2006 St. Mary Medical Center
Western Regional Blokart Championship and Rally

Having only recreationally sailed my Blokart I was keen to race it, but apprehensive about the procedures of the race and rules. Being a performance oriented kinda guy I needed to do some work to make sure I would be up to speed with the other top sailors. There are several items you can modify to compete in the “Performance Class” otherwise you race in the “Production Class”, which is your BloKart as purchased from the dealer. Modifable items include:

• Removing the grease from the wheel bearings and use a light oil for less resistance.Modify the stock battens.Change the stock downhaul so it easier to use. More purchase and a cleat Shorten the mainsheet stock. Where the block attaches to the kart.
• Use Carbon tubes for the lower part of the mast.

I hadalready removed the packing grease from the wheel bearings so only a quick shot of oil the morning of the event was all that was needed. Thursday and Friday before the event I:

• Sanded my stock battens to place the draft around 30%-33%, this for the 4.0m sail. (I had forgotten how shitty it is sanding fiberglass). Modified the downhaul and added a cleat so I can adjust it from my sitting position. Added a cleat for the mainsheet and chopped the stock.
• Finally I already had my carbon tubes, which I had purchased with the kart. So I was thinking I would be fast or at least not the slowest.

One thing that I was really not sure of was how to start. I had heard they use transponders for each 5 minute heat to count laps for each racer. But this was not the case, luckily there were only 6 in the Performance class so counting laps was not really hard with the help of some helpers. The start is a timed 5 minute start, only you are maneuvering at 15 to 30 mph with others doing the same thing. So it is a lot like a sailboat start.

Saturday we had a few practice races to get everyone up to speed. The race venue was in the parking lot near where the Jet Skis launch just south of the Belmont Pier in Long Beach and the winds were up, strong enough to sand blast us (13-15knts). Being only 155 lbs and sailing with the 4.0 sail I was on the verge of control several times. When the wind is up weight is not a factor. Like sailboat racing it is in the extremes where the sailors shine, who has control and who can eek speed out of a slow breeze. Being a Paraplegic, I tend to bounce around when the kart is hauling ass, even strapped in. I have been talking with some other karters about some mods to help with this and was lucky enough to test a 3 point harness prototype from the factory. It worked great for my upper body but my legs can be a real pain in the arse. When strapped in I have to have every thing in less than an arms length because I cannot move once buckled in. The rules state when on the course Helmet, Gloves and Harness cannot be removed (liability reasons). After the first day it was tight at the top with Jim Tolan, Dean Kitchen, Mike Moody and me and Fast Eddie tied.

Sunday the winds were a bit lighter probably 8 to 10 maybe 12knts tops. But know that I understand the starts and some course tactics things might be different. And they sure were, sail trim was so critical in the lighter air. Once you get up to speed you do not want to loose you momentum. Over-sheeting and too much downhaul was way to easy to do. The sail looked fine but it was just a bit too tight and speed starts to wane. Downhaul was very critical and I saw several racers in the production class using way too much. In the light air you have to develop power just like a sailboat. I think a lot of you anarchists would have fun in these toys and I highly recommend trying it. The starts are all important and in the first race I did not nail it and ended up I third, Fast Eddie won. The next race was like it should be, hit the line at full speed when the horn goes off. But Mike Moody, winner of his weight class at the NZ Open last year, was right on my tail. He managed to pass me but I managed to get him back going for the inside at the turn. He tried to round on the inside of the exit but I managed a lee bow and closed the door. The following two races were almost identical in that I had to fight to win them. In the last race I only passed the leader on the last turn to the finish. This is like open wheel Nascar without engines, wheel to wheel racing EEEHAW. I can’t wait till the next one. In retrospect, I don’t think the driver weight is as big a factor as sail and kart handling is. Being the lightest person in the performance class by 30lbs, I offered to use corrector weights next time when there is a big enough fleet to be broken up by weight divisions. The more of you guys to get one of these toys the more we will have to race with. Visit Class Action Racing to check them out and find the closest dealer.

For more pictures visit GTS Photos and the Class Action Racing Photo Gallery
Dave Trude
04/03/06