ProKart Newsletter December 2011 by Ian McMah

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

TORQUE IT UP: FROM THE EDITOR The final event of the 2011 ProKart Championship Series has now been ‘run and won’ as they say, and teams are already preparing for their 2012 series campaigns. ProKart continued to evolve in 2011 with many new introductions and enhancements to the series including new exhausts (improving performance and ultimately reliability) and automated safety lights from Track Safety International. Kudos to the entire ProKart team. There are many team and individual achievements from 2011 that deserve widespread recognition, none more so than the “Lifetime Achievement Award” presented to Garry Taylor by Series Director Tony Pullen at ProKart’s recent awards dinner. Garry is widely loved and respected in the ProKart series and its success is in-part due to Garry’s unwavering commitment, efforts and tenacity. When presenting the award, Tony made a heart-felt speech regarding Garry’s association with ProKart and his personal pride in being able to consider Garry a friend. It is a demonstration of the respect and affection for Garry that when the award was presented, Garry received a standing ovation from the well-attended dinner and continued receiving accolades from his friends and peers well into the night. Ultimately, whilst winning is about getting a multitude of intrinsic facets absolutely right on the day, none of it is important or enjoyable without the people involved. Garry Taylor; you are an inspiration to us all and I am sure I speak on behalf of all ProKart competitors when I say it’s a privilege to know you. Ian McMah

ProKart ProKart Magazine

ProKart’s annual awards dinner carried a ‘red and black’ theme; albeit most people didn’t raid their local McDonald’s looking for a hair-do! Here we see KnK’s Scott Pearce and Greg Robertson stage-bound to accept their “Best Presented” award (with team mate Dustin Pocock off camera)… clearly the award wasn’t for their dress sense on the evening!

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine Photo by Ian McMah

ProKart ProKart Magazine

TORQUE’N TOUGH •

A number of teams were sporting Bluetooth based pit-to-kart communication systems in the latter part of this year. Removing the need for troublesome wiring, switches and plugs (and onboard batteries), these systems are proving popular with many teams.

•

As reported last issue, it seems the Frogs have the goods when it comes to muffler reliability, having now done over 100 hours on their existing mufflers. Alan Bilsborough, has devised a series of supports and clamps that he has made available to all ProKart teams for a modest fee. You’ll find Alan at the track or on Facebook!

•

A number of teams are considering new chassis options in 2012, including PDS Racing, Team5150R and Frog Racing.

•

At least 3 new teams and up to 2 more are already confirmed as additions to the 2012 ProKart championship in Qld. Most new teams have already purchased existing equipment from current front-running teams and a number of new teams will be seen from the KnK stable.

•

Dion Scott; Bell Pipes racer and chassis constructor extraordinaire has announced that he will be semi-retiring in 2011. From the moment he made the announcement at the awards dinner, bets were being placed on how quickly he’d return!

Issue 14: December 2011

“He’s smokin’” And indeed he was, but as they say “where there’s smoke…” Morale of the story? Make sure your seat insert (if you use one) is not made of or covered with flammable material...

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

Adam Clark Racing is proud to announce that they are now an agent for X treme racing, and to celebrate are offering 20% off retail to all new or current ProKart teams wanting to upgrade their look. (* conditions apply) So if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to improve the presentation and professionalism of your team, contact Adam at Adam Clark Racing on 0412 291 364

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

RACE REPORT: QLD / NSW Round 8: Raleigh

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Round 8 of the Track Safety International ProKart Championship Series was the final round in both the Queensland and New South Wales Championships, with both still undecided as teams’ took to the grid for Saturday’s 6-hour race. Ultimately however it was the Phantom Racing team of Steve Thompson and Simon Ham who dominated—pole position, race win and fastest lap. They were untouchable all weekend...

