The Barclay School

On the 6th and 7th of October 2007 the Barclay School Karting Team took place in the second meeting following the national championships at a popular circuit near Daventry called Whilton Mill.

The meeting arrangement changed a little for this weekend, on the Saturday four races were held as normal, and on Sunday 7th NatSKA ran the exciting new idea of timed qualifying, two heats and a final. Most of the Team enjoyed this new format, since it is very similar to F1; your finishing grid position in timed qualifying relates to where you begin on the grid for the final.

The team has lost and gained a few new members over the summer, and now has converted a few karts so that we have an all Class 11, 12 and 15 squad of school karts. Now all of the members of the kart team can race against at least one of their team mates, right across the weekend. Whilton Mill has recently been extended to a new length of 1200m, it is an international track that flows in a variety of twists and turns through the hills and changing cambers. All the drivers were all very excited about driving this new track, along with some of our new drivers that have not actually driven before. The weekend, for most, began at 5:30am on Saturday morning at school, before journeying to the circuit for driver’s briefing. Others, such as myself and other members stayed at the track overnight throughout weekend. All team members contribute to setting up the karts and carrying out repairs, but friends of the team and older members also come to help out with mechanics and marshalling out on the track.

The overall outcome of the racing was brilliant, with new lap records being set each race, and the conditions were perfect from start to finish. As the days went on, the racing was becoming close and exciting with many high podium finishes in all of the classes. On Sunday night the team collected many trophies to add to the cabinet, and a great weekend was had by all. Andrew Kelly, Ashley Bartlett, Jack Kemp and James Duggan to name a few, all took home trophies from the final on Sunday, and at the meeting before at Rye house in Hoddeston. Barclay also came home weighed down with lots of prizes from all classes once again. The next race meeting is next March, so over the winter we will continue to improve our kart’s performance and maintain them for 2008.

Pictures of the event can be found at our team’s and the event’s photographer’s website on:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/forestbeast/

James Williams