Moody in New Zealand - 2005

Editor's Note: Mike Moody is in New Zealand competing in several BloKart events. These are his email reports. Additional Pictures can be found in the "Gallery" at www.classactionracing.com.

Mike receives his prize

First place to Mike

October 29, 2005. Thursday was the first day of racing at Blokart Heaven, and as it turns out, it was the last day. Large unmovable high pressure remains parked over the north island of Kiwi land. The decision was made early Sunday to not race as many had distances to drive and planes to catch.

Closing ceremonies were attended by about 100 competitors, staff and spectators and was done first class. Besides the normal trophy giving there were "spot prizes" (we call those door prizes).

The top four in the middlewieght performance division:
   Mike Moody USA (Class Action Racing) 6 pts.
   Russell Harray NZ from ABC (Auckland Blokart Club) 7 pts.
   Grant Clark NZ from BBC (Bay Blokart Club) 9 pts.
   Stu Clark NZ from BBC 10 pts.

I know each of these guys personally and they are top notch people as well as excellent sailor/racers. Stu Clark was my NZ sponsor for the week and was an excellent host. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to him. Also, all the staff and race crew at Blokart Heaven. And of course head Swami and Blokart Guru, Paul Beckett, his lovely and hard working wife Tina and Blokart business partner and son, Matt Beckett.

Personally I will have fond memories of this week for years to come. It was my pleasure to race against all these guys and gals and I consider it an honor to have raced against the best Blokarters in the world. Any of the 24 competitors in the middleweight performance class could have just as easily have won. This was evidenced by the fact that 6 different racers scored a first in each of our six races. They were Craig (NZ) Grant Clark (NZ), Russell Harray (NZ), Mike Moody (USA), Matt Beckett (NZ) and Nick (NZ).

I am especially proud of all our US Blokart Team members. Bob Casey from Reno, Nevada did not race but helped us around the pit area when we needed it and spent the week as "pit boss" getting all B-karts and competitors lined up for the next heat. Jim Tolan LA California, took over 2000 pictures and was our team cheer leader. Bryce Hodgson from San Diego raced well and had his learning curve take a quantum leap forward this week. "Fast Eddie" Pfirrman was right there scoring two seconds and only a whisker away from moving up several spots. And Brian Kent of Class Action Racing, team leader and sponsor of Team Blokart USA.

In his last race Brian inadvertently gave the field about a 30 sec. head start, then proceeded to pick off each kart ahead one by one until he had the lead and won going away. Biggest come back I have ever seen in a Blokart race! It was a beautiful thing to watch. Nice going guys. You all made me want to be a better racer.

For those that could not make it this time, this is a ""movement" that keeps getting bigger and better. Save your vacation time, save your money, save your frequent flyer miles, save up your work release time from the wife. Do whatever you have to do but be at the next one! Its an experience you don't want to miss.

On the Track

October 28, 2005. No racing today. Very light wind. We had an endurance race, last one moving as the wind died at the end of the day, and a fun relay race.

This really is a celebration of Blokarting. The best Blokarters in the world have assembled here to show there stuff, meet new friends, compete and have FUN! It has become a sort of global family. Something Paul Beckett never dreamed would happen.

They have worked very hard to get this ready and it shows. A great track with many improvements in just the last three weeks, sunny weather, excellent Bar-b-ques at night (have not had as restaurant meal since I got here), the color and pagentry of a traditional Mauri (pronounced Merry) welcoming ceremony, the flags of all the countries being flown atop Blokart masts on identical karts and all lined up on the infield, all the sponsors flags and banners all over the place, in ground electronic scoring provides scores to the web within 30 seconds of a race finish, an Olympic style winners stand complete with the many sponsors mosaic in the background.

Kiwi hospitality is second to none. Every overseas competitor is sponsored by a Kiwi family and has a place, a bed, a shower, and breakfast at no out of pocket cost to the guest.

There is media coverage every day. I have been interviewed on national TV along with other overseas competitors. Interviewed by the local newspaper and asked to give an acceptance speech of the Mauri welcome (with about 10 min. notice). TV 3 is doing daily shooting of raw footage to be used later for a documentary type piece.

This is a very organized event and still allows for competitor input at the daily "pilots meeting". Paul Beckett and company have set the standard for an event of this kind and . . . . . it is only the begining!

Cheers Mate!

Competitors Meeting

October 27, 2005. The first day of racing for the nearly 100 competitors at the NZ open is just completed and team Class Action Racing is straight into the hunt. I'm just back from the track and can file this report. The team, consisiting of Mike Moody, Bryce Hodgson, Jim Tolan, Fast Eddie, Brian Kent and Team Coordinator/Pit Boss Bob Casey are off to a great start. Racing is by weight group and broken into heats of about 10 to 12 blokarts, each equipped with an electronic transponder.

Spectators were treated to live commentary which captures all the excitement. Bryce cleaned up the middle weight production group in the first race of the day and stands near the top. Mike and Eddie are well in the hunt in the Open class with Mike showing great timing at the starts and consistent top finishes. Eddie has a sorted out a good feel for the best tracking lines around the course and is well into it. In the Open heavyweight class Jim and Brian are doing all they can with the light 10 knot winds. Keeping your speed on is critical and not very easy. This type of racing is very different than anything we have seen before.

