corner he cut down on me. I hadn’t raced the guy before and he has a glass eye on one side and very poor peripheral vision on the other. So in my first 11 months of racing I’ve had a broken arm and then this….hopefully my injuries are now totally out of the way.
Hand 1.jpg
Hand 2.jpg

The Dirt Karting addiction has totally bitten and we have bought a Toyota Coaster and new trailer in anticipation of heading to Adelaide for the national championships in October and then up to Alice Springs for the Master’s Games the following week.

IMG_9496.jpg
IMG_9497.jpg
IMG_9499.jpg


We just ran the biggest meeting in WA other than our State Championships at which I had a bit of a mixed bag of results.
I was pleased to qualify 6th out of 19, Michelle quallied 5th. I got a great start in heat 1 but received a tap and my engine cut out and I restarted in 19th with a sizeable gap to 18th. I managed to get back to about 12th but it killed my points. Had an average race 2 but an awesome race 3 so I ended day 1 in 8th.
Started the lucky dog race in 2nd and finished in 2nd right on Joey Chalmers' , (Australia #1), clacker which I was really pleased with.
Started the dead man final in 8th and finished 4th which I was stoked with but I ended up getting disqualified because I stupidly came in 1 kilo underweight. I knew I was close on weight but pretty surprised to actually be under. Lesson learnt.
I’m just glad that I hadn’t come 3rd. I would be pretty upset to throw away a podium in one of WA’s most prestigious meetings.
Michelle DNFed the first race with a broken coil wire and had a varied range of results in the heats.
She started the final in 12th and worked her way up to 7th but got cleaned up in the very last corner of the race and DNFed. The guy that hit her DNFed also and was seriously apologetic…that’s racin’.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
http://500px.com/Warren_Joyce" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Speed
Posts: 1603
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:14 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Speed »

Emjay
Emjay.jpg
My new ride.
Frankman.jpg
The Love Bus boudoir
IMG_9503.jpg
The puppy helping me test the porta loo.
IMG_9475.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
http://500px.com/Warren_Joyce" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
pixelboy
Posts: 8063
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 4:07 pm
Location: Shitney

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by pixelboy »

That's awesome Speed.. Except for the mashed hand.. I'm very jealous!
eek
User avatar
NeilPearson
Prize Winning ARSE
Posts: 7278
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 11:31 pm
Location: Neil'sville
Contact:

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by NeilPearson »

awesome stuff!
pab
Posts: 2486
Joined: Mon Jan 03, 2005 11:40 pm

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by pab »

Speed wrote:The Dirt Karting addiction has totally bitten and we have bought a Toyota Coaster and new trailer in anticipation of heading to Adelaide for the national championships in October and then up to Alice Springs for the Master’s Games the following week.
Fantastic, hopefully will be able to catch up with you at some stage at Kadina!
PB
Radioactive Race Engineering #16 / Lightning Karts KT100s #61
User avatar
Speed
Posts: 1603
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:14 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Speed »

pab wrote:
Fantastic, hopefully will be able to catch up with you at some stage at Kadina!
Would be great to catch up. We're staying at a house in Kadina for the week.
http://500px.com/Warren_Joyce" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Speed
Posts: 1603
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:14 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Speed »



I had a pretty average day at DTKC at the Twilight meeting. Got collected and escorted off the track and into a ditch in heat 1 with two of us trying to avoid a spin and the both of us requiring the same piece of race track.

Heat 2, spun at the race start after just brushing the kart in front of me who had fouled a plug....must have been a couple of mm in it I reckon.

