27th November 2014

Another win for Loeskow in 2014 - From the News-Mail

KARTING ACTION: Troy Loeskow in the pre racing trials of the Enduro Kart Racing event at Dromeside Raceway. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail

AGGRESSIVE is one word to describe Troy Loeskow’s driving style – fantastic for the short-sharp races that made up the nation-wide CIK Stars Of Karting KF2 series he won in 2014.

But not the best for the 200-lap Bull Run Enduro at Dromeside Raceway.

Loeskow teamed up with fellow Bundaberg driver Jim Thompson and took out the endurance event on the challenging circuit where a simple mistake can cost time and track position.

Driving a kart in the CIK series was hard enough when the heats and races were usually fought out in 15-minute stints, but at the weekend Loeskow and Thompson each spent over an hour in the seat driving as hard as they could to ensure victory.

Unlike a car with power steering and a comfortable seat a kart is less well equipped to handle long periods of driving.

Despite the obvious lack of air conditioning and cruise control a kart’s steering is heavy, the drivers wore a fire-proof full-body race suit and instead of a pair of sunglasses on their heads the competitors pulled on a full-faced helmet.

The only breaks the machines got were in the pit stops were fuel was topped up and chains were oiled and the drivers could have done with longer rests.

Under the blazing sun temperatures rose inside the suits and fitness was tested, but thankfully for Loeskow he built up the tolerance needed for the race over a long season behind the wheel.

“The last couple of laps I had to take it easy, I knew something was wrong (with the kart),” Loeskow said.

“But it all worked out in the end.”

Loeskow and Thompson were lucky because they were able to deal with the hour and a quarter of driving in the searing sun, some other drivers were not.

The physical toll 200 laps took on others was evident with the sweat-soaked suits and helmets that had to be dried out in between stints, but Loeskow said it wasn’t only the heat that caused problems.

“A few of the guys who didn’t race felt it,” he said.

“It was a really hot day but being under the forces of the kart for that long was hard.”

The Bull Run 200 was the last meeting at Dromeside Raceway for 2014, action returns next year in February.