28th April 2012

Recruits hit pedal for first spin - From the Central Queensland News

From the Central Queensland News (http://www.cqnews.com.au/story/2012/04/27/new-recruits-hit-pedal-for-first-spin-on-track-kar/)

Karters young and old were offered the opportunity to try out the new Emerald race track at the weekend, with 260 drivers putting pen to paper for a go (Pic: CQ News)

FOR Emerald Karting Club committee member Murray Herwin, it didn’t get much better than this.

With about 260 come-and-try registration forms signed, double that in kart runs, and close to 2000 people through the gates at Emerald’s motorsport and driver training facility at weekend, all signs pointed to a big future for karting in the region.

“Yeah, we were flat out. It was a big weekend,” Herwin said.

The track time for prospective club members coincided with the Central Highlands public’s first glimpse of the new race facility located on Emerald’s outskirts.

Many visitors were surprised to learn not only a track existed in the Highlands, but it was one of the premier kart facilities in the country.

“A lot of them didn’t even know it was here.”

Emerald Karting Club commitee member Murray Herwin

“I think others were expecting just a pokey little track. They didn’t expect this sort of quality.”

About 25 licensed karters also hit the track for a practice session, with many in the TAG restricted class – one of the biggest emerging kart divisions at the Emerald club.

“It’s mainly for people just starting out in the sport,” he said.

“There are a few modifications and we drop it down from 30 to 19 horsepower.”

Local karters will head to Bundaberg at the end of May for round two of the Central Queensland Series. Emerald will host round four of the series in November.

The club is also looking to strengthen its junior karting ranks, with anyone aged 7-16 years invited to suit up and apply. Contact Murray 4987 4587.