Ingham out to have fun

Veteran driver Patrick Ingham knows he is out of the title chase in karting’s TAG Class.

Problems with his kart have made him miss too many races to be a serious contender, but he still gets to the starting line because he enjoys the sport.

Ingham said: “I’ve been racing all season, but I’ve been having a lot of bad luck — electrical problems.”

Trying to go for the title at this point is a “lost cause” as there are too many drivers ahead of him  closer to the leader. He knows he would have to leapfrog too many drivers in the standings.

Ingham, 45, said his motivation is “because I love it. I just love racing. It’s that simple.”

Ingham started racing about 15 years ago when his boss Michael DeCosta let him borrow a kart when the association raced near the #1 Gate at the old base in St David’s.

“It was just an awesome experience and I’ve been racing ever since.”

Ingham said he purchased his own kart the following season, but never won the National Championship until 2012. So after 15 years of racing, what went right for Ingham?

“I don’t know — really. Once I got the kart running the way I wanted to run, I didn’t touch anything. I just cleaned it. At one point, I think I won nine races in a row, but it really doesn’t matter to me whether I’m first second or last — as long as I’m having fun and being competitive, it’s what I’m enjoying about it.”

As the oldest driver in the class he has to compete against teenagers like Amber Lopes, Al Seymour Jr and Stephen Corrado.

And even though they are competitors, he’s still willing to lend a helping hand to the youngsters.

“We’re like a big family down there so we help out each other where we can. I’ve been doing it for 15 years now and these guys are just up and coming and they’re already racing pretty good.”

Ingham races out of the same camp as David Barbosa who is battling Scott Barnes for the TAG National Championship.

“We help each other out wherever we can. We’ve been racing together for eight or nine years. Usually it’s every man for himself out on the track, but I seem to race him harder than any of the rest.

“I know his limitations and he knows mine. I’m not afraid to push him that little extra just like he’s not afraid to push me that little extra. We’re going to take more chances with one another than we do with anybody else. I know where to push him and when to back off.”

Ingham says he encourages anyone to give the sport a try — they don’t have to be a teenager to get into karting or to even develop a lifelong love of the sport like himself.

“I got hooked at 30 — and I got a late start as it was. There’s nothing like it.” n