Parakart Association (PKA) National Race Series - Hoylake 4/5 April, Report by Race winner Graham Steel (flying the new GIN TONKAWA race kites)

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Saturday started with light winds and the sun shining. The first race was called for a duration of 40 minutes.

In the first race I took the 8.5 on 15m lines and after a good start I soon found myself pulling away from the rest of the fleet bar Ozone rider Adrian Lavell. The wind started to pick up and I soon found myself overpowered, unfortunately Adrian was able to pass as I struggled on. Soon the whole fleet had gone in and changed to smaller likes except for the two of us who crawled round to the finish!

The second race of the day I took the 6.8m on 15m lines and was able to take the lead easily and finish with a commanding lead!

The third race found me with a stiff challenge from upcoming pilot Matt Cook but the Tonkawa 6.8 was superior down wind and I managed another win.

The next race saw a very close race as the wind picked up and I struggled on the 6.8 with Adrian on a 5m Yakuza, at the finish line there was less than a wheels diameter between us!

The 5th race saw UK team pilot Tim Agget flying on his 4.7m Spirit. He made an excellent start but the 6.8 Tonkawa was just incredibly fast down wind and I was right behind him at the last mark and a in a do or die manoeuvre I suicide gibed in front of him, I knew there was risk of collision but thought it worth it. Unfortunately the kites touched and mine fell to the floor! I recovered to 4th and Tim went on to record his first National win fortunately.

The next 3 races were in the opposite direction.

I was able to win the next two without too much problem on the mighty 6.8 again.
In the last race of the day Tim got his second win of the day and in all fairness flew a perfect race, I ended up just 20m behind him.

Sunday was very light winds and blue sky.

I started the race on the 11.5m. After a shambolic start I found myself 100m behind the leaders but after a superb upwind leg I was right on their tail when I made a stupid error and just touched the top of a mark causing the kite to roll over and the subsequent re-inflation snapped a probably damaged line! I was cross with myself because it was a race I felt I could turn into a win!

After that the racing was cancelled due to lack of wind!

I had the overall victory and am now 13 point in the lead in the national series!

A great weekend thanks to the amazing Gin Tonkawa!
Graham Steel

The next PKA event is Race Pembrey on the 9th and 10th of May.