The 2009 Dadson Masters started its season at the Lydd International Raceway in Kent.
The 1240 metre circuit that runs anticlockwise played host for the 1st round and saw a grid of 19 competitors. Lydd seems to have its own eco system and is a fantastic location for the 1st round. The weather was cold bright & sunny until the final.
The Dadson series is an MSA sanctioned series that travels around the UK choosing various circuits each year.
This championship for the more mature rotax max competitor now in its 8th year has attracted competitor’s attention literally all over the world.
Some very prominent karting companies now sponsor the series
Every competitor gets put into a prize draw for a new set of slicks courtesy of JAG Engineering. The winner this time was Chris Pasterfield.
Time qualification 1 went to Steve Kerr putting him on pole position for heat 1
In heat 1 Steve took lights to flag victory followed by Smithers & Green.
Time qualifying 2 again saw Kerr take the pole position.
A slight trip saw Kerr finish this heat settling for 2nd position behind the winner Bone followed by Smithers.
For the final Kerr took pole position the former 177 O Plate champion Chris Bone alongside completing the front row.
Showing very good form so far Smithers took the number 3 slot joining him on the 2nd row of the grid was Green.
The weather finally caught up with us for the final, driving rain indicating it was clearly a wet race. As the green flag goes up drivers take to the circuit for the rolling up lap. At this stage Kerr in pole position but on the rolling up lap Kerr’s motor showing signs of an intermittent problem, revving then dying then spluttering back to revving again, as the karts come round approaching the lights in true gentleman like style. Bone is crawling at a snails pace to give Kerr the chance to fight it out on the circuit, after several attempts its clear Kerr wont be able to make the final.
So round to the lights again and we have a start without Kerr, Bone goes straight into the lead followed by Smithers then Lofting. Further back Brittian got tagged & span round Goodwin looks to avoid but there’s nowhere to go so a head on ensues, both rejoin and immediately Brittian gets to work trying to catch the pack meanwhile Lofting, Green & Fairbrass are having a right ding-dong, all wanting 3rd place.
Further back Brittian is scything his way through.
At around half race distance drivers are wiping their visors in an effort to see. Its still
Bone followed by Smithers who is now having a look. Green gets tagged by Fairbrass and Brittian is 8th with a bullet. Lofting gets past Smithers but Smithers replies immediately retaking 2nd over the jump & into the bottom hairpin. Into lap 10 it’s Bone, Smithers, Lofting, Fairbrass & Brittian. On lap 12 Brittian manages to get past Fairbrass.
1st Bone 2nd Smithers 3rd Lofting 4th Brittian 5th Fairbrass