Photo by Ian McMah 11

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

REPORT: Raleigh Phantom menace the opposition at season finale Raleigh International Raceway is widely regarded as one of the toughest tests of equipment and competitors in Australian karting and it proved to be so yet again in the final round(s) of the Queensland and New South Wales ProKart Endurance Championships. A number of teams went into this race with a very real chance of clinching the series titles. In Queensland, Phantom Racing led the #50 kart of Team5150R by a scant 4-points; which equated to less than 1 on-track position. Whoever was in front of the other at the end of the 6-hour race would be the series champion. Similarly in the New South Wales Championship, KW Racing held a lead over Horsepower Racing and Bell Pipes Racing; with several other teams holding a slender but mathematically possible chance of a series win if circumstances went their way. With high-temperatures and a lack of recent racing at the venue, the Raleigh circuit offered little grip early in practice, however most were discombobulated to find Phantom Racing almost a second ahead of second placed Team5150R; who themselves were several tenths of the third fastest kart in practice. Qualifying was held over a ten-minute session at the end of the 2 hour and only practice session and track space was at a premium as all karts endeavoured to outpace the other.

ProKart ProKart Magazine

At the end of the 10 minutes it was an all-Queensland front row; Phantom Racingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Simon Ham (pictured below) taking a commanding pole-position from the #50 Team5150R entry driven by Ian McMah in this session. With 4-points separating these teams in the championship it was clear both were giving everything they had to secure the series win. The race started at 10am and it was Steve Thompson who took the #152 kart of Phantom Racing to an immediate lead. Pitting at the end of the lap, Steve was an otherwise insignificant 2 kph over the pitlane speed limit and the team ultimately had to serve a drive-through penalty for the infringement; costing them valuable track position.

Photo by Ian McMah

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

With a number of front-running teams pitting early, current national series champions KW Racing led the race from the 777 kart of Horsepower Racing. The second KW Racing entry moved into the lead on lap 8 as the front qualifying pair of Phantom Racing and Team5150R fought their way back towards the front after pitting early in the hope of a safety car. On lap 26 the #50 kart of Team5150R had a stub axle shear with Ian McMah at the wheel, the LHF wheel literally flying off the kart and putting him into the tyre barrier on the exit of the ‘flip-flop’. This brought out the race’s first safety car and effectively negating the time lost by some teams in stopping early, as well as partly overcoming the earlier penalty suffered by Phantom Racing.

Photo by Ian McMah

ProKart ProKart Magazine

As the race continued it became apparent that barring any failure, the event would be contested primarily by Phantom Racing, the 777 entry of Horsepower Racing and both the #86 and #3 karts of KW Racing, with these teams exchanging the lead depending on their strategy and it wasn’t until the final stages of the race that Phantom moved a lap into the lead— a lead they would retain until the finish. Ultimately though it was Simon Ham and Steve Thompson in the 152 Phantom Racing MS Kart who took a dominant win from HorsePower Racing (777), KW Racing (3), Bell Pipes Racing (23) and the 661 entry from PDS Racing. Rounding out the Top 10 were Walkos Racing (21), Civic (42), KW Racing (86), Bang Bros Racing (7) and Sam Racing (19). With their emphatic victory, Phantom Racing won the Queensland Championship in style and in finishing 3rd, the #3 entry of KW Racing clinched the NSW Championship; capping off a remarkable season in which they finished on the podium in all-but-one of the NSW and National rounds. The 2012 ProKart championships will commence at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway in February next year. - Ian McMah

Photo by Ian McMah

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine Photo by Ian McMah

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Photo by Ian McMah

ProKart ProKart Magazine

2Photo 0 by Ian McMah

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Photo by Ian McMah23

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Photo by Ian McMah

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Photo by Ian McMah

ProKart ProKart Magazine Photo by Ian McMah

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

3Photo 0 by Ian McMah

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

3Photo 2 by Ian McMah

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

ProKart ProKart Magazine Photo by Ian McMah

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

WHAT HAPPENED? Team5150R’s Glenn Firth and Ian McMah headed into the final round of the Qld (and NSW) Championship at Raleigh International Raceway only 4 points behind series’ leaders Phantom Racing. Their sense of optimism was only heightened after qualifying on the front row beside Phantom, both teams looking forward to what they hoped would be a race to the finish and ultimately the championship. It was a short lived competition however, as around 40 minutes into the event Team5150R’s Ian McMah headed into Raleigh’s infamous ‘flip-flop’ at full speed, only to have the LHF axle shear from the stub (pictured below), sending the wheel flying and the #50 kart into the opposing tyre wall at speed. The picture on the left illustrates the forces involved; the yellow ‘target’ highlighting where the wheel and axle departed and the wheel shown some distance away. As the wheel careered towards its final resting place it flew across the front of PDS Racing driver Mark Johnson, who remarked that it only just missed him as he entered the full-speed LH turn at “100mph” corner. Their championship efforts literally in pieces, Team5150R regrouped to rejoin the race 14 laps down; ultimately retaining sufficient positions and points to retain 2nd overall in the Championship. Whilst the team was immensely disappointed, they learned a valuable lesson on the “lifing” of components and have vowed to return faster and stronger again in 2012.

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Photo by by Ian Ian McMah McMah Photo

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

They are the team to beat in Queensland and after the final combined series round at Raleigh, it seems they are currently the team to beat in any ProKart Endurance Championship. We talk in detail with the 2011 Queensland ProKart Series Champions: Phantom Racing

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

Phantom Racing are currently the team to beat in the Queensland series. Devastatingly quick, exceptionally reliable and remarkably consistent and efficient, this team has progressed year-on-year since their full-time entry into the series several seasons ago to now be widely regarded as one of the benchmark teams in the ProKart Australian Endurance Championship. Not long after their utterly dominant performance and 2012 Queensland Championship victory, ProKart caught up with Phantom Racing’s Simon Ham and Steve Thompson. IMc: Congratulations Simon and Steve on winning the 2012 Queensland Championship. Can you tell me how you feel now you’ve won the title? SH: To be honest, a little surprised given that a year ago we were watching teams like you (Ed: Team5150R), PDS and most of the NSW teams and thinking we had a way to go. I am proud of what we have achieved as a team and particularly proud of how Steve has developed given his relative ‘Newbie’ status in racing and the fact that he is a big unit with a weight disadvantage as a consequence. There is more to come from him! ST: Amazed, shocked, I didn’t think we would do it especially after a few unfortunate incidents during the year at Gympie and Warwick. IMc: Given how close the championship was prior to the final round, how did you feel prior to the event? SH: Good question! My confidence levels for winning the QLD championship went through a number of stages and it all stems back to our chassis getting bent at Gympie which closed the championship right up. The next round at Warwick we were on a brand new MS chassis and for some reason it was a handful – at that stage I knew the championship win was going to be a struggle.

Photo by Ian McMah

ProKart ProKart Magazine

SH: (continued) Thankfully we had a national race at Albury before the last QLD round because that gave us a chance to try and get the chassis more balanced and with the long drive from Brissy my thinking hat went on. When we arrived at Albury we made a couple of minor tweeks to the set up and the new chassis was all of a sudden close to the performance of the old one – that left me feeling we had a kart we could fight for the championship with. Naturally I wasn’t satisfied with that so between Albury and Raleigh I did a lot more thinking and decided on another minor set-up tweek which we did in the Phantom workshop the weekend prior to Raleigh. Our test day for that set-up change was the Friday practice before the Raleigh race. Before going we had checked the laptimes for the previous year to give us a guide on what we were aiming for, that was a 54.2. We figured things might be quicker with the new power pipes, perhaps 0.5 secs??? So, on Friday afternoon we arrived at the circuit and did some test runs. We worked out the best tyre pressures on old tyres for our chassis but made no changes to the set-up, we saw high 53’s on old tyres. So how did I feel before we hit the track on Saturday at Raleigh??? Confident we had the pace to win the championship, but very wary of the great McMah strategists which time and again perform some miracle bringing them to the front from nowhere. I certainly didn’t think we had it in the bag! ST: Dubious, this year I’ve had good race days and bad, and I only hoped it was going to be a good day. I also had a sore head trying my best to come up with a strategy that help give us the advantage. (But sadly I blew that by speeding in the pits after the first lap, whoops.)

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Photo by Ian McMah

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine IMc: Can you tell me how Phantom Racing started? SH: There were a few reasons for starting Phantom Racing: Steve and myself were good friends in the UK and had both moved to Brisbane within 6 months of each other – as two single men (at the time, just one now) we fancied doing something exciting and challenging together to get us out and about and meeting people; Our first year in Australia was consumed with waaaayyy too much partying and drinking and we figured there was a better way to waste our money; After a year of living here and not racing I was getting really twitchy – Racing had been a part of my life for quite a long time and I was missing it – that needed to change! ST: Two good friends with too much money and time and a passion for driving and in desperate need of finding an excuse to save our livers. Simon used to race in the UK and was keen to start again, so Steve stepped up to the challenge and Phantom was born. As for the name Phantom, we wanted a name that meant something, so we turned to the internet and used a Scrabble word calculator and plugged both our last names (Ham and Thompson) into it. It churned out a lot of randomness but Phantom was the name we choose. IMc: What made you choose the MS Kart? Our choice for MS was driven by a number of factors.I figured if we got what everybody else was using we could only hope to do as well as everybody else so I figured we’d go with something less popular (Admittedly Phil from Resisales also had an MS at the time). Most of the Chassis that were popular over here I had never heard of and those that I had were not popular in Europe so I knew nothing about them. MS karts I know from Europe and they are available in Australia For as long as I have been racing MS has always featured as one of the best prokarts in Europe so they should be OK, the other competitive karts in Europe over the past 5-10 years being the Wright R2 and 7 kart which I had used in the UK. Strangely I had never had an MS kart before!

From racing in the UK I had made friends with the MS works development team which I hoped would feed me useful set-up guidance – it turns out that because the GX200’s are heavier than the GX160’s their guidance was wrong! But they are very good at keeping me up to date with development modifications for the chassis so still worth knowing.

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

IMc: Simon, I know you’ve had previous ProKart experience in the UK. Can you tell us how your experiences in the UK compare with racing in Australia, and what the key differences are between the championships? SH: Generally it is very similar and to me the biggest and best thing about it is the close community around endurance racing. It’s the same the world over so it seems and I like that. I also like the fact that both here and in the UK the spirit of prokarting is a low cost standard equipment approach to racing which makes it affordable as motorsport goes and opens it up to a wider group of people to participate in. There are a few differences between racing in the UK and Australia, I guess the key ones are:

• •

• • •

•

Typically bigger grids in the UK although we are getting close with some of our races here.... I’m sure we can match them soon! Honda GX160 engines with 3 or 4 approved preparers who modify the components of the engine that cause variability in performance due to poor manufacturing tolerances in the GX engines – modifications are to strict tolerances (remember they are mass produced engines built to low-ish tolerance specifications as standard) for a fixed price. Engines are unsealed and you are free to maintain / replace parts that are prone to fail and / or cause performance loss as you see fit (Valves, valve springs, valve retainers, piston’s and piston rings). Because there are no seals on the engines there is post race scrutineering after every race, normally the top 3 + two randomly selected teams. You have no idea which item will be checked so you cannot cheat and if you do you will get caught. The teams are responsible for grabbing their tools, taking them to the pit and taking the required part for testing off in front of the scrutineer for checking, it takes no more than 15-20 mins during which time all those not being scrutineered pack up. Tyres – Bridgestone YDS tyres are the norm for the main endurance racing series – the guys in the UK prefer them to Dunlop SL1’s for consistency and durability. Personally I have come to quite like the Dunlop SL1’s since I have been racing here – they’re different but work just fine! Fuelling in the UK is very different, you have to work as a team to make the fuel stop quick because it forms part of the race. There are no traffic lights or fixed time for fuelling over there. There are obviously safety measures in place to protect competitors and fuelling marshalls. This does mean you can lose or gain time in a fuel stop depending on how the team performs in the pits – you could liken it to an F1 tyre change, stop in a controlled manner, do what you have to do quickly as a team and carry on! Slip up’s cost track position. I miss that, think it really adds to the team aspect and the racing. Minimum weight – its 180Kg in Europe – in reality it’s much the same as here, it’s just our GX200 engines weigh more than the GX160’s. Waaay less pitstops in the UK, in fact, the only pitstops in the UK are for fuel, if you are going to change drivers in the UK you do it when you fuel. Fuel tank sizes are limited to 7.5 litres in the UK which will do around 1hr50 on a GX160. So driver stints tend to be 1hr50 at a time. Driver changes – for a 6hr in the UK the rules simply say you must have a min. Of two drivers and both drivers must drive – longest stint I ever did was 5hrs 40 stopping only for fuel – 2nd driver did the last 20 mins. Has to be said at the end of the stint I may have been sprinting towards the toilet! Rain, Rain, Rain.... but strangely the hottest and coldest races in the UK were not dissimilar to the hottest and coldest here – I really wish our 24hr would move to a warmer time of year here, I’ve turned soft!

