Go-karts to race on Ohakune streets

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 7, Issue 337, 29 May 1990, Page 2 (Supplement)

Go-karts to race on Ohakune streets

Backsides will be travelling at speeds up to 1 10 kilometres per hour, just inches above the ground, in the first ever Ohakune go-kart road sprint to be held Sunday this Queen's Birthday Weekend.

The Ohakune Demonstration Road Sprint is being run by the Taumarunui Go Kart Club, especially club racers and Ohakune residents Craig Greenwood and Sarah Littlewood. The course will run around Burns, Braken

and Moore Streets at the North-Western end of Ohakune. More than 40 go karts are expected to race in six classes; midget, junior and senior in lOOcc engine driven machines; a 125 class; a 250 class; and a Grande Prix, open

class. Racers from Taumarunui, Taupo, Tokoroa, Te Puke and Edgecombe clubs are expected to attend with local businesses sponsoring trophies and prizes. Organiser Craig Greenwood said the event will provide an opportunity for locals and visitors to see the karts in action and get an idea of the excite-

ment involved in the sport. He said many people would remember the karts demonstrating at this year's A&P show, though at the show the karts were driven on grass which slowed them down somewhat. "The karts might look like toys but the speeds they reach are real," he said. Top speed for the machines, just inches above the tarmac, is around 70 mile per hour, said Craig. He said it is the cheapest form of motor racing and the starting point for a number of racing drivers. Setting up in the sport would cost $2000- $2500 with some enthusiasts spending up to $15,000. Many go karters are between 10 and 20, said Craig, with parents encouraging them through the sport, but there are also many adults racing. To make this first event easier to organise it has been designed as a road sprint rather than a road race, said Craig, which means top straight speeds will be less. The longest stretch on the course

will have a chicane built in to meet the road sprint course requirements. Practice starts a 9.30am on Sunday and

racing starts at 1 1 .30am. The organisers said they were thankful for the co-operation of the council and the support

of residqnts in the area. "Residents in the area are quite keen on seeing the race despite the prospect of a lot of noise," said Craig.