Fondue's jet-assisted helmet banned by IAF

The ruling body of the Sydney Karting Series, the IAF (International Association of Fossils), has banned Fondue Racing's new jet-assisted helmet on safety grounds. A spokesman for the IAF said the new device showed a “flagrant disregard for competitor safety” and consituted a “possible unfair performance advantage”.

Fondue Racing Principal Andre Affroh said the team had consulted the IAF about the device’s development and possible use in the series. “We believed in good faith that the device was within the rules. We even agreed to the IAF’s request for thrust-testing to determine if the device provided any performance advantage.”

The thrust-testing was conducted on the old Linden International Airport’s main runway. The helmet was installed on a driver of a regulation 13hp kart and then the device was activated once the kart reached 60kph. Reports differ as to what happened next.

One eye-witness claims that the device lifted the kart into a near vertical trajectory and it was shot down by the Airforce’s automated anti-ICBM defence system. The Airforce has refused to comment.

Another source claims the kart was last seen losing altitude after crossing the coastline near Broome.

What ever the exact outcome of the thrust-test was, it appears to have been the deciding factor in the device being banned.