Buckmore Park TKM ABkC Round 1: 14.3.04

NEWSLETTER

With new support from legal services specialist BTE Lawline taking over from HHH, 2004 promises to be a cracker. A near-record 550+ registrations are logged for the three parallel series, with TKM action kicking off at Buckmore Park – a real drivers favourite. The only down-side is that there is unlikely to be any TV coverage this year due to the sponsorship change. Raceday dawned wet and got wetter, with nary a slick is sight, leaving the wet-weather aficionados in their element.

Tal-Ko ABkC Formula Jnr. TKM

Heat winners: Chris Palmer, Scott Allen, Matthew Bell x 2, Ayrton Pankiw.

B Final: Harry Tincknell, Will Leon, Fraser Wallace, Luke Herbert.

A Final: Palmer and Bell pulled away until mid-race, when Bell executed a beautiful clean pass at the second hairpin to win. Charles Bonsey and Thomas Davis were having lonely races next, whilst a frantic dice ensued for fifth, Rossi eventually on top. David Robinson started well but after a grassy slide, slid to seventh and Pankiw came up to tenth from the back.

Results: Bell, Palmer, Bonsey, Davis, Rossi, James Duxbury.

Tal-Ko ABkC Formula TKM Extreme

Heat winners: Barnaby Pittingale, Ben Cruttenden x 2, Michael Doyle x 2, Paul Janes.

B Final: Oliver Roberts, Jamie Bell, Tom Roche, Adam Rodgers.

A Final: Cruttenden was in a league of his own all day, although his major
lead was chased down towards the end by Scott Malvern, once he had left the third place battle behind, led by Higham from Pittingale and Ringer. Roberts reached the top ten in a couple of laps, then was T-boned by the nose-less James Nash. Shaun Carter had earlier received the black flag. Doyle speared off onto the grass from sixth entering his last lap, elevating Ben Robinson who had come from grid 21.

Results: Cruttenden (pictured right. Image by www.kartpix.net), Malvern, Higham, Pittingale, Ringer, Robinson.

Tal-Ko ABkC Formula TKM Intermediate

Heat winners: Steven Bartlett, Oliver Blake, Joe Osborne.

A Final: With everyone jostling for position round the first two hairpins, Bartlett emerged in a short-lived lead. He slipped back leaving Richard Bond and Blake to have a racelong entertaining dice. Philip Stanley lost his nosecone, ignored the flags and was formally excluded. Osborne held off Bartlett, whilst William Reed’s loose rear bumper survived to the end, although the following Joe Morrison was not impressed.

Results: Bond, Blake, Osborne, Bartlett, Reed, Morrison

Tal-Ko Formula TKM 4-stroke

Heat winners: Chris Needham, Jay Bridger, Carl Willoughby.

A Final: Polesitter Needham slipped way back with a puncture, letting first Steve Nichols, then Willoughby lead. Both slithered wide, letting newcomer Rob Godding enjoy his first ever win in karts. He held off Jay Bridger, who had come up from the back after breaking down at the start of a heat. Nichols lost more places to finishfifth behind Jack Meekings who impressed with his run from the back row of the grid.

Results: Godding, Bridger, Willoughby, Meekings, Nichols, Sam Dimelow.

Tal-Ko Formula Junior TKM 4-stroke

Heat winners: David Sadler, Michael Cox, Kieran Vernon.

A Final: Cox seemed to be en-route to his customary win, until suddenly Tom Bridge caught up trying everywhere to pass. It transpired that a keyway had broken in Cox’s sprocket carrier, making it slip onthe axle. He hung on regardless. Alex Shackleton lost touch with the two of them, whilst Ashley Heard vaulted through from the back for fourth. Tommy Truscott lost his left sidepod, and with it his transponder, and was called in.

Results: Cox, Bridge, Shackleton, Heard, Vernon, Sadler.

Patter in the Park

There was only one technical exclusion – for the lack of an ignition cut-off switch, although a few engines were very close to the limit. Not a single red flag was shown, and the meeting had no injuries. After much hard work and long hours, the new ‘Paddock Facility’ building was opened for scrutineering use. A bridge over the circuit is next on the agenda. Rob Godding has taken over use of his brother’s kart in TKM 4-stroke, and strode to a maiden first time ever win in karts.