The families that race together

Aaron (41) and James (7) Black, Mark (40) and Marissa (9) Ahlfeld, and Daniel (38) and Jaxon (7) Harvey at the Silverstream Raceway.  Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Aaron (41) and James (7) Black, Mark (40) and Marissa (9) Ahlfeld, and Daniel (38) and Jaxon (7) Harvey at the Silverstream Raceway. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
It will be a family affair when three Mosgiel family combinations compete at the South Island Kartsport championships at the Silverstream Raceway this weekend.

Daniel (38) and Jaxon (7) Harvey, Arron (41) and James (7) Black make up two father and son combos, while Mark Alhfeld (40) and his daughter, Marissa (9), will also compete.

It will be the first time three local families have competed at the South Island event at home, and possibly the first time it has happened in the country, Harvey said.

While racing is split into 11 different classes based on engine types and kart weight, the three fathers will race against each other at some stage in the weekend, and the three children will be competing against each other all weekend.

''At the moment it's all happy families in the camp because we pit together and travel together,'' Black said.

''Every thing's all rosy at the moment, but I think when the kids come through, the competitiveness will come out and it might not be happy families for very long.''

Black and Harvey have both been racing for more than 20 years and their sons have been behind the wheel for about 18 months. Both will be competing in their first South Island championship.

Alhfeld has four years' experience and his daughter has been racing for about two years. Marissa finished eighth at the South Island championships in Invercargill last year.

With about 100 of the best drivers in the South Island aged from 7 to 45 competing, competitors would need more than skill to win, Black said.

''It's not easy to win, it takes a lot of skill but also a bit of luck, as well.

''There are so many people that could win it, and it only takes one person to do one silly thing ... if you snap a chain, you can go from first to last just like that.''

Harvey, the president of Kartsport Dunedin, said he and Jaxon had been training three to five times a week the past month and the group was excited for the weekend.

The competition runs from Friday to Sunday, with racing from 10am-3pm.

By Robert van Royen. 

 

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement