You will need to look at the FEKC website to see their new rules on practice day.
1) the driver has to be older than 6.
2) The driver will be in the "Cadet- not licenced " session.
3) Race standard of clothing and helmet are required. (ie, you cannot go out in a boiler suit, trainers and wooly gloves. You will need a proper karting helmet; but would you send her out with less?)
4) The club reserve the right to stop any kart that doesn't meet their idea of safety which is essentially that you would pass a scrutineering safety check. While they let no-longer-legal bodywork out on track, I saw someone get stopped recently because they had no guards at all on their chain, neither at the front or back. Yes, I know we used to race without chain guards, and I also know drivers missing fingertips when they missed the carb and found the front sprocket.
As a practice consideration, don't get locked into a 'must get on track' fixation. If you miss a session, it won't be the end of the world, and you are far less likely to send her out on track without the wheels done up or the engine loose or the chain not oiled. (an unoiled chain will eat both front and rear sprockets in one practice session ruining the rest of the day). We have all done this sort of thing and it is usually as a result of rushing to get to the grid.
Write yourself a checklist and cover with plastic. Check off the items each time.
1) All body work on and secured. (Astonishing the number of karts that arrive minus a nose cone or rear bumper.
2) Front wheels on and nuts secure
3) Throttle pedal full and free movement, thottle opens fully when pedal on stop.
4) Brake pedal, full and free movement. Brake pivot bolt cecked for wear and movement. Brake goes on fully when pedal depressed. all lock nuts locked.
5) Brake linkage and secondary linkage secure, lock nuts tight. (Make sure that if the primary brake link (usually a bar) comes loose, the secondary will operate the brake)
6) Brake master cylinder secure. Brake fluid has been checked at least once that day.
7) Rear axle secure in its bearings (check grub screws), bearing tight in their hangers.
8) Rear wheels on and nuts done up tight. Make sure the wheels are on their centres. Tracking correct.
9) Rear bumper secure. If metal bumper check not cracked particularly if its been bumped or visited teh tyres.
10) Rear sprocket, right number of teeth. Aligned with front Sprocket.
11) Chain tension correct, chain wear acceptable, no 'stiff links'.
12) Chain guard on
13) engine securing bolts tight.
14) Seat secure, examine seat mounts for crackss where they join chassis rails.
15) Steering wheel secure, no play to steering column. Full and free movement.
16) Steering column straight.
17) Tie rods secured to steering column, free movement in the rose joints. Enough threads engaged, locknuts tight.
18) Tie rods secured to sterring arms on stub axles. Steering arms are straight.
19) front wheels point in right direction (Toe in /out) and stub axles are not bent.
20) Driver has helmet, gloves. I recommend ear plugs and possibly a mouthguard ( I use a mouthguard because I grind my teeth so hard when I drive I splinter them). Ear plugs should be mandatory for a child, hearing loss from engine noise is permanent.
21) Driver has been briefed. ie, what are you trying to do in this practise session. If you use a datalogger, has it been set?
Then you can get on the grid and enjoy!
|
|
FEKC - practice considerations by 'JohnnyCuz' (05 Aug 2009 @ 14:35)
