Karting Du Mortanais

In the wet at Glan Y Gors

My name is Tom Yehya and I live in Heswall on the Wirral Peninsula. Heswall is about 13 miles from Chester and 10 miles from Liverpool.

I went to Gayton Primary School and I am now in year 8 at Wirral Grammar School for Boys.

I am an active member of the 5th Heswall Scout group and I enjoy the outdoor activities and camps. I also enjoy ten pin bowling, cycling and like most kids of my age I am an ace on the Playstation!

I first started karting at a small indoor  circuit at Deeside in N Wales. When I was about 10 I went on holiday to France. Whilst on holiday, my Dad and I found an 800m outdoor circuit called Karting Du Mortanais, where I got my first taste of faster karts. We go to France at least once a year and sometimes twice. Whenever I am in France, I always head for the circuit at Mortain which I enjoy very much.

In June 2007 I was lucky enough to get my own kart. It's a 2006 CRG chassis with a Rotax Mini Max engine. We got the complete kart and clothing package from John Johnson at JJR Motorsport. At first I spent at least two or three day a month testing at the Glan Y Gors circuit in N Wales. There was a lot to learn for me and my Dad. I started by learning the racing lines, throttle control, brake control and steering techniques. My Dad had to learn the mechanics of the kart. Gearing, carburetor set up, axle width and tyre pressures to mention just a few. 

More recently I have also been testing at Hooton Park in Ellesmere Port. This circuit is more complex than Glan Y Gors because it only has short straights and lots of tight corners.  

Up to now we have managed to get four sets of part worn Vega SL8 slicks, one new set of Vega SL8 slicks and a new set of Vega W2 wets. These are the only tyres that you can use on the Rotax Mini Max kart.

We now have about 10 different sized rear sprockets ranging from size 72 to 82 and two front sprockets, sized 12 and 13. My Dad uses a mixture of the different sizes to get the best gearing for whatever track we are on.      

Even though we are using second hand tyres, I am still lapping at Glan Y Gors in 46 seconds and Hooton in 36 seconds which is pretty near on the pace. I know that I can go faster with new tyres on which give more grip.