Kartfest 2022 – Team Sennheiser (feat. Leisuretec)
Posted on: 7th July 2022
What is Kartfest?
Oh, what a day! Nothing quite brings people together like a spot of healthy competition. Throw in a healthy dose of underhand tactics, plenty of beer (non-alcoholic of course) and a truly great cause, and you’re guaranteed a killer event. Team Leisuretec was there too, obviously…
We’re talking of course about Kartfest 2022 – the electric, eccentric, fundraising extravaganza hosted by Backup Tech. An essential lifeline to our industry, Backup provides wellbeing support, mental health counselling grants, MHFA training bursaries, Addiction support, Recovery Aware training workshops and so much more. Backup has been an invaluable asset to technical industry professionals, shining particularly bright during the pandemic in spite of the challenges we all faced, particularly charities who were unable to host fundraisers in person.
This all changed with the return of Kartfest 2022 after a 2-year COVID hiatus – and what a return it was! Hosted by Daytona Outdoor Karting at Sandown Racecourse, Sussex, this year’s event featured 33 teams from across the industry battling it out for pole position. For the uninitiated, Kartfest is a 3-hour endurance race with teams from across the industry, including CHAUVET Professional, Yamaha and Avolites; all competing to complete the most laps by the end of the event. Each team has to co-ordinate swapping between their 6 drivers as well as completing a refuel stop at the halfway point. For an extra level of fun, competitors could donate to the charity and purchase Golden Tickets throughout the race to add laps to their team, and remove laps from others making it truly anyone’s race!
Dressing up is more than encouraged with many racers sporting Olympic themed costumes and revealing spandex. On that note, the day was kicked off by the almost unrecognisable Trustee’s Lee Dennison and Paul Robinson, with a touching tribute to Backup Chair John Simpson. John passed away in June 2022 and will be remembered as a driving force behind the charity, working tirelessly to champion and support technical professionals. The day was dedicated to John and all those lost over the years.
More funds were raised throughout the day with a raffle of prizes donated by various brands and organisations including tickets to see Sam Fender, generously donated by Sennheiser.
Speaking of Sennheiser, the renowned German manufacturer selected two members of Team Leisuretec to take part in the race on their behalf. Andy Sadler and Obed Mashayamombe waved the Leisuretec flag with Obed also representing Sennheiser in the Roadie Relay – a footrace taking place on the track itself, teams of 6 push and hand off a rolling flight case between members in a race to the finish line. All teams put up a valiant effort with the winner claiming some of the coveted Golden Tickets to support their racers later in the day.
The Race
As the catering was laid out, the racers lined up for qualifiers as the sun began to peep through the clouds. The dry and grippy track offered up plenty of twists and turns with the teams getting their eye in for the main event. Qualifiers were relatively uneventful with the odd slide, spin and surreptitious shunt as the karts weaved and dodged their way into their final positions, cheered on from the side-lines by their teammates.
The commentators whipped the teams into frenzy as the karts lined up on the track, with racing classics like The Chain from Fleetwood Mac amping up the tension. BANG!
The karts darted off the start line with drivers jostling for position, the front runners and seasoned racers soon stretching out the pack. Karting is a non-contact sport, so naturally the black flags came out immediately; sin-binning some of the more “enthusiastic” drivers and deducting laps for less than sportsman like conduct. The teams were soon getting in to the swing of things however, throwing their karts into the corners at breakneck speeds. Well, there was also the odd spinout, crash and off-road excursion but all in good fun!
Team members on the side-lines kept a close eye on the positions via the live leader board, and were invited to take part in the inaugural Roadie Games; a brand-new group of side events including an inflatable bungee run and Martin Pro shooting range. The winners claiming more game changing golden tickets.
As the race drew to a close pandemonium set in with the teams using their Golden Tickets to bolster their laps and cut down the competition. Team Sennheiser (feat. Leisuretec), having hovered around 10th place for most of the race, enjoyed a short-lived stint in 1st place at this point thanks to some Golden tactical choices. However, as the chequered flag waved, the beer tent dried up and the laps were tallied, Team Sennheiser (feat. Leisuretec) finished in a respectable 23rd place having fended off industry rivals.
Looking to the podium, it was a bronze medal to the crew from SSL; CHAUVET Professional snatched up the silver medal; and well out in front for gold was ‘Quicker Than a Cam Op to Catering’, a rag tag team of freelancers. Everyone loves an underdog, right?
At the end of the day, with thousands of laps raced, countless beers consumed and a mountain of very, very sweaty racing suits, the grand total raised was in. Beating 2019’s impressive £28,300, Kartfest 2022 raised an incredible £35,000 for supporting industry members and their families facing tough times and still reeling from the pandemic. As fellow Trustee Paul Robinson noted, “John would be proud and grateful to you all”.
We at Team Leisuretec are very proud to continue supporting this amazing charity and all those they help, the backbone of our wonderful industry. Here’s to next year… we’ll see you on the track.
