Preparations For Clay

With the BUKC rounds 7 & 8 at Clay Pigeon kart circuit in Dorset on Wednesday 30^th March, preparations have been underway to ensure a continuation of the form seen at Llandow in rounds 5 & 6.

A change in line-up is set for Clay Pigeon with Cranfield University’s returnee James Harvey joining captain Luke Jarmyn, Andrew Thomas and Harry Hunter in the A’s whilst the B’s have their strongest team yet for this year with captain Lee Bennett being joined by the ever impressive Matt Brierley and a pair of consistent rookie’s in James Rowe and recent rugby varsity winning Ollie Trott.

Moreover a tweak to the pit crew is in place to improve efficiencies in the relay races, a difference between winning and losing can often be in the pit-stops and the strategy executed. Suzie Campbell and Islay Throne will be supported by a couple of other’s whilst Tom Middleton will be along as UPMC’s media & calendar secretary.

Clay Pigeon is one of the fastest flowing track’s in the country and at 815m is also on the short side making for a really quick and often intense racing experience as you often get packs of karting forming with mere tenths between them and places changing multiple times a lap, a reason why it’s such a renowned circuit that regular hosts rounds of the British Championships.

Billie’s Blind is a renowned corner, a fearsome right hander after the curved pit straight. It’s also a great place to view as incidents on the first lap are near guaranteed. The most challenging and technical part of the lap would have to be the Horseshoe which can be seen as a real make or break corner, separating the men from the boys whilst the hairpin after the Sturmey straight is a good old fashioned near-flat right hand hairpin with a lot of a inwards gradient reminiscent of the carrousel at the old Nurburgring. It’s also the place where Charlie Bruce-White flipped it a fair few seasons ago.

The man to watch at Clay Pigeon will be resident chubster and local chap Harry Hunter as he looks to shine at his home circuit, Harry has been preparing heavily for the BUKC becoming ‘de facto’ fitness co-ordinator which includes regular morning runs and circuit training on a Tuesday evening to make sure everyone is physically prepared for all the elements at Clay Pigeon, which has seen Matt Brierley go a little faint.

Harry stated that Clay is “a fast and flowing track where maintaining a continually high speed is crucial to a good lap time and good race result” whilst re-iterating that as “UPMC’s home track he was confident in doing well, confident of a good result”. He’ll also be taking the front grid for the A’s so watch out for a top result, he’s also been UPMC’s buyer this week as a few alterations to the seat inserts are set to be made for Clay.

This confidence can be found oozing through the squad even if the 4am meet may put a damper on proceedings. With it being our local track it’s the only one where we travel up and back on the day meaning that to arrive by 7am the team has to meet at the rather un-social able hour of 7am which some haven’t exactly been looking forward to. As well as this a little bit of pay-back on Swansea University after there despicable driving at Llandow. Good results are imminent and in the words of Mr Thomas “get on board!”.