2014 Race Preview - Round 1, Buckmore Park

Coming up on Saturday 22nd of March and Sunday 23rd of March is the first race of the Easykart UK 2014 calendar. This race is going to be held at Buckmore Park which appears to be not only a very technical track but also quite quick, if you get the lines right. I know people will say that if you get the lines right at any track it is quick but what I mean is there are some long sweeping corners at Buckmore that can be taken close to flat out if the kart is set up properly.
Club 100 do some very good track guides for all the tracks that they visit and, as club 100 run the Easykart races, they have one for most of the tracks that we go to. The layout of the track seems to be split into two sections. The "top half" ,as I think of it, being quite tight and technical; and the "bottom half" being quite open and fast flowing, but not without some tight corners. From having a quick look at the track and watching many videos of the BUKC, Club 100 races and the odd easykart driver going around Buckmore, I feel that probably the most crucial corner of the whole track is going to be Symes Sweep as it is "a very fast, down hill right hand corner" and can sometimes be "taken flat, although a small lift may be required" as it then sets you up for Pullmans and Paddock corner. If you miss your braking spot and turning point at Pullmans it sets you up wrong for Paddock and forces you to lose speed, increasing your lap time.

note: these quotes are from the Club 100 track guide for Buckmore Park.

"Buckmore Park" courtesy of Club 100

Andy's suggested set-up for Buckmore (Junior)

Set up

• Carb seting start 45mins to 55mins low jet : main jet 83
• Exhaust flex 80mm
• Designated sprocket size: 86t recommended chain length 108L 

Dry set up

• 25mm front spacers on inside/ rear track 138 to 139.5cms 
• Tyre pressure dry range guide 9 to 12 psi. Always use the same pressure in the fronts and rears- look for a working pressure gain of 2 psi

Wet set up

• Full spacers inside front wheels - rear track 134 to 135cm
• Tyre pressures 16 psi grease, 20 psi wet and for monsoon wet 22 psi or even higher if day temp is only 1 or 2 degrees c

From my recent practice at Whilton Mill I am in high hopes for a top 10 finish at Buckmore, which would not only be a great start to a new season, new kart and new year, but it would also be my highest finish to date at an Easykart event!
There is yet another new points system for this year, probably because the system last year was not only confusing but put people lower down the grid on the back foot, as if you gained many places in the heat you would still have to start near the back. This year however you get championship points for the heat, pre-final and the final, however the points available in the heat are only half the amount that are available in each of the final and pre-final.