Go Karting ...

There's always a first time… It was the 1st time I did gokarting ever! On the Jan 20th,2007 evening, I went for gokarting with our senior management colleagues from EKFC. We also had Hermann and Stefan joining from my team. Meeting at Dubai Autodrome - Kartdrome @ 1700hrs, we had to first signed in and got changed to our racing gear - overalls, helmets, and hand gloves. We then had about 10 minutes briefing on basic rules and stuff from one of the Autodrome employees. After that we were allocated our Karts and I got No 37 - Sodikart with 4 Stroke Engine, 390cc/cm3, 13.5bhp, speed 90-100Kms per hour. We began with a qualifying session - 5 Flying laps, approximately 10 minutes. Guess what ? Towards the end of my fifth lap, my kart stopped in the middle of the racing track and after several attempts, the marshaller could not get it re-started and had to put a side on to the curb and I was asked to walk back to the pit. I was then given a new kart no 37 for the Heat Race. We had all together 14 participants. Although my kart turned 3 times on the racing track, been the 1st time, I was not bad. I drove fast as much as I could; however, I found it was hard to control the speed and car at bends/curves. I remembered seen a poster which outlined about rules on the track saying. not to apply both brakes and accelerator together. So I was kind of a bit confused, when ever I reached bends on the racing track in trying to control the speed. I guess, that was where I went wrong and in fact, it would have been the case, that my car turned a couple of times. Also, at one time my helmet wiper was fully faded with what I think humidity and it was making hard for me to see the race track in front of me clearly. In the end, however, I completed total of 9 laps, with the best completion time with 1:47:181 in the readings and was placed @ 12th - not that bad for a 1st timer, I think! We had Oki, Hermann's wife taking photos of the event and I'll post them here, when ever they are finally get to me!