Rookie Kart Dad

Another small but significant breakthrough in 's racecraft a few weeks ago at Canberra.

After ANOTHER day of continuing to let everyone go past him at the start and THEN trying to charge forward in the heats, we had ANOTHER chat about holding position at the start and not backing off if you get inside someone (which always brings up the numerous times he did and someone crashed into him).

When we talk about courage, I say "Be brave like Scotty' referring to his hero getting back into his car the following round after rolling it at the Gold Coast.

Well come the finals, he holds position at the start to NOT reach turn 2 in last place and then after being right behind the kart in front for the remaining laps, DOESN'T back right off when the other boy had a small lose into the final chicane and passes him just before the finish line on the final lap. 😳🤯🤩

Back in the pits he was celebrating the pass and said that he sent it like down the inside . I asked if he was scared both of those times, he said a little bit and the asked me to send the video to to show him how brave he was. 😜

They're probably small things for most but are a massive step forward for us! Let's hope we can continue it this weekend at the City of Sydney Titles hosted by and representing in the new . Thanks to for all of his help and patience over another race weekend.

A gold nugget amongst another mostly frustrating day of forgetting everything on race day, that we did in practise the day before (although he did put it all together in the final).
During the post race debrief, we were watching the video of his .kart.team teammate Jack pulling off an awesome switchback move to retake after the bottom straight.
got him again on the same straight next time and I asked why his exit was so shallow and he didn't use all of the road on exit?
'I was blocking him to make sure he didn't pass me again like the last lap.'
Having that awareness to do something different, and make that decision on the fly is a huge leap forward for us. Super proud and thinking maybe those hundreds of hours of watching is paying off.
The Powerpass Powerplay award to Jack for putting that move on Daniel, wouldn't know it was your first race at Lithgow and first year racing!

This is Motorsport!

This video perfectly sums up our first year in the sport - both on the tools for me and behind the wheel for Daniel. It was never about trophies or podiums, just learning, improving and for Daniel - living our his Supercars fantasies.

Despite coming last in this race (the final round at Wollongong Kart Racing Club Club Championships Eastern Creek Karts ) as we did in most races throughout the year, Daniel did 7 of the 10 laps better than his previous PB and finished on the lead lap of all races that he completed (when there wasn't a fail by the chief mechanic - oops) at this meet. Regardless of what the final places show - we feel like winners!

After getting the chequered flag, he's saluting the 'crowd' and even tries to throw in a few Scott McLaughlin / Shane van Gisbergen burnouts at around the 45 second mark!

Couldn't have done it without the amazing Karting NSW community and especially our NSW Kart Team teammates who have been unbelievably helpful (and tolerant) as we try to ascend the incredibly steep learning curve.

Thanks to all of their sponsors Five Lights Photography , Brisk Australia Global Racing Oil Australia Tony Kart Australia and those companies that make the racing possible by providing great products like Maxxis Kart Tyres AUS and Alfano Australia , and driver training with Lachlan Ward and Junior Driver Development .

Bring on 2021!