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Photo by Ian McMah

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

IMc: What’s the significance (if any) of the number 152 that you use as your race number? A: Like the name Phantom, we wanted something that meant something and both being engineers, we’re not that creative, so we just added both our birth years together and got 152. It also turned out that if you add all the digits of 152 together, you get 8 which is a lucky number in Asian cultures so we thought we would give it a go and see if it bought us some luck! IMc: What were your ambitions heading in to 2011? A: Win, Win, Win, I guess, but at least do better than our first seasons effort of fifth in the Queensland Championship. IMc: What were the highlights of your championship winning season? ST: I guess my biggest highlight is the way my driving has progressed. When I first started, I was getting overtake left right and centre, but now I can put up a fight and hold my own out on the track. Our first win in Nanango was brilliant as well; we had worked so hard for the last two years to get a win, but just never seemed to get there. SH: I guess that last race at Raleigh has got to be the highlight, nobody was more shocked than us at the pace we had plus it secured the QLD championship for us..... Sorry Ian! Other highlights would have been winning our first race at Nanango – it was our least favourite circuit as well, the start of the race at the season opener at Ipswich was also special when we drove away from the field. Last but not least Steve is worth a mention..... his driving has come on no end, really proud of how he is developing... I think I may have said that before! For some reason something really clicked for him at the National round at Albury which caused the biggest improvement in his driving this year.... The only thing that was different for that race was the briefing I gave him which was short and to the point..... stop that sliding sh!t you do in the corners.... He listened and gained another chunk of pace.... keep it up mate!

ProKart ProKart Magazine Photo by Ian McMah

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

IMc: Now you’ve won the State Title, what are your aspirations for 2012? A: I guess we should say, we’ll leave the championship on a high, but no, we’ll be back next year to defend the state title. Simon will also have a crack at the National championship without Steve in 2012 and as always the goal will be to do better than this year which means going for top 4 – Given the competition in the Nationals that won’t be easy. Can we win that? You never know, but in all honesty I would be surprised. Not that it will stop me and many other teams trying! IMc: Steve, how did you get your start in karting? Is it your first Motorsport experience? ST: This is my first Motorsport experience. I first started driving a kart when I was about eight, my Grandad made me a couple of karts and then I got hold of a factory made one. Although it wasn’t that quick, it was quick enough when I was ducking in and out of the farm sheds and avoiding livestock. The kart wasn’t the prettiest as it had to have mudguards to prevent you getting covered in too much cow sh!t. IMc: Simon, how long have you been racing karts? Had you raced anything else before you started karting? SH: OK, the easy part of that question first. Other than racing down my parents drive (which was quite steep) in my ride on plastic race car as a kid I hadn’t really raced. I did do a bit of banger racing but that isn’t exactly racing its just smashing cars up and hoping that you don’t break yours too badly so that doesn’t count! I started racing karts properly in 2001 so I discovered recently when looking at the trophy cabinet for inspiration. Most of my racing has been in Prokarts, but in the past you may have found me in TKM’s, Rotax’s and a few other things from time to time.

