13/12/2021
Another Podium place for young DZ Racing charger Cameron Jeffrey Racing
LKC ENDURO
Last weekend seen us finish of the 2021 season with a 1.5hr enduro.
Back in the KA4 light this weekend we jammed a bigger tank in so we had enough fuel to do the race on the minimum 2 compulsory pit stops each mandatory to be a minimum of 8 minutes.
With the race being 1.5hr qualifying wasn’t really a big deal for us (but the $50 prize been nice) and Cam set a conservative 3 place.
In the race Cam quickly settled into a rather consistent pace and was running third with the front three setting of into the distance. Early in the stint 2nd edged away before Cam moved onto the back of him about 30 laps in.
When 1st and 2nd pitted around the 40 lap mark Cam kept up the pace for another 20 laps before coming into the pits 7minutes 48 sec ahead of effective 1st place and 8 minutes 7 seconds ahead of effective 2nd place. His extra 20 laps had created an over cut and we believed he would re enter the race comfortably in second place.
With a calm and steady pit stop Cam got some fluids and a bit of fresh air while the crew fueled the kart, oiled and adjusted the chain, checked tyres and checked all the nuts and bolts before heading up to the grid to return when the official released us at the 8 minutes as per the stop clock started by the official as we entered the pits. 10 seconds to go Cam hits the starter and the battery dies!!!! A mad dash back to the pit bay and the already on hand spare battery was installed and our time we gained turned into a lap lost. With the pit board feeding him information for the first few laps he quickly understood he was running a comfortable 3rd with 4laps on 4th and who he was racing.
Approx 25 laps later around lap 85 the leaders made there second stop but Cam again ran long completing another 40 lap stint before coming in at the 1hr 15m mark 2 minutes before the pits closed!
Upon entering the pits we were meters behind a lapped competitor and was required to wait in line to be weighed, we had plenty of time and wasn’t rushing. Once on the scale the stop watch was placed in the kart which is started when we cross the line in the pit entry and is used to show when we have been in the pits for the minimum 8 minutes. Upon looking at the watch it was not running but stopped on 8.99 seconds!! The official promptly restarted the watch but we had been there quite some time by this stage.
We did our stop but ended up leaving the pits what felt like an eternity after the lapper we followed in and lost considerable more time.
Cam drove a short 19 lap stint to complete 119 laps in the 1.5hrs with his last lap within .2 seconds of his qualifying time to finish 3rd
The kid drove a superbly but was let down in the pits, he took the hits pretty well, (better than Dad).
The battery was one of 4 battery we use between the karts, it was charged before the event and put in for qualifying, usually we run one battery all day no issues but this occasion it decided to die!!
The issue with the stop watch was unfortunate but it happens, the volunteers do an awesome job with it getting rather hectic at times and sometimes it happens. It didn’t really change our day.
We didn’t have the ultimate pace for a win but second was a strong chance but our pit stop times were 8:41 and 8:55 compared to the two leaders 8:07, 8:04 and 8:03, 8:04 which ultimately relegated us to the 3rd spot.
It was a nice finish to the season and he still got to spray the bubbly which is all he wanted to do 😂.
We will be having a couple weeks rest before heading into tyre testing for the new tyres that are being introduced next year and the return of Rhys to the drivers seat and potential the races in 2022.
Our journey is one that is supported by many and in many ways, financially, on track, on the phone or in the shed we can’t thank those that are involved enough.
Damian Walters, Timmy Austin, Chooka, Pete Austin, Marcos, Adam Holmes, Dion Wyllie, Gemma and YT you guys all rock!!
2021 out!!!!
