Go Karters Tyler King, Joel Gibbs, Scott McLaren and Kyle Robertson have each claimed victory at the recent New Zealand Grass Kart Championships in Dunedin.
The four are all members of Ashburton Family Go Kart Club, which will host the event next year.
Robertson, who is club president, took out the superkart national title, McLaren the junior open (his third consecutive national title), King the intermediate lifan grade and Gibbs the junior lifan.
Club secretary Danny King said Robertson had been trying for more than 10 years to claim national victory against the best in New Zealand.
‘‘And this year he got the 1NZ in the top grade – superkarts.’’
King said the club had 30 members competing at the national event where as well as the national titles, club members took home six second placings and two thirds.
‘‘The youngest being seven-year-old Nate Hewson who gained a respectable 4th NZ in midget class,’’ King said.
‘‘In the intermediate lifan grade 13-yearold Tyler King took the NZ1 but only just as Emma Gallagher, a fellow Ashburton racer, chased him home in a very close second place.
‘‘Aiden Perkins got second in the intermediate open, in an impressive drive in a brand new kart only finished by his dad a few days ago.
‘‘In the junior open, Ashburton impressively swept the podium, with Scott McLaren 1NZ, Ryan Gallagher 2NZ and Joel Gibbs 3NZ,’’ he said.
‘‘In the adult grades, the podiums were 200cc 4 stroke : Todd Hewson (2NZ), Danny King (3NZ); Lifan : Ian Sinclair (2NZ), 125cc 2 stroke Nathan Reid (2NZ).’’
King said grass karting was predominantly a New Zealand sport, mainly in the South Island; several clubs compete most months at local paddocks.
‘‘Some of the larger clubs (including Ashburton) often see more than 100 competitors at a club day.’’
He said within the Ashburton contingent there were a few family connections at the championships.
The Hewson family all raced – father, Todd (got 2NZ in the 200cc 4 stroke), mum, Emma (6NZ in the women’s grade): and boys, Darcy (5NZ in intermediate open), and Nate (4NZ in midget), while Gallagher siblings Ryan and Emma both secured 2NZ placings; Ryan in the junior open and Emma in intermediate lifan.
King said the grades were split into age for the youth, then engine size through the adult grade.
From midgets running 125cc engines right up to the superkarts running very powerful 450cc motorcross engines.
‘‘The karts are usually a circuit chassis with a motorbike engine, but we are starting to see more specialised dirt chassis show up from Australia.’’
The championships, run over two days, saw competitors in three races (per grade) each day vying for points which decided the winner at the end of the event.
King said competition events were usually a family affair with parents, grandparents and friends in support to cheer along, and help work on the karts.
‘‘It’s grassroots motorsport and we all enjoy cheering each other on and helping or competitors, the camaraderie is awesome as it’s not high stakes, everyone just wants to have fun,’’ he said.
NEXT YEAR: The Ashburton Family Kart Club will host the New Zealand Championships over Easter weekend.
The club is hoping to attract more than 250 competitors with their supporters to the district and are actively seeking sponsorship from businesses and individuals keen to support the event.
If you are able to help, contact the club via email at [email protected]