Spun again in heat 4, all by myself after touching the windrow and whilst holding a decent lead. When you're having a bad day you might as well compound it. :)

At least I had fun in the final and pulled a couple of decent passes. It's always nice to finish on a high.
http://500px.com/Warren_Joyce" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Righteous
Master artist
Master artist
Posts: 5235
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2005 10:52 am
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Righteous »

Man that looks like fun!
pab
Posts: 2486
Joined: Mon Jan 03, 2005 11:40 pm

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by pab »

Nice! That looks a bloody quick track for dirt!
PB
Radioactive Race Engineering #16 / Lightning Karts KT100s #61
User avatar
Speed
Posts: 1603
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:14 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Speed »

It is massive fun.
You know what they say, "A bad day at karts is better than a good day at work anytime.....or day with my brother's miserable fuckin' wife". :D
http://500px.com/Warren_Joyce" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Speed
Posts: 1603
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:14 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Speed »

pab wrote:Nice! That looks a bloody quick track for dirt!
It is a pretty quick track and is great for presenting overtaking opportunities.
The wide angle lens would add to the sensation of speed but in all honesty it feels to me, pretty similar to the actual speed....but that’s probably just because I’m an old bastard.

by the way the #48 kart in the previous video is my wife Emjay who is a go karting superstar (or was on bitumen 16 years ago :) ), and leaves many a young boy in tears. :)
She has taken a little while to get used to racing on dirt but she’s getting the hang of it now and has had a few race wins.

We’re having a really lucky run of late, (I’ve been fortunate enough to win my last 3 race meetings), and we’re heading to Alice Springs in a couple of weeks for the NT titles....lots to organize. :yikes:
While we obviously want to go as well as we can we’re mainly going for the experience and for practice for the Master’s Games in October.
Australia #1 and #2 in our class will both be there so they will give us both a thrashing I’m sure.

Our rig which neither of us can still believe is actually ours. Image

Introducing the core “Engineering” team here at Joyce Motor Sport….from left to right, the very unable mechanic: Mario Dodgy-Bros, the ever angry and extreme bully, team owner: Steele Testosterone, the….erm….enthusiastic driver known only as the operator of the Love Bus and the usually drunken hanger on/mascot, Dopey Pants. Image
http://500px.com/Warren_Joyce" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
KNAPPO
Master artist
Master artist
Posts: 10311
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 1:26 am
Location: North of the dog fence, Adelaide.

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by KNAPPO »

That team photo is fantastic.
Life is hard...but, life is harder when you're dumb.
User avatar
VTRacing
Team Pedant (c)
Posts: 4651
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:14 am

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by VTRacing »

Really cool that you're getting out and about in the Love Bus. Some of my best memories of rallies are from the trips there and back.

And that team pic is excellent. :)
:teach:
User avatar
NeilPearson
Prize Winning ARSE
Posts: 7278
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 11:31 pm
Location: Neil'sville
Contact:

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by NeilPearson »

awesome photo Speed! Good luck at the NT Titles!
User avatar
Speed
Posts: 1603
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:14 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Speed »

Thanks guys.....Road trips are the best. :)
http://500px.com/Warren_Joyce" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Speed
Posts: 1603
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:14 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Speed »

Got back from Alice late Friday but I’ve been pretty crook since so I’ve hardly moved since then.

The trip itself was amazing and the fact that we tagged along with some experienced campaigners was a bonus.

We took 4.5 days to cover the 3,600 kms choosing to park up each day at around 5:00ish and whip out the chainsaw to build a bonfire, have a drink and bullshit on. The amount of roadkill and the fact that one of our friends who was driving through the night and sustained some pretty decent damage from one, confirmed that our decision was the correct one.

The bus was overall pretty good on the way there, I once had it up to 130k’s when someone that I was passing decided that they didn’t want me to pass and accelerated once I was alongside. Fuckin’ tosser.
On the way home it was a different story with the ECU putting us into limp mode about 10 times. The engine seemed to be doing it easy and the temperature was fine. It did always happen while going up hills or into a headwind although I wouldn’t have had the accelerator pedal even halfway pressed. I’m having a service done next week so hopefully that will shed some light on my problem.

Our racing on the other hand was pretty woeful. I finished 6th, Emjay 9th…there were only 9 in our field. I found the track much trickier than I expected and I also couldn’t get a handle on my setup. We only got 5 laps practice in either direction and it probably didn’t help that all the other competitors in our class have raced there multiple times…..Excuses, excuses. :)
At least now we have had a run on the track which will hopefully help when we return in October.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
http://500px.com/Warren_Joyce" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Speed
Posts: 1603
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:14 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Speed »

32 Nominations for 125 lights tomorrow.....hopefully the weather gods are on our side. :)
http://500px.com/Warren_Joyce" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Speed
Posts: 1603
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:14 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Speed »

We had a pretty decent day. The meeting ended up getting rained out again for the upmfteen time this year. We can't race in the rain because it destroys the track, the gear and you run out of vision very quickly.
So our 4th heat ended up being our final.....we lined up on points instead of having an A and B main because we knew it was going to happen.

