Lakeside Karting at Thurrock had assembled
about 20 top class drivers for an evening of promotional video work interspersed
with some racing too.. Unfortunately only 18 could make it on the night so
Toby and Paul were asked along to make up the numbers - thanks to Simon Jones
of Lakeside.
After some "posed" filming - no doubt
coming soon to a cinema near you - the organisers split us into teams of two
at random.
Paul was paired with Sam a local lad who weighed about half Paul's weight
and had raced a lot, semi-pro at one stage - Ah ha Paul's luck was in. Toby
had been paired with "Flash", so called because he had new everything
on from his red boots, to new Tony Kart suit to a helmet in a box.. Certainly
looked the part. not like Toby who hadn't brought his suit so was looking
rather swamped in a boiler suit more suited to a large Kwit Fit Fitter than
a racing driver...
Free practice was for 15 minutes and Paul got lapped by everyone complaining,
without much effect, that his kart (number 20) just wouldn't turn right..
Everyone felt the real reason was that he had eaten all the pies at the pre-race
buffet...
The race was to be 75mins, so after a quick tactics talk with Sam, Paul decided
that Sam should do 74 of them.. But the organisers were non too happy. so
Paul agreed to do 20mins.
The race grid formed and was soon away. Sam was in 4th at the start but was
soon challenging for 3rd then 2nd then took the lead.. Toby meanwhile was
struggling to break the 60 second barrier when a decent lap was 42secs - had
he been eating the pies too.. ??
Brake failure was the problem so he pitted and was soon out again in a replacement
kart.. Much to Paul's amusement he noticed it was the infamous kart 20.. and
sure enough Toby was still struggling and being lapped . so at risk of being
called "Mr Whinger" he pitted again and this time he struck lucky.
the kart looked quick and he was soon passing others.
Meanwhile Sam had done his 25 mins and Paul was in the kart in second place
!! Unusual.. And stressful. his claim to fame was passing Toby's team mate.
new suit and all.
A short 20 minute stint was soon over and since no-one had got passed him
2nd place looked safe as Sam took over. A quick check of the lap times showed
that the "new" driver of kart 6 was leading but was lapping in the
45 secs mark, most were in the 42s and Sam and a couple of others in the 41s,
and Sam was only 15 seconds behind him with 15 mins to go.. And sure enough
Sam soon caught and passed number 6 for the lead.. Which he held to the end.
so a win for Sam and Paul - but mainly Sam..
Toby and Flash had manfully fought back to 8th but Paul was inconsolable with
joy.. Well not quite, but it was nice to be on the podium again.. Except there
wasn't one..
30 July 2003 - Lakeside Promotional Video Shoot
