My Weekend Road Trips
By Richard Gladman, Chief Examiner at IAM RoadSmart
As any of you who have met me will probably know, as well as the Chief Examiner of IAM RoadSmart I identify as a kart racing petrol head (notice the distinction of no “Go”, we do get sensitive about that).
From way back I used to load the back of a Vauxhall Viva estate and meander off in the direction of some far-flung airfield, where I was allowed to make a noise and inhale two stroke fumes to complement the mandatory burger from the onsite catering.
The kit to be carried was basic, one kart, one engine, slick tyres, wet tyres, and a toolbox. If the meeting was a two-day event, then a sleeping bag, towel, and a toothbrush were all that was needed for a five star stay. I seem to remember the racing being close and the kart always being quick enough and reliable. The shiny plastic trophy at the end of the day was always a bonus, and the ride home consisted of sharing memories of what had gone right (and wrong) and talking about the day’s successes and plans for next time.
Now we get to 2023, I am now racing in a series that has its roots back to the 80’s and 90’s and the pit area is full of faces from way back when (some even older than me), multiple world champions, and drivers who make their living from racing GT cars but come out to play at the weekend for fun.
Packing for the weekend has got serious, the estate car wouldn’t cut it now, even the van isn’t big enough, so the van and trailer get packed on a Thursday night ready for a quick getaway after close of play on Friday. Kart chassis, 2 engines for practice Saturday, 2 engines for race Sunday, Tyres for both days and spares, usually 5 sets in total, axles, brakes, bodywork, petrol tanks, pedals, and bearings - all just in case. The toolbox has expanded – laser alignment tools, micrometer gauges, specialised pullers for all sorts of things I am not going to dismantle, air compressor, generator, and a travel kettle. By the time it is all loaded a small haulage company would be proud of my efforts.
The journey now needs to be sedate, with the speed limit a maximum of 60mph when towing on the motorway, and of course lane 3 is now out of bounds. Setting off with 250 miles or more to travel I know it is going to take a while, I will be aiming for my favourite service areas, for my 2 hourly breaks - parking with the trailer has often chosen these out of necessity. With Spotify selected and some nice tunes to keep me entertained, I take the journey in my stride. It may be a lonely journey at times but at least I get to choose the music (and the volume).
On arrival the van needs to be emptied to make my accommodation, but the trailer can stay until the morning. If truth be told, most of the stuff will never see the light of day, it has been packed for that most important of reasons, just in case.
Fast forward through the weekend, the kart is cleaned and put away and the jigsaw puzzle of packing is completed. The journey home begins with me convincing myself I prefer the Northbound service area to the Southbound, and that the burger is much better on the way home. But at least we are driving, the journey home on the AA truck is a whole different story.
Carrying so much equipment around seemed necessary, after all I collected it and built up my collection. Yet I’m here wondering if maybe the days in the Viva were just perfect and I might be better off going back to basics. I mean, spending an hour with lasers setting the tracking is a great idea until I hit the first kerb, endlessly changing engines trying to convince myself that one is quicker than the other, and putting on ‘my best tyres’ to find a tenth, is great until I miss a braking point and lose three.
I think I am going to give it a try, now has anyone got a Vauxhall Viva estate I can try, preferably in yellow – and maybe I can negate the old saying ‘The older you get the faster you were’?
