Photo – Winners: Thomas Dudley Duport and the team were: Danny Harlow, Pawel Maculewicz, Ethan Asquith, James Hopkins
Last year saw the first go-karting event organised by the branch as part of its drive to introduce ICME to younger foundrymen and women in a relaxed, friendly, informal, environment. The evening had proved very successful so a second go-karting night was arranged at the Full Throttle raceway in Stourbridge. This year the branch received sponsorship for the event from Omega Sinto Foundry Machinery Ltd. Company Chairman, Mark Feynes, said that Omega Sinto is always happy to support events like this that aim to promote fellowship within our industry and help create a bond with students and the branches of the institute.
Invitations were sent out to foundries, Foundry Training Services and to supplier organisations to enter a team of 4 drivers for the event. On the night 7 teams competed including one team of apprentices from Foundry Training Services. These students are currently studying the level 3 apprenticeship designed to train the future foundry and patternmaking engineers, technicians and operators. The evenings event took the form of a 100 minute endurance race at the end of which the first three teams who had recorded the most laps completed in the time were presented with medals from Full Throttle for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The branch also presenting prizes to these teams.
Competition was quite fierce on the track, but with good natured banter between the teams, a most enjoyable nights entertainment was had by all. At the end of 100 minutes of close racing the winners with the most completed laps were Thomas Dudley Duport, second were Newby Foundries and third place went to Foundry Training Services apprentices.
The participants all said how much they had enjoyed the evening and the branch have agreed they will run the event again as long as there is still the support from the industry. We know that the students would like to opportunity to try and take the coveted winners medal.