The team has its own tent set up with the flags flying. With seven countries represented, the atmosphere is dynamic to say the least! Lots of banter, BBQ, and good times! Blokart NZ has pulled out all the stops and set a new standard for the rest of us to meet. Great event and well done! Wish you were here!!!!

Competitors Meeting

October 26, 2005. After a day of practice on Wednesday, in light sea breezes 6-8 mph. the 2005 BloKart NZ Open got under way today. Under full sunshine and blue skies, the competitors and dignitaries were greeted by local Maori children with traditional native song, ceremony and dress. The look was very Hawiian. We were also greeted by the Mayor and somehow I was picked to accept the welcome for all the overseas vistors by giving a short speech. Also, I was interviewed on national TV along with several other participants and we made the 6 o'clock news amidst cheers of joy from those that stuck around after Bar-b-que.

Breezes were light (as compared to normal) still 6-8 mph. but enough to get the karts moving and provide some excitement for the media and spectators. Hitting the starts on time and at speed and in clear air is the key. With emphasis on the at "speed" part. You can be late for the start by several seconds but if you have speed and momentum you can pass the slower karts that were at the line on time but did not have the speed.

I am especially proud of our American team as three of us scored at least one first in our respective divisions. In additioon to me, Bryce Hodgson and Brian Kent (of Class Action Racing scored a first) In addition, Ed Pfirrman (known as Fast Eddy) scored two seconds and is in the thick of it. The competition in my division is fierce as we raced six races (three races each in separate heats)and there were 6 different winners.

Over the next two days of racing, one mistake will be costly for some. Forecast is for stronger winds tomorrow. Excited to see how we all do in fast "short track" conditions".

It is dDifficult to describe how at home here I feel. The locals have taken each of us into their homes and feed us breakfast and generally make us feel welcome. It will not be easy to leave.

Flags on the Infield

October 25, 2005. No wind in the morning and 8-10 sea breeze in the afternoon was the order of the day for the first full day of tune up and practice at BloKart Heaven. This is an international event as the countries represented are Austrailia, Japan, Spain, Belgium, of course NZ and the USA.

The Americans have a tent covered with 5 or 6 of the "Stars and Stripes" and each American competitor carries the flag attached to the back of his kart. The local newspaper ran a full page article mentioning "the Ameican contingent with one "outrageous" looking US B-kart on the team. (That would be "BloTorch").

Sponsor tents are being erected, the TV and radio crews are getting set up, and the final touches are being put on the new track additions. Everyone seems to be lending a hand in some way as the fleet looks to quickly becoming a kind of "global BloKart family". I am learning lots about NZ. The more I learn, the more I like it here.

I am pPicking up lots of tuning tips from the go fast guys and even had a private tour of the BloKart factory after every one had left. The high light of the tour was "Area 51" another building out in back where Paul Beckett has his personal work shop and does most of the R & D. The latest idea is an 8 ft sailboat that looks like a short Laser and of course (in keeping with the BloKart philosophy) comes apart as the hull nests inside itself in sections and. . . . . you guessed it, fits in a bag!

Registration with more practice and tuning tommorrow. For non Blokarters, NZ is worth the trip!

Mike with his "BloTorch" in NZ

October 24, 2005. Its really amazing here. The people, the food, the scenery, the hospitality are all first rate. Driving in Kiwi traffic, however can be a real adrenelin rush! Thank God I’m only a passenger.

We raced at the Auckland Invitational on Sunday and were to race again on Monday (Labour Day here), but only Zepher puffs were coming through so race director Russell Harray had mercy on us and called it off.

Sunday was a real learning experience for me and all the Americans. There were about 22 karts. We raced 12 races, 2 were practice and 10 counted. My finishes were 2-2-3-DNF(flat tire)-15-11-16-DNF(another flat dammit!)-1-,2. In the last race the Americans went 1-2 as Jim Tolan from L.A. crossed first with me closing from just behind.

Wind was around 10 mph in the early races, then slacked off a bit and I had my worst finishes. It picked back up again to around 10 mph and I had better finishes at the end. You can see I do better as the wind increases. I think I was 8th of 9th overall as the lightweights dominated. It was quite informal with no prize giving for the top spots - only bragging rights and first in line at the Bar-B-que.

The sSurface at Bruce Paulen Park was quite rough as it is partly under renovation and the asphalt was first layer chip seal. The start is everything, even more important then water sailing, then comes the ability to hold momentum and speed. Momentum gets you through the dead spots with speed while others who got caught are pushing their wheels by hand just to get back to some wind. I was sometimes passing with momentum, and sometimes pushing my wheel and getting passed.

The course was a Grand Prix type course, in and out of parking areas small and large as well as up and down two lane access roads with fast reaches and some upwind tacking.

Upwind skills transfer nicely from water to the BloKart. I seem to be better than most upwind as only about 25% of the crowd were water sailors.

Monday, we travelled to Blokart Heaven in Tauranga 2.5 hrs South of Auckland. Many hands here, doing lots of work to get the track and facilities ready. The Kiwis want this to be the best it can be and are most concerned about impressing visitors. And they have a lot to be proud of.

I hope to get some practice in but a large high is sitting over the whole of NZ. Hopefully, it will move on and the wind will come in.