COLUMN: Love of go-kart racing grows along with skills

     Go-kart Racing is a sport that some may describe as “dangerous” or “menacing.” But to 10-year old Wyatt Wilson of Monticello, Go-kart Racing is “really fun” and a sport that he is making an impact in.

     Wyatt’s love for racing originated through his family. His father Wes said, “My cousin used to race go-karts a lot, and he had bought a kart that was pretty much brand new. He talked about having Wyatt drive it. Wyatt goes to the modified races and helps on the pit crew, so he’s kind of got it in his blood.”

     Soon enough they took the kart home, got a motor, tires, rims, and everything they needed to get Wyatt racing. Wyatt started practicing his driving in April in his grandpa’s yard and a Hopkinton park until he was ready to start racing competitively. 

     His first race was in May and he has been improving ever since.

     “I got second in one race,” Wyatt said, adding that he has also finished third, fourth and fifth in other races.

     “We talk about hitting our spots all the time,” Wes added. “We find a spot to try to focus on keeping his kart on when he’s going into the corner, so we really talk to him about keeping that consistent line and hitting the spot every time.” 

     Wyatt has raced in Tipton, Delaware, and at Nationals in Poplar Grove. It was in Delaware, Aug. 8, where Wyatt had his first mishap. He was racing close to someone else, and they were competing for one territory.

     “He was either going to hit the disk or come out. He hit the brakes and went out, so I went into the infield and he clipped my tire. The whole nose came off,” Wyatt recalls.

     Wes continued, “We had to repair the nose. We kind of lost the battle on that one.”

     This didn’t stop Wyatt though, as he continues to race. He plans on racing go-karts until he gets old enough to drive an actual race car.

     Along with racing, Wyatt also enjoys watching dirt late model races. Wyatt’s competitiveness will continue to show and he will keep racing and expressing his love for the sport.

     (Sports Editor’s note: Ian Temple, 15, is a sophomore at Monticello High School and son of Pete and Diane Temple, Monticello.)