Picture: Julie MercerValuable lesson: With about seven years’ experience behind the wheel Isabella Thomas will challenge karters at Sunday’s part of a road safety campaign with Leading Senior Constable Mark Zerafa and Tom Bennett. come and try’’ as Goulburn Valley Kart Club’s ‘‘come and try’’ day on Sunday will give you the opportunity to do both.
Always wanted to outrun a cop?
What about emulate your MarioKart skills in real life?
Goulburn Valley Kart Club’s ‘‘come and try’’ day on Sunday will give you the opportunity to do both.
Leading Senior Constable Mark Zerafa and current Australasian Junior Rotax Kart champion Isabella Thomas will set the pace and encourage others to beat them at Numurkah Kart Club, 4 km out of Numurkah along Katamatite Rd.
The come and try day will incorporate a road safety campaign and event organiser Ben Thomas said it was designed to show people there was a place and time to reach high speeds.
‘‘We want to promote the fact that karting is a great way to learn to drive and advance your driving skills,’’ Ben Thomas said.
‘‘Also to show the young P-platers who like to drive fast that the racetrack’s a better place to do it.’’
Isabella Thomas, 16, has about seven years’ experience behind the wheel and said karting made her aware of her limits and taught her control.
‘‘A lot of my friends are around the same age as me and we’re all going for out Ls and we realise how dangerous a place the road can be,’’ Isabella said.
‘‘Karting’s a really good place to be able to start learning how to drive and start learning the limits of what you can and can’t do on the road.
‘‘I know what I can and can’t do and I know I control what my right foot does; I know I control what the accelerator does and how fast the car can go and it’s up to me to be able to really stand by those limits and be a safe driver out on the roads.’’
Isabella will have plenty of time to refine her skills at the GV Kart Club’s race tomorrow.
The meet will welcome karters from across Victoria as well as some interstate competitors in preparation for the 2011 Australasian Titles.
Ben Thomas said it would be the first meet held under lights in the club’s 50-year history.
‘‘We’ve got karters coming fromall over the state for it and probably some of the best drivers around; a lot of local talent and we’re hoping to get around 100 to 150 drivers,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s a pretty big club day and it’s a good leadup to the Australasian Titles; we’ve hired lights for the event, which is a fairly rare thing, but it’s good experience for the local members.
‘‘The club’s gone through a slump over the last couple of years, but we’ve got a new committee and things are on the move.”
Admission to tomorrow’s race meet is free with practice at 9 am and heats to follow at about 1.30 pm.
Sunday’s come and try day will kick off at 9.30 am with $10 admission for 10 laps. meet
