King prince of rookies

Rookie driver Joshua King was too good for the field, leading his section all evening during racing at Fitzroy Park Raceway on Saturday night.

Allan Reinikka

EVERYBODY likes watching the young karters in action and Joshua King was one who was in exceptional form in the Rookie division.

With the karting season beginning to heat up, it was expected there would be a big turn-out of competitors at Fitzroy Park Raceway on Saturday night.

The Formula K Kart Club held a day/night meeting and with the final round of the Supercheap Auto series scheduled for Rockhampton over the next month, it had been anticipated out-of-town racers would take the opportunity to check the circuit.

That did not eventuate with just 37 karts competing and most of the divisions combining to produce a full program for karters.

The Midgets and Rookie produced their usual display of keen competition with Brock Owen, Kane Bycroft and Joel Jamieson having a battle between themselves all evening.

“They always race well,” club publicity officer Kevin Doherty said.

It was a pleasing result for Bycroft who is disadvantaged by being about seven kilograms heavier than his main competitors, a large amount to make up in this section.

Another karter with a big smile at the end of racing was Olivia Bell who is relative newcomer to the sport.

“She had a good run and finished ahead of a couple of the boys,” Doherty said.

King was a clear winner of the Rookie section, leading the way throughout the day with Travis Aird the runner-up.

There was also some good racing from Scott Unwin in the Senior National Lite section as he held off the challenge of Steve Penny.

Doherty said the TAG 100 karts were creating a lot of interest with the Rockhampton racers. Five were on track on Saturday, but Doherty said this was a class that was quickly expanding around the state.

“They are a standard clubman with electric start and straight from the factory,” he said.

Big Fred Watson is always a popular competitor and he was the fastest of three karters in the Leopard Heavy division.

Scott Christianson was second while Anthony Prajbisz caught the eye in a spectacular crunch with five other competitors, which included the luckless Andrew McLeod whose new kart was made to look exceptionally second-hand.

Brenton Simmonds was too good for Ashley McMaster and Mark Cox in the Clubman Heavy section.

“Simmo’s been on fire for months,” Doherty said.