Auckland Blokart Club News

Yes, after all the wind and predictions of 15 kn SW all day, it didn't
happen. And not through lack of trying. On meeting at the car park, the
wind seemed about right although a little more South than SW. By the
time everyone rigged up and Grant1 had damaged Rod by wacking him on the
head with a pulley whip, the wind had swung a little more and dropped to
about 10-12 knts. The sailors set off for the stream.

The next problem was getting the two trailers on the beach and my 2
wheel drive van. Lack of rain meant the beach track had lots of deep
loose sand, maybe 20-30 cm in places. Jon towed his trailer on and
dropped it and Rod offered to pull the club trailer on but got stuck
after 20 metres. Dropped the trailer so Jon with a bigger 4 wheel drive
could tow it out. No go. So a passing 4 wheel drive offered to tow both
up the slight rise. Got nearly to the top of the rise before everything
came to a halt. Rod then went and got the sailors who had arrived to add
some manual grunt. Finally got the club trailer on the beach. Everyone
came back to push me through. With a run up and hitting the sand at
speed managed to get 200 metres to top of the rise before needing a
helping hand. Finally everyone on the beach but .... the wind was now
south and no-one including those with 5.5s were making much progress and
all having to tack to get back along the beach.

After 45 minutes decided it was not going to happen, much to the relief
of all the heavyweights and I could hear to cheers from Nicko and Orca
who couldn't make it on the day.

Now to reverse the process of getting off the beach. Assembled everyone
by the soft sand and with Jon towing the heavy trailer, Rod the light
trailer and Trevor there to tow anyone through who got stuck. I went
first, took a long run up, powered through the sand at 50 km/hr, missed
the traffic coming the other way, and got out without a push. Jon kept
going with the aid of the pushers and got towed the last half by Trevor.
Rod made it most of the way, needing help at the end.
Back to the car park where the sailors had struggled back against the
wind and then had to drag karts over sand hills. Everyone stuffed but
all got Easter eggs <http://blokart.jigluhood.com/tags/easter-egg> for
their efforts and we will do a repeat in a months time. Hopefully the
beach track will have hardened a bit by then.

Thanks to Jon, Rod and Trevor for getting the trailers on and off the
beach and Trish for setting everything up for race start although not
needed this time.

The back up dates are:

* 10/11 April
* 8/9 May

See everyone Thursday night at Ardmore where you can drive to the edge
of the track and not get stuck!

Russell

posted by Auckland Blokart News  # 8:29 am