Finals Day at La Conca - Macken Team Australia

Hi again everyone,

World Finals day has finally arrived and here we are against all odds really.

Walking through the pits today was such a different atmosphere to yesterday as more competitors’ tents were empty than full and only 136 out of 255 competitors have made the “cut” and you can tell this is the seriously serious end of business today.

The day started well with carbie session and juniors first out on a greasy, partially wet track and our man James was fastest, a demon in the greasy conditions – it is exciting to hear the commentator call James Macken as fastest on track over the PA system! James was actually the slowest paced qualifier in the Finals, having qualified 47th due to the bad engine we received in the lottery, so it really was a miracle we were here at all.

But to the real stuff and James was out of position 27 for the Pre Final and hoping to improve greatly his grid position for the Final, unfortunately James was hit off in the course of the race and was unable to make up as much ground as we hoped for but improving none the less to position 21 in the 12 lap Pre Final race.

After the Pre Final came all the glitz and glamour of the Drivers’ Parade of Nations which was extremely colourful and upbeat and impressive, I am sure there will be heaps of photos up on the net. Our 10 Aussie competitors made up a fairly large team compared to many countries and we were uncommonly dressed in blue and white race uniforms but they did look good with the Aussie flag.

Then it was 1.15 pm and the competitors were lined up on the grid in their positions, a great sight, and the starter called for competitors to start their engines and it was time for the big World Final of 20 laps.

James got off to a good start despite being squashed (non-technical term I know but that is what it looks like when he passed over the start/finish line!!) he was pushed and was pushing nose to tail right round the first corner like a freight train and moving up to about 15th position, all good, engine sounded ok, kart looked ok, progress was being made, laps were ticking over…… then…. Lap 5, a jolting hit from behind and damage to the kart – something bent in the rear of the kart and our hopes of a top 10 finish were fading fast and faster, his lap times slowing. To his credit, James brought his machine home in 23rd place, not a true indication of his skill but that is how the race panned out and he had the guts to finish the race – no quitters here.

Disappointing needless to say but, hey, that’s go karting, it can be a cruel sport!!

There is so much I could say in James defence of his final placing for eg: James and his kart were over the weight limit, he had a bad engine for qualifying, it would have been nice if it had rained just a little during the Final race etc. etc. etc, the “wotifs” can be endless with racing!

But the best thing about this whole experience is the Macken Team set out :-
A) To Qualify
B) To actually get here
C) To make it into the Finals Day
D) To finish all the races – hopefully with a podium finish

and overall we achieved what we set out to achieve although it would have been sensational and a fairy tale ending to bring home a trophy on our first European/World attempt……

then again… there is always next year ………………………………………………………………

We would like to thank our mechanic, Scotty Auld, and also Ben George and Ian Black, IKD, for going into bat for James with Rotax to get the replacement engine and all the other Aussies in our team for making the trip enjoyable.

We are moving on for a brief visit to the Amalfi Coast on our way back to Rome, we hear there are some wicked roads to try our go karting skills on……………

Love to all and thanks heaps for your continued interest and support which has made our mission more enjoyable for sure.

Ciao ciao from Otranto Italy.
From all of us at Macken Team Astralie

Steve, Arlene, Matthew, James and Scott