Calling budding kart drivers

Karting is thriving again in Bermuda — but organizers are keen to attract the next generation to the track.

The Bermuda Karting Club’s Shifter and TAG class are being keenly contested this season with healthy numbers on the start line. 

The juniors are fighting hard for position too but president Scott ‘Skitchy’ Barnes wants to spread the word and safeguard the sport’s future on the island.

The club has six rental karts — three for three-to-five-year-olds and three for seven-to-15-year-olds — available on race days for budding drivers to try out and see if they like getting behind the wheel.

The action gets under way again this Sunday at Southside with a Trophy Day and Barnes has urged anyone thinking of getting their child into the sport to get in touch or just come down at 10am and give it a whirl.

He told the Bermuda Sun: “It’s a fun sport and an awesome sport to get into for anyone who likes speed.

“This is the first step – all the drivers in F1 and NASCAR, a lot of them they started in karts. And a lot of them go back to karts in the off season to keep up their skills It’s also one the cheapest motorsports to get into — it’s definitely the place to start.

“It’s a specialised sport so we try to keep it as cheap as possible. There are a lot of second-hand karts available to buy on the island.

“But our rental karts are $50 and that gets you a practice session and three heat races — we provide all the equipment — all you have to do is bring your jeans and jacket.”

Barnes says karting is something the whole family can get involved in and adds it’s important to pass down the love of the sport to the youngsters.

“That’s the future,” he said. “Our Shifter and TAG classes consistently have around a dozen racers and we now want to get the juniors up to that level.

“We have a few fathers and sons racing so it’s something that both can do. It’s a family sport. We also have Ryan Burgess and his sister Lauryn. 

“They have some great battles out on the track so I’m sure they have some great stories when they get home.” 

For more information email [email protected], [email protected], go to Bermuda Karting Club’s Facebook page or log on to www.bermudakartingclub.com