The three South Island champions from the Green Island club who won their titles in Invercargill at Easter were all introduced to the sport by family members.
Tracey Jowett (26), a sales administrator with Allied Press, had been taken to the track to watch her father compete in RX7 circuit cars when she was in nappies.
She was given her first kart at the age of 9.
"It's an exciting and adrenaline-filled sport," she said. "I like the competitive side and it's become addictive.
Hitting a bump and becoming airborne and landing sideways is enough to