ProKart ProKart Magazine IMc: What do you enjoy most about the Australian ProKart Series? SH: I probably said it before, the best thing has got to be the great community, support, joking and fun we have together as competitors with some serious racing thrown in... I’ve gained some great mates through the Australian Prokart Series. ST: I don’t have anything to compare it against, but I thinks its brilliant how it’s all one big family and we all muck in together to get each other’s karts back on the track. The series is as much about the racing on the track as it is about the weekend away having fun with mates. IMc: What would you change in the series if you could? SH: To be honest, not a lot. Tony, Amanda and the crew do a great job. However, if I could make changes there are two things that I would change about the series: 1) Get rid of pitstops that aren’t needed to keep the kart moving. Coming into the pits just to wave my hands in the air is not racing to my mind, I would rather be racing on track Furthermore, the hand waving pitstops we do help those that have mechanicals because they are effectively free pitstops when you have a breakdown, this is endurance so we should be building something good for the duration of the race. I would even do away with the driver change in every hour rule, after all this is endurance. In place I would introduce a compulsory amount of fuel stops equivalent to one every 1hr45 of track time roughly to avoid people fitting the biggest fuel tank they can and smaller jets just to avoid one fuel stop. 2) I would also do away with the timed fuel stop and make fuelling part of the race so that teams can gain / lose time if they don’t perform in a fuel stop. Obviously this would have to be done in a safe way because killing Tony in the fuel bay would be bad! ST: Not a lot, it’s a catch, I would like to see longer races but then that means the teams would need more drivers.

Photo by Ian McMah

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

IMc: What does the future hold for Phantom Racing? ST: Much the same as this year, I’ll be out to defend the championship next year. SH: There is no telling what the future holds, I will no doubt keep racing in some form or another for a considerable time and if I’m honest, that racing is likely to be the Prokart series because it is the most cost effective and fun racing for the money and I’ve met some fantastic people through it. Why stop doing a good thing! IMc: Championships are won as much off the track as they are on track; with that in mind are there people and businesses that we perhaps don’t see that regularly that you’d consider an integral part of your success? A: We have a small amount of sponsorship in the form of discounted parts from Alana at Kartbay (The Australian MS dealer) and Jack at the Engine Place (Honda Dealer in Coopers Plains – Brisbane). Their assistance is greatly appreciated. I also have to thank Jeff Johnson and Howard Lucas, good friends of mine from the UK, for their karting thoughts, knowledge and guidance. And finally, Jakki (Steve’s wife) who you don’t see much at all, for putting up with us :) IMc: Anyone else you’d like to thank? SH: Yup..... All those involved in the series from the organisers to the competitors for making it a great series and Steve for all his help with kart prep and driving...... looking forward to next year. ST: I’d like to thank my wife, Jakki for letting me run away to race for the weekends and spend endless weekends doing kart maintenance. I also like to thank her for lending us her car to get to the track when Simon’s car wanted a rest. I’d also like to thank Simon for all his knowledge, coaching and driving.

ProKart ProKart Magazine Photo by Ian McMah

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Next event...

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

ProKart ProKart Magazine Photo by Ian McMah

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Scott Pearce stops to pick up his wayward nosecone in his Rock Oils sponsored 24 KnK machine...

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

The FUTURE OF PROKART

ProKart ProKart Magazine 2012 is shaping up as an exciting year for ProKart as we continue to bring ongoing development across many aspects of our series, all designed to take ProKart Endurance karting to a level never seen before in Australia and potentially surpassing any karting series in the country for promotion, participation, value, exposure and enjoyment. We already have all race and qualifying sessions broadcast live via the internet and shortly this will be available in FULL HD via a satellite link, enabling full resolution images to be streamed via the internet. Already we have introduced; • • • • • •

Revised and improved engine sealing Track Safety International LE D Safety Lighting systems The all-new ProKart Power Pipe Muffler Live timing Live broadcasts On-location multiple race timing screens

•

We also continue to evaluate and develop;

•

Television packages to increase series exposure and promotion More durable and cost effective clutches, chains and sprockets

•

ProKart are currently investigating and testing a package of measures including new chains and sprockets to compliment a more durable and affordable clutch. The ProKart Power Pipe introduced earlier this year is approximately 1 second per lap quicker and is now very reliable. Faster and more durable, these pipes have significantly improved performance and drivability. As exciting as these developments are; most importantly ProKart are aware that changes cannot be introduced in an ad-hoc or poorly timed manner and will keep competitors regularly updated as developments continue. ProKart has never had a brighter or more exciting future!

