Blokart n00bie – #1

(Article courtesy of Live Sail Die) With Navig8r’s recent post to LSD on the upcoming 2014 Blokart World Champs in Perth, I thought the perfect way to get people interested would be to share my experience getting into the class! I was introduced to Navig8r on a casual Friday night rum race on a rather salubrious 55 foot, press the button and the sails come in kind of boat. At the time he had just set up a Tuesday night sprint series in the Royal Akarana Yacht Club car park, of which I was told I would have to get my A into G and have a go! I could not have asked for a warmer reception from the regulars (members of the Auckland Blokart Club), of which the RAYC car park could barely contain! Before I knew it I had a club cart loaned to me for the night along with a helmet and some gloves and off I went. In all honesty, the first time was a little light on the wind side and I was only running an older 4 meter sail (There are four sails, of which the biggest is a 5.5m) so things were a little slow. Watching the ‘regulars’ scream around the car park with their big rigs up, I was in awe. [youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gztraGgjGUo’] The next time I jumped in the Blokart was at Ardmore – with wind. The ABC have a part use of the disused runway at Ardmore airport which is used for their Thursday Twilight Series, Sunday casual sessions and the occasional championships. The ‘Blokart Grin’ is a term often mentioned. I found mine at Ardmore. I walked off the track throwing figures through my head trying to figure out how to buy one. Navig8r lent on my shoulder quite firmly and I knew I had already bought one!!! Before I knew it, Navig8r and I were on our way to Blokart Heaven – Manufacturing HQ in Papamoa with a track out the front. I was lined up with a near new stainless steel ex track cart with a 2nd hand 3m and 5.5m sail, new mast sections and a plethora of accessories including a Pod which is a must. Paul and the team in Papamoa are a great bunch of guys who live and breath Blokarting and are only too happy to help people out and get more Blokarts racing. So there I was – Santa had come early. I did not waste any time either and managed to do the last Thursday Sprint night at RAYC where I managed to win a race. I am not one to dip my toes in at the shallow end – Perth, lookout! Blokart Worlds 2014, here I come! I am anxiously waiting for racing to start again for the year – Thursday twilight series at Ardmore starting on the 17th January and a yet to be confirmed Tuesday series at RAYC. I recommend anyone interested or wanting more information to come along to one of these nights or a Sunday casual session and jump in one of the club carts and have a go. Just attend knowing you may get hooked! I will do the occasional update, along with Navig8r on the goings on in the Blokart world and what we are both up too in our lead up to the Worlds. Keep a weather eye on the horizon and the runway