It started raining in the race before our final and continued during our race so it was a quagmire. I finished in 3rd and Emjay in 4th out of 31 so we're pretty pleased.
Craig McIntyre won with Josh Walton right on his clacker. A 20 metre gap back to me because I couldn't stay with the fat boys in the slick. :)
Of course everything is exceedingly filthy. :(
http://500px.com/Warren_Joyce" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
MADCAP
Posts: 484
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:33 am
Location: Adelaide, SA

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by MADCAP »

Well done - this Dirt stuff I have only seen at Wayville Show Grounds and always though it was sic, gotta come to a round in SA to see you lads race
+ Current Ride 2016 Ducati 959 Panigale + 2016 TONY KART 401 X30 IAME + Santa Cruz Bronson V3 CC X01 +
pab
Posts: 2486
Joined: Mon Jan 03, 2005 11:40 pm

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by pab »

MADCAP wrote:Well done - this Dirt stuff I have only seen at Wayville Show Grounds and always though it was sic, gotta come to a round in SA to see you lads race
October long weekend is the National Titles at Kadina, I'll post here which day(s) I'm planning to go and we'll see if we can get a bit of a group along to have a look and cheer Speed and Emjay along?
PB
Radioactive Race Engineering #16 / Lightning Karts KT100s #61
User avatar
Enforcer-J
Posts: 6512
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:16 pm
Location: right on your A.R.S.E.

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Enforcer-J »

I'll head up there for a looksee. 20 karts in KT medium there this weekend! Makes me miss racing a bit i used to get bundled in with the lights because there was only 3 of us some weekends :/
User avatar
Speed
Posts: 1603
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:14 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Speed »

MADCAP wrote:Well done - this Dirt stuff I have only seen at Wayville Show Grounds and always though it was sic, gotta come to a round in SA to see you lads race
Thanks :yes:
Dirt karts is pretty different to bitumen. It can still be serious if you want it to be but it is more casual overall, most people share information and it's very family oriented.
If I was younger I'd probably go back to bitumen but for where I am now dirt is more fun for me.
pab wrote:October long weekend is the National Titles at Kadina, I'll post here which day(s) I'm planning to go and we'll see if we can get a bit of a group along to have a look and cheer Speed and Emjay along?
We're looking forward to it. We'll hopefully be camping at the track, we cancelled the accommodation we had booked, since we bought the bus. :)
Enforcer-J wrote:I'll head up there for a looksee. 20 karts in KT medium there this weekend! Makes me miss racing a bit i used to get bundled in with the lights because there was only 3 of us some weekends :/
We're in the debatebly "fortunate" position in the West where we only have 3 AIDKA clubs in the state so our meetings are always pretty well supported. We often have an oversubscribed field in 125 light.
Because you guys have so many clubs you have multiple meetings on every weekend and it spreads you all a bit thin.....the variety of tracks would be awesome though.
http://500px.com/Warren_Joyce" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Enforcer-J
Posts: 6512
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:16 pm
Location: right on your A.R.S.E.

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Enforcer-J »

How far apart are your tracks over there? A lot of guys only ever race at their home meetings here apart from the full dedicated (and cashed up) guys who race every weekend. Kadina is too fast for my liking, its hard to overtake with very little braking so you need to be pretty aggressive on the starts ;)
User avatar
Speed
Posts: 1603
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:14 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Any Dirt Track Kart Drivers among us?

Post by Speed »

Our local is 20 minutes away, the other two tracks are each 220kms in different directions. We race every opportunity....5 meetings in the next 3 weeks. :)
Two of them are separate meetings at the same track on the same weekend so that people can get the signatures required for eligibility to run the states.

I'm not expecting to do anything super amazing at Kadina but I am hoping to hold my own in Alice the week after. :)
http://500px.com/Warren_Joyce" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Post Reply