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

2011 ProKar

ProKart ProKart Magazine

rt AWARDS After the season finale in Raleigh, near Coffs Harbour (NSW), most teams attended a celebration of not only the season that was; but to recognise those who had achieved varying kinds of excellence in 2011. Held at the Sawtell Services Club, around 100 ProKart competitors, officials and supporters paid tribute to all the National and State Seriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Champions, inducted an unsuspecting entrant to the ProKart Hall of Fame and found the crowd offering a standing ovation as ProKartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Garry Taylor was honoured with a well-deserved and much applauded Lifetime Achievement Award.

Photo by Ian McMah

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

2011 ProKart Australian Endurance Series Awards list: • • • • • • •

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Garry Taylor HALL OF FAME INDUCTION: Ian McMah AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONS: KW Racing NEW SOUTH WALES CHAMPIONS : KW Racing QUEENSLAND CHAMPIONS: Phantom Racing VICTORIAN CHAMPIONS: Bell Pipes Racing AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY CHAMPIONS: Team KAOS

ProKart ProKart Magazine

• • • • • •

POLE POSITION AWARD NSW: POLE POSITION AWARD QLD: POLE POSITION AWARD VIC: POLE POSITION AWARD ACT: PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: BEST PRESENTED TEAM:

Walkos Racing KnK Karts Malfunction Walkos Racing Dion Scott KnK Karts

ProKart ProKart Magazine

GARRY TAYLOR Lifetime Achievement Award 2011

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Garry Taylor was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by ProKart Director Tony Pullen in recognition of his remarkable commitment, dedication to and efforts for the ProKart Endurance Series. Garry is widely respected and loved by the ProKart community and is arguably as infamous for his love of his neon-laden Safety Car as he is for his â&#x20AC;&#x153;take no prisonersâ&#x20AC;? approach (hard but fair!) to officiating at ProKart events throughout the country. It is fitting that Garry received an unprecedented standing ovation when Tony Pullen presented him with the Lifetime Achievement Award for 2011. Congratulations Garry from everyone at ProKart.

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Photo by Ian McMah

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Photo by Ian McMah

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Photo by Ian McMah

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

SPORTS PROGRAM KEY MESSAGES EXERCISE AND BREAST CANCER – REDUCING RISK FACTORS Research has shown that regular exercise plays an important part in decreasing the risk of breast cancer, as part of an active and healthy lifestyle Regular gentle exercise can also assist in the recovery & rehabilitation of breast cancer survivors, who may find they have reduced fitness, increased fatigue and their body has changed after treatment Being fit and active also means improved confidence and wellbeing, as well as being part of a wider social network BREAST CANCER FACTS •Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in Australia. It is estimated that in 2009, 13,698 new cases will be diagnosed in women. New diagnoses are also expected in 106 men •One in 9 women will be diagnosed with the disease by the age of 85 Early detection is currently the best method for reducing deaths from breast cancer ABOUT THE NBCF •The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is the leading community-funded national organisation in Australia raising money for research into the prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer. •The NBCF receives no government funding, and is reliant on community fundraising events to fund its research. •Events can be held all year round, but our main fundraising activity is in October, which is internationally recognised as Breast Cancer Month. •Pink Ribbon Day is held on the last Monday of October.

ProKart ProKart Magazine

Issue 14: December 2011

Proudly supporting PDS Racing

ProKart ProKart Magazine

In our next issue... •

Features: Season Preview!

•

Race Preview: Round 1, National Series

•

Driver Profile: Adam Clark

•

All the latest ProKart news and much more…

All submissions welcomed imcmah05@gmail.com 77