Dodge in sight of his dream - From the Cairns Post

GOOD vibrations may be the key to Cairns driver Lydon Dodge this year fulfilling his lifelong dream of racing in one of the world’s biggest karting races.

Dodge says his team will be a negativity-free zone as he prepares to qualify for October’s Las Vegas Super Nationals. ‘‘ The minute someone starts thinking negatively we’ve made sure we sit down with them and make sure we are focused on the big picture,’’ he said.

‘‘Last year we weren’t able to do that and it ended up holding us back.’’

Things started well last year but carburettor troubles in the middle of the season saw his national rankings drop.

‘‘Every time we tried to fix it we got a bit lost in what we were doing,’’ he said.

‘‘Frustration took over and we did not go as well as we should have.’’

Dodge finished the season well and believes he is geared up for a strong season in the CIK Stars of Karting Series, which starts in Ipswich on March 28.

The Cairns Kart Club veteran showed a marked improvement in last week’s pre-season event in Sydney, where he finished second.

With Australian Nick Rowe winning in Las Vegas last year and countryman David Sera crossing the line second, Dodge believes a strong national campaign will bode well for Las Vegas.

‘‘Australians tend to go very well over there,’’ he said.

‘‘So if I can perform well in the CIK Stars of Karting Series that will put me in a good position when I head over there.’’