EKN Trackside - 2012 IAME International Final

David Cole · Last edited by David Cole on Tue Oct 23, 2012 8:00 am, edited 1 time in total

This weekend, eight North American drivers will compete at the IAME International Final in Lyon, France. Drivers from around the world will compete in four X30 classes to earn the world championship title in the Senior, Junior, Master, and Shifter divisions.

To review those competing, click here: http://www.ekartingnews.com/news_info.php?n=21097

Updates will be published over the next six days with updates on the American and Canadian drivers.
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Joel Jens · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 8:23 am Post subject: IAME final driver blog

Hello all,

Preparations have been made and hopefully all the loose ends tied up as we are literally leaving for the IAME International Final. There have been a lot of things that needed to happen before we could even get this far.

Once the invitation from Russell Karting / IAME was received, the process of obtaining an International licenses from WKA, the ACCUS representative for the States was required. This license is required for all overseas competition and is only good thru the end of the year and a bit pricey too. Travel arrangements were the next order of business, coordinating mine, and those of my family and support team members. Tiffin Willareth and Vic Matuzsewski are coming along to work the EKN side of the event and also help me if needed. So having some familiar extra help will be a benefit I hope.

I will be competing in the Senior division and will be teamed up with Jim Russell Jr on the same team, as he competes in the Masters division. Jim has been pretty instrumental in getting most of the logistics prepared for us as this is a regular event for him, so his experience is very beneficial. I will be aboard a Sodi Kart Celeste chassis for the IAME-Belgium team, as will Jim. This will be something new for me as I am normally behind the wheel of my TonyKart EVRR's. I am confident in being able to adjust quickly to the new kart, as just a few days ago I teamed with Jim Russell Jr. on his Parolin for the RoboPong event. But just in case, my mechanic, Tiffin, is prepared with an entire suitcase of equipment if we need things . I'm not sure what the others from North America will be aboard, but we will be updating that as soon as we get there and learn the details.

Having spoken to several people in karting who have been to the Actua Circuit in Lyon, France, it sounds really fun and challenging and I cannot wait to get there and see how we do. Also having the chance to see a different part of the world and sample the French cuisine. Having a long couple flights to get me the 4300 miles in take to arrive there, I will be studying event rules and regulations, as well as information on the chassis. DKC representatives have already been supportive in providing assistance and tips to get me started.

So it's off to France I go, via Charlotte, North Carolina and Frankfurt, Germany to meet up with everyone very soon. I am looking forward to competing against a global field and represent the USA in this event.

I'll try and give a little perspective of my day-to-day activities each day, so feel free to follow along and ask any questions you may have.

Joel Jens

2011 WKA Triple Crown Champion
2012 WKA KPP Jr Lite Grand National Champion
2012 RoboPong Jr Yamaha Champion

Kyle C Smith · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 9:11 am Post subject: Re: IAME final driver blog

Michael Boone · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:32 am Post subject:

Good luck to everyone give them hell !!! I'll be keeping track but can't get down there this weekend. But will be there in spirit!!

Joel the new sodi is very good and you like the brakes! Wink

Have a great time and make some new friends !!!

There are so many good things to eat I don't know where to start!! Razz

They make a sandwich they call the American Rolling Eyes

It's a baguette with a hamburger patty and Fry's covering it kind of a French Hamburger Rolling Eyes

it's ok

Oh watch out for the mustard it burns all the way down Razz

Have fun!!

MB
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Joel Jens · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 12:29 am Post subject: Wednesday update

Well, we made it to the other side of the "pond". The flight was long and it was difficult to sleep, so landing the next day's morning and remaining awake thru the course of the day was the next goal. Upon arrival in France, Jim Jr. greeted us at the Aeroport with what is considered a large vechicle for all our gear. Several competitors were on the last flight leg into France; this was evident in the karting clothing and array of helmets onboard the flight.

Once at the track, it was interesting to watch the "move-in". Several teams have large transporters - Praga, PDB, DR and Sodi - otherwise the Sprinter van concept is the norm with a free standing tent or pop-up structure. I was introduced to my team, as was Jim Jr., who will be under the same tent as me with Sodi. We walked the track and noted the technical areas and how it would be through the competition. Tiffin, Vic and Jim Jr gave me alot of ideas and I feel good about how it will go, it is much different than at home, but looks to be very, very fast and fun. I got a chance to talk with the Canadian group from Italian Motors, as they were waiting for the Praga tent to be assembled, as they are with them. The TS Racing contigent is here with the DR team as well.

