Oliver Smith Kart Racing

14/10/2016

Nice surprise to see this at Avant Homes head office today.

10/10/2016

Good weekend at Wombwell International Raceway for Round 7 of SYKC Club Championship. A few set up problems on Saturday and was not really 'on it' but feeling reasonably confident for Sunday. First heat I came 3rd and second heat 7th but I was struggling with set-up. The rain came and with a set-up change i felt much better with a 3rd in the third heat. I started 5th in the final and gained a place to come home in a solid 4th place. Good points for the championship with 2 rounds to go. Thanks to my dad (even though he messed up the set-up), Frag and Jordan. Good luck to Jordan who is racing in the world finals at Le Mans this week.

03/10/2016

Nearly there on quite a bit of sponsorship for 2017. I've sent my dad in to seal the deal!

12/09/2016

I raced at Wombwell this weekend in Round 7 of NKF and Round 6 of SYKC. I had good pace in Saturday practice and took this into Sunday with a 3rd in the 1st heat. A nose cone penalty in the 2nd heat brought me in 14th and a solid 8th place in the 3rd heat. I started 7th in the final and despite losing a few places at the start, I got back up to 7th and was pushing for 6th but with 2 laps to go my throttle cable snapped so I had to retire. Really disappointing as I had good pace all weekend and was looking at some decent points in both championships. Thanks to Jordan and Frag at MBM and Force for the waft, my dad and the Kart Doctor. On to a bit of testing at PFi for the next few weeks before the final round of NKF next month.

09/09/2016

On our way to Wombwell for Round 7 of NKF and SYKC Club round. Nice to see some big grids this weekend and looking forward to a good weekend's racing.

21/08/2016

Hard weekend at Cheshire Kart Club for Round 6 of the NKF. First time there in X30 and the changing weather on Saturday meant that it was difficult to learn the track but got myself within a couple of tenths of the front runners. Sunday was nice and sunny and started reasonably well with a 9th in the first heat followed by a disappointing 13th in the 2nd heat and a much improved 8th in the 3rd heat. I started the final in 10th and managed to hold the position until the last couple of laps but brought it home in 12th place. A bit disappointing as should have got top 10 but pleasing to see I was on the pace. Next stop Wombwell for Round 7 of NKF. Thanks to my Dad and MBM.

11/07/2016

Good weekend at SYKC - 5th Round of the Club Championship at Wombwell. Saturday practice was really good with steady pace and the set-up was working so I went into sunday quite positive of giving James Taylor a race. Sunday was slightly different and although I won the 1st heat and 3rd in the 2nd heat, I had a lack of power so a quick carb kit change for the 3rd heat worked a treat and I was back on the pace. I qualified 2nd for the final and whilst I came home in 3rd place, I was pleased to be right with George Hodgkiss and James Taylor and give them a race. A few weeks off until NKF in August. Thanks to my dad, MBM and Force Engines. Also well done to Max Barrow and Jenson Parker for their wins in IAME and Mini.

03/07/2016

NKF Round 5 at GYG in Wales this weekend. First real time at the track as last year I broke my thumb so was looking to learn the track and hopefully get a top ten finish. Saturday practice was a nightmare as due to the weather, every session was different, so I didn't really get the best out of the day. Sunday was nice and sunny so we just went out and tried our best. I was surprised with my pace in all the heats but a bit of bad luck meant that we qualified 12th for the final. I got a bad start but held onto 12th and moved forward to 10th but span when trying to overtake which put me down to about 15th. Again I had good pace and caught the drivers in front but I was taken out when overtaking which bent my steering column and I had to retire. Finishing 20th is disappointing but I had top ten pace in all the heats which is a positive having never really raced there before. Tough weekend but we move on to SYKC next week and then a few weeks off. Thanks as always to my dad, MBM, Force, Frag, Jordan, Luke, Ben and Craig for their help.

22/06/2016

Last weekend was Round 4 of NKF at Larkhall, Scotland. First time i've been to the track and really enjoyed it. I had half a day testing in the wet on Friday which was very useful and a full day testing in the dry on Saturday. I had good pace but knew that Sunday would be wet. The first 2 heats weren't very good with a couple of 10th places due to being knocked of in the first heat and a penalty in the second heat. The third heat was better with a 5th place. I started 9th in the final and managed to get upto 6th which was probably about right. Well done to Gordie Mutch for his win but was pushed all the way by Ben Summers until Ben made a mistake after catching him. Thanks to AVANT Homes, MBM, Craig, Ben and Jamie Conquer for loaning me a pair of racing boots after I forgot mine! Having a weekend off ready for Round 5 at GYG in July.

22/06/2016

12/06/2016

4th Round of the South Yorkshire Kart Club Championship this weekend and the weather won!! A crash in Saturday practice caused damage to my front end and I could hardly keep the kart on the track. Had to change my chassis and use the team kart from Sunday. I started well with a 2nd in the 1st heat followed by a 4th and another 2nd meant that I started 2nd in the final. Due to the weather, I had to change set-up just before the final so I got to the grid late and started 5th. Also, the rain had stopped and the sun had come out again, so I was on completely the wrong tyre! A few bumps at the start put my in the lead (unbelieveably!) but with 4 other drivers on slicks they quickly got past me and I came home 5th - about 3 hours behind the winner! A bit disappointing as I had the pace to challenge for 2nd but sometimes it doesn't go your way. Thanks to MBM (Frag & Jordan), Craig Buckley, my dad and AVANT Homes for their help and support. Really looking forward to my first visit to Larkhall, Scotland next weekend for Round 4 of NKF.

23/05/2016

Round 3 of NKF at Fulbeck Lincs and it was one to forget! Saturday was tough as I was not able to get on the pace in all but the last practice session. Sunday started really bad with a 21st in the 1st heat as I missed one of the chicanes and was docked 1 lap. The second heat was better but I didnt get the result - I started in 14th and got to 6th when a very optimistic move by another driver on the last lap took us both out and I came home 1 lap down in 20th. Third heat was a bit better with a 12th place having started in 22nd place. I started the final in 19th and with a bit of luck and some good overtakes I got into 9th and was closing on the drivers in front but ran out of time. Another 10 second penalty (usual 1st lap crash ahead of me which I was nothing to do with!) meant I finished 13th. Thanks to MBM, Craig Buckley, my dad and AVANT Homes for their help and support. But also a special mention to Jordan and Ben for the worlds quickest coil change to get me out on track just in time for the final. Onwards and upwards - busy June with SYKC and my first visit to Larkhall for Round 4 of NKF.