If you've ever wondered why New Zealand racing drivers Scott Dixon and Wade Cunningham have excelled on oval courses in the United States consider this - both started racing at Auckland's KartSport Mt Wellington track, the only kart track which can be run as an oval.
Each year, as part of its annual Three-Way Series - the Mt Wellington club cones off the centre section of the track and runs a meeting on the closest thing a driver in New Zealand can get to a paved oval course complete with ultra high speed right hand sweeper at the end of the start/finish straight.
It's a course configuration that has every driver excited, from the youngest unrated Cadet to the gnarliest veteran, and this Sunday is oval weekend.
Class by class the drivers to look out for in the Senior categories are Deon Forrest, Daniel Dufty and Richard Moore in Senior Yamaha Light, Nic Tosswill and Steven Currie in Senior Yamaha Heavy, Richard Moore and Jake Pascoe in 125cc Rotax Max Light, Peter Ball and Peter Wrightson in 125cc Rotax Max Heavy, and Daniel Bray and John Lovich in Open.
In the Juniors it would pay to keep an eye on club young guns Matthew Griffin and Tom Blomqvist in Formula Junior, Joel Thrupp in Junior Yamaha, Ben Drummond, Bradley Hicks and Paul Blomqvist in Junior Restricted, and Cadets Rhys Tinney (Rated) and Oscar Grant (Unrated). .
After being forced to postpone the first round of the 2007 series a fortnight ago because of torrential rain, the KartSport Mt Wellington committee is hoping for fine weather this Sunday.
A special feature of this year's series Three-Way Series is the main prize, or rather prizes, two 7-Day accommodation packages at the Oakridge Resort Grand Mercure hotel in Wanaka valued at $3000 each donated by overall series co-sponsor Merlot Investments Ltd and to be drawn at the end-of-series prizegiving on October 13 at the Waipuna Hotel and Convention Centre.
CRC and Bridgestone are also providing spot prizes to be given away at each round and at the end of series prize giving.
The 2007 KartSport Mt Wellington Three-Way Series sponsored by Merlot Investments Ltd and CRC is made possible with the assistance of supporting sponsors Bridgestone, Davie Signs and Blow Fish Sushi, and class sponsors Spartan Auto Dismantlers, Brian Tinney Motors, Roundabout Cars, Right Karts, Thrupp Builders, Auckland Hydraulic Supplies, Kartside Insurance, Spargs Auto Tune, Hopscotch and P&S Auto Centre.
2007 KartSport Mt Wellington Three-Way Series sponsored by Merlot Investments Ltd & CRC
Rnd 1: Sunday August 19 2007 (anti-clockwise)
Rnd 2: Sunday September 9 2007 (oval)
Rnd 3: Sunday September 23 (clockwise)
