TEL : (0114) 2799666

470 metre floodlit outdoor circuit, can be used in wet or dry weather.

Average lap time 36 Seconds (in the dry)

The Topkarts guys booked a mini GP session for our trip out to Parkwood Karting, the format for the GP was a warm up lap followed by two qualifying sessions, then onto the main race. After the briefing the obligatory safety video and kitting up it was into the Karts and onto the start of the qualifying sessions.

Starting places on the 1st of the 2 qualifying sessions are chosen at random, in the 2nd qualifying session Karts are placed in the reverse order of where they finished in the 1st qualifying points are gained on both qualifiers, the total number of points determines where you will start on the grid for the race final. The start finish line at Parkwood is situated at the start of the main straight followed by a sharp right hand hairpin, so on the green light is a mad dash down to the first corner, this is the hardest corner to negotiate from the start with the Karts proving quite easy to spin out if braking for the corner was left too late, you also have to worry about the other Karts behind coming in too quickly and nudging you into a spin. Then its onto another smaller straight on a slight incline followed by another tight right hander, after this into a series of intricate twisty bits followed by a nice long right hand bend to lead you back onto the start finish straight. The last corner before the start finish I thought was the best corner on the track, it can be taken flat out which gives you the whole of the main straight to hopefully get a run on a competitor and overtake under breaking going into the first corner.

For the final race I qualified in 2nd place, my plan for victory was a simple one! Banzai into the first corner, overtake on the outside line, hope the Kart sticks and sail to the end to take the chequered flag - easy!!! The first part worked out well, I managed to grab the lead from the start as planned, unfortunately three corners later my hopes were dashed, my kart decided to go straight on when trying to turn at the intricate twisty bits and found myself wedged in the tyre wall waiting for a marshall to pull me out, all I could do was watch while everyone else went passed, laughing through their balaclava's!!!

So, last place for me! Despite this I had a great time a Parkwood and can thoroughly recommend it.

Review by Andy Hotchkiss