David Watts wins the penultimate round of the Blue Challenge at the Clay Pigeon Raceway on Sept 13th, which also involved the Formula Blue ‘O’ Plate race.
It was competed for in the best of sunshine without a hint of rain. This penultimate round of the competition for next year’s prestigious numbers also incurred a maximum non-attendance penalty. As a consequence 8 of the top 9 drivers were present. The only driver missing was Taylor Waldron, who was attending his University enrollment and was unable to race. The race meeting did include a few ‘new’ boys who all gave a good account of themselves and helped set the tone for their future race meetings. Indeed one of them, Richard Puddle finished 4th overall having actually won the first Heat of the race day. The other 2 Heats were won by Dave Watts and Anth Cleal.

Once the Heat Results were totalled, the grid for the Final ( which makes up for half of the overall points) was posted. On Pole was Mike Bell with Serita Shone on grid 2, Row 2 had Dave Watts and Stuart Gray ready to pounce. Behind on row 3 sat Rich Puddle and Russell O’Neill. After a dramatic couple of rolling laps, where Serita Shone discovered she was losing coolant from a loose radiator cap, the grid was ready for the off.
Serita made a stunning start, snatching the lead from Bell. She held the lead for 4 laps until an overheating engine (which was a direct result of the rolling lap situation) compelled her to richen up the carb, thereby losing a degree of power. Behind, Anth Cleal starting in 13th had gradually made his way up to 7th place. On lap 5 Watts and Gray took advantage of Serita’s issue and forced past. 2 laps later Puddle and Cleal were also through. On lap 9 Cleal overtook Puddle and the two of them set off after the leading pair of Watts and Gray. Racing then settled down, though at the front Watts gradually eased a gap to the chasing Gray. The next major incident came on lap 17, when Bell, trying to recoup earlier losses, clipped the rear of Russell O’Neill and spun off. He restarted having lost 4 places to Nigel Vickery, David Waldron, Paul Alexander, and ‘new boy’ Chris Underhill. With 2 laps to go, Gray had been caught by Cleal and would have to defend 2nd place up to the flag. Further, back Waldron passed Vickery whilst Bell made the most of an incident between Alexander and Underhill. At the flag, it was a well-deserved win for Watts with Gray next, just ahead of Cleal. Puddle finished a very creditable 4th from Serita Shone, with Russell O’Neill right on her rear bumper. Too close as it transpired! He received a front bumper penalty at the post-race scrutineering, promoting Waldron into 6th place.
Once the start and the result points were calculated, Dave Watts ( 3 pts) emerged as the overall winner with Stuart Gray 2nd ( 6 pts). Serita Shone claimed 3rd ( 7 pts), Richard Puddle 4th ( 9 pts) and Mike Bell 5th ( 9 pts).
In the actual Championships, Dave Watts extended his lead with Anth Cleal still in 2nd closely followed by Mike Bell, Russell O’Neill, and Serita Shone.
The 5th and last round of the Blue Challenge, which also carries a maximum points non-attendance penalty, moves to South Kent. Here the fantastic Lydd International Raceway will host the final race weekend for the Blue Challenge, with everything still to play for.
For more info and up-date points please view –

The results page of the www.planetkarting.uk website
or CLICK HERE

Tabor Karting will NOT be in attendance, with their mobile shop at the Lydd Race circuit on the 25 / 26 / 27th September for the re-arranged 2020 NKRA National Championships including the Formula Blue Challenge, Final round.
Competitors requiring Tyres and/or specific spares for this event, please order and purchase your requirements in advance. Telephone (01305 774074 ) by 12 noon on Tuesday, September 22nd, for delivery/collection at the circuit on the race weekend, from Ron at the Team Tabor Van/trailer.
Thanks, see you there!

Following a set of fiercely contested heats for the formula Blue ‘0’ Plate, the grid for the Final became an eye opener. On pole position sat Michael Bell ( Bristol) with Serita Shone ( Weymouth)  along side. 2nd row had David Watts (Southampton)  and Stuart Gray ( Scotland) . The 3rd row was taken up by ‘new boy’ Richard Puddle ( Wiltshire)  and Russell O’Neill ( Reading).

The drama at the start of the Final started on the rolling lap when Serita Shone, on the front row, started losing coolant from her radiator. An extra rolling lap saw her re-connect the cap, but by then half of the coolant was gone! A fact which would come back to haunt her during the race. At the start, Serita shot into the lead ahead of Bell, Watts and Gray. By lap 4 Serita’s engine ( minus much of the coolant) started to overheat and had already risen to 85 degrees on the temperature gauge. In an effort to stave off a seizure, she screwed the main jet of the carburettor out to 3 turns, thereby richening up the petroil mix,  but decreasing the overall power.   Watts and Gray took full advantage and raced past. By this stage Anthony Cleal, who started in 13th position, after fraught heats, was up into 7th place. As the laps unfolded Watts, in the lead, gradually edged away from Gray, even though both drivers produced identical best times.    Cleal, scoring the fastest lap on the way through, managed to finish 3rd with Puddle scoring a very creditable 4th in this high profile event.  Serita Shone hung on to claim 5th place, a testament to her engine temperature management skills.
Once scrutineering was completed and the points awarded, by adding together start and finish positions, the various ‘0’ plates were presented. The open winner was David Watts with a 3 + 0 = 3 points score.   Stuart Gray finished 2nd overall to match his 2nd on the track with a total of 6 points. 3rd on the day was Serita shone with 7 points and Richard Puddle in 4th with 9 points.

In the Master ‘0’ Plate, Stuart Gray took a convincing 0 + 0 = 0  points Win over Russell O’Neill on 6 points and David Waldron on 10 points.  Gray claimed the Veteran and the Legend ‘0’ Plates with equal dominance, from Nigel Vickery and David Waldron in the Veteran section and Ron Shone and Chris Underhill in the Legend group.  Ron Shone did manage to win the Top Weight ‘0’ Plate from Phil Shears.

The Formula Blue grid now has little time to recover from this race. In 2 weeks’ they are in action again at the Lydd international circuit, in Kent, for the Final Round of the NKRA and Blue Challenge Regional Championship.
For more details and results please view the results page on the
www.planetkarting.uk  website or CLICK HERE

Serita Shone, by virtue of winning the September 12th Race at Clay Pigeon, moves up to 3rd place in the TABOR Championships. As a consequence, she now sits with a potential £ 300 available at the season’s end.
Russell O’Neill, who came second, extends his lead in 1st place over Mike Bell. Behind these three are Anthony Cleal and Ron Shone.
The next scoring round is at Lydd race circuit on 27th September.
To view the latest up to date positions and points PLEASE CLICK HERE

The Formula Blue’s were in action at the Clay Pigeon Circuit on August 9th. To view the exciting footage of the Final Race of the National Kart Racing Association Championship Blue challenge, round 3
PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxF4KTvWraw

Tabor Karting will be in attendance, as usual, with their mobile shop at the Clay Pigeon Race Circuit on the 11th, 12th & 13th September for the Club meeting and the re-arranged 2020 Formula Blue ‘0’ Plates and the 2020 National Kart Racing Association Championship, including the Formula Blue Challenge ( Round 4).
Competitors requiring Tyres and/or specific spares for this event, please order and purchase your requirements in advance. Telephone (01305 774074 ) by 12 noon on Tuesday, September 8th, for delivery/collection at the circuit on the race weekend.
Thanks, See you there!

Following the cancelled meeting at Forest Edge on 6th Sept, of round 4 of the NKRA Championship and the Formula Blue ‘0’ plates, the Clay Pigeon Kart Club has come to the rescue. They have offered us a slot at their September 13th race meeting. There will also be practice options on the days prior to the meeting on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th Sept.
The entry list is now open and closes at midnight on Saturday 5th September. Late entries may be accepted, but if accepted they will be placed at the rear of the grid for all heats. All entrants must be a member of an NKRA affiliated Club and be registered with the NKRA.
TO ENTER ONLINE PLEASE CLICK THE LINK https://cpkc.alphatiming.co.uk/register/series

Sadly, we have just received the following statement from Forest Edge

” Regrettably we are having to cancel next weekend’s race meeting at Forest. The MOD have made a stance on Covid and unfortunately, at this time we are unable to change their mind. As a club, we have been very active on protective measures and I thank you all for that ” Chairman FEKC

Implications regarding the NKRA Championship Round 4 and the Formula Blue ‘O’ Plates will be announced shortly.

Competitors are advised that entries are open for the final NKRA Championship round, on 27th September, at the Lydd International Raceway.
There will be practice, for those who wish it, on Friday 25th & Saturday 26th September. For the Practice days and the Sunday race day please enter on the Lydd International website. The link for entries is at the foot of this news brief.
The entry list for Formula Blue will close at midnight, on Saturday 19th September. Late entries may be accepted, however, if accepted, they will be placed at the back of the grid for all heats. All entrants must be registered with the NKRA prior to the closing date and be a member of an NKRA affiliated Club.
PLEASE NOTE, WHEN ENTERING FOR THE FORMULA BLUE CLASS – ENTER UNDER THE SENIOR LIBRE CATEGORY ( WHICH IS LYDD’S
CATEGORY FOR THE VISITING CHAMPIONSHIPS)

To ENTER ONLINE, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

There has, over the past weeks, been a surge of interest in the Formula Blue Class.  However, because of the Covid 19 Pandemic situation, the  Italian factory that produces the Lynx, Maxi and Leopard engines have a delay in the supply, following lockdown.   TABOR report that with the exception of one Lynx engine, all new Engines in stock have been sold over the past month.
There is now a need for second hand / used engines to be available in order to fill the vacuum, whilst the manufacturers catch up with production.
Karters who are no longer involved in racing are invited to offer engines for purchase ( in any condition) to TABOR ,   Price is determined by 1) Bore; 2) History; 3) Condition. The engines used in Formula Blue must be box standard.   This does not, however, preclude some modified engines, as the “offending” part(s)  can, in many cases, be removed and replaced, as long as crankcase and /or cylinder are untouched. The offer price will obviously reflect such circumstances.
Interested parties are asked to contact TABOR on 01305 774074