Our mechanics had brand new Sodi Celesta karts and IAME X-30 motors fully prepped and ready for seat fitting. Small details were made and numbers and decals affixed and we were basically ready to go. Most things are the same as racing at home, with small differences. The registration process is so much quicker and there is far less paperwork. As far as the kart/engine combination, the only real difference is that a supplemental exhaust silencer is attached, much like a KF3 style, to keep the noise down. For the chassis, front hand-brakes are on all karts other than the Junior category. This will be something to get used to.

This was a welcome thing as two full days up with no sleep, and I was getting exhausted. I wanted pizza and a bed so badly. Tommorrow starts on-track activities with five rounds of free practice split into three groups for Senior, one group for Junior and two groups of Masters.

Joel

Bill Wright · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 11:21 am Post subject: Re: Wednesday update

TJ Koyen · Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Posts: 1415

Joel,

I wish you spoke this formally in real life. Laughing

Good luck to you and the rest of the North Americans competing. I'm sure you'll find yourself up front in no time. You've shown this year with your first Pro Tour runs in Sr. TaG that you adapt to new things quickly and you're every bit as capable to run up as anyone.

Give 'em the business!
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David Cole · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:49 pm Post subject:

Photos from the event thus far HERE Thanks to Tiffin Willareth
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Joel Jens · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:08 am Post subject: Day 3

Hello all,

Well the first day of on track activities are in the books. We only got 4 "Free Pracrtice" sessions today as there are so many entrants in some classes that one session was removed so that we could get enough space on the track. The sessions were 15 minutes with a hot pit available everytime, which made it very good. The juniors did get an additional session at the end.
For my first session the goal was to break in the new X30 engine and learn the track and how the front brakes would feel as I never have used them before. WOW!!! what a feel they have, I like them....Basically the easiest way to learn was as I was learing the track and settling the engine in I only slowed the kart with the hand control, this taught me alot about the feature quickly.
As the sessions went on my Sodi mechanic began adapting the kart to my style and likes as well as bringing more power from the engine. The practices are very organized and even the practive tires are marked and recorded as well as chassis and motors. Everything is really checked out for compliance, from your suits, helmets and even a special mandated French approved neck collar. No thin, cut down versions allowed here at all.
Seniors are being split into 3 groups of practice and I feel pretty good with the speed, and feel that we can do really well. All the North Americans are doing good and representing well. The locals who raced here for the French X30 challenge are clearly faster at this point, but many look to have speed as well. It should be a good race and fun.
After all the session were over the drivers briefing was held. This was in a really big nice tent, banquet room and held in several languages. Nothing much different than what we are briefed about in the states. Afterwards it was off to dinner with Jim, Vic, Tiffin and Mom for some good French food. Well its off to sleep for another days activities. Tomorrow its 3 rounds of "free practice" with the last being transponders mandatory and then off to qualifying to end the day. A lottery determines which group you are in for qualifying so I hope I hit the jackpot.

Check out the link that EkN put up earlier to follow live scoring

Joel
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2011 WKA Man Cup Triple Crown Winner
2012 WKA Grand National Champion KPP Jt Lite
2012 RoboPong Yamaha Junior Champion

www.Verdespeedresources.com

Joel Jens · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:08 am Post subject: Day 3

Tiffin Willareth · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 2:54 am Post subject: Thurs wrap up

Bonjour,

Greetings from Lyon France, and the Lyon Kart Master Club home of the IAME X30 International Final
Friday’s action is getting underway with the first of 3 rounds of “Free Practice” which is practice in our terms in the US. The fourth and last session of the day is “Timed Qualifying” for the classification of the classes. Qualifying will be a 10 minute session, with your group determined by a lottery drawing. So there will be no clear fast session, which will make things interesting at the end of the day.
North Americans competing
Junior X30:
# 71 Stross…USA…DR Kart

Senior X30
#32 Isman…CA…Praga
#35 Jens…USA…Sodi
#87 Duval…USA…DR Kart
#138 Hargrove…CA…Praga

Master X30
#30 Hyde…CA…Praga
#42 Derrig…USA…Praga
#121 Russell…USA…Sodi

Entries are listed at approximately 30 in Junior, 88 in Senior and 50 in Masters. There is also the X30 shifter class that has about 13 entries in it. IAME certainly has responded well and hosting an exceptional event with the structure and organization of the event. The IAME/Parilla support can be seen everywhere around the paddock, in team tents, and with 3 full service vehicles on site any part need or repair is taken care immediately.
Thursdays practice went well for the North American contingent. Stross showed good speed and was within .4 seconds of the fastest karts according to his crew. In the Senior division, Jens, Duvall, Hargrove and Isman were very close together and progressing nicely getting quicker with every session. They all ended the day about .4-.6 seconds off the unofficial fast time by a French Sodi driver. The front brakes were the topic of discussion amongst many of them as it is something new to the drivers. In the Masters division, Russell found himself with an engine failure in the last minutes of the 3rd session and forced to break in another engine in the last session. The failure is believed to have been a lower rod bearing failure. Hyde and Derrig were also doing well and getting accustomed to the track. Both said they were having fun and that it is quite an experience for them.
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Tiffin Willareth
www.verdespeedresources.com
Verde Speed Resources / Joel Jens Racing

Tiffin Willareth · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 3:04 am Post subject: Fri Practice

2nd rounds of practice, live scoring is up and running with transponders optional at this point.

X30 Junior: Fast time
#129 Bollier /France / Kosmic 50.559

Stross / USA / DR no transponder times yet

X30 Senior: Fdast time
# 118 Garcia / France / Intrepid 49.832

#87 Duval /USA /DR 50.125 3rd overall
#35 Jens /USA/ Sodi 50.672 38th overall
#138 Hargrove / Canada / Praga 50.718 overall 42nd overall
#32 Isman / Canada / Praga no transponder times yet

Masters is next and then lunch
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Tiffin Willareth
www.verdespeedresources.com
Verde Speed Resources / Joel Jens Racing

Tiffin Willareth · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 4:34 am Post subject: updates

X30 Master Fast time session 2:
#27 Blin / France / Kosmic 50.982

#121 Russell / USA / Sodi 51.313 11th overall
#30 Hyde / Canada / Praga 52.040 27th overall
# 42 Derrig / Canada / Praga no transponder time
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Tiffin Willareth
www.verdespeedresources.com
Verde Speed Resources / Joel Jens Racing

Tiffin Willareth · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:45 am Post subject: Final Free Practice round

X30 Junior Final Free practice: 30 entries
#10 Darris / France / Tonykart 50.336
#129 Bollier / France / Kosmic 50.347
#101 Bonduel / Belgium / Art GP 50.387

#71 Stross / USA / DR 51.846 28th overall

X30 Senior Final Free practice group 1: 29 on track
#29 De La Brosse / France / Tonykart 49.874
#23 Lopes / France / Tonykart 50.023
#3 Makino / Japan / Windforce 50.26

#32 Isman / Canada / Praga 50.32 14th in group

X30 Senior Final Practice group 2: 30 on track
#57 Cout / France / Alpha 50.030
#38 Barbe / France / Tecno 50.160
#40 Ceribella / France / FA 50.191

#35 Jens / USA / Sodi 50.688 17th in group

X30 Senior Final Free practice group 3: on track
#169 Gounon / France / 59.941
#75 Fraysse / France / 59.959
#139 Salvatore / France / 59.983

#138 Hargrove / Canada / Praga 50.450 13th in group
#87 Duvall / USA / DR 50.500 14th in group
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Tiffin Willareth
www.verdespeedresources.com
Verde Speed Resources / Joel Jens Racing

Tiffin Willareth · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 6:12 am Post subject: Final free practice

X30 Masters Final Free practice group 1 20 on track
#28 Duchateau / France / Alpha 50.824
#14 Allemand / France / Tonykart 50.984
#4 Michelsen / Peru / CRG 51.040

#30 Hyde / Canada / Praga 52.663 18th in group
#42 Derrig / USA / Praga 53.589 19th in group

X30 Masters Final Free practice group 2 23 on track
#27 Blin / France / 50.903
#121 Russell / USA / Sodi 50.903
#33 Collinot / France / 51.091

#121 Russell / USA / Sodi 3rd overall in class Very Happy

Next session will be qualifying for all classes
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Tiffin Willareth
www.verdespeedresources.com
Verde Speed Resources / Joel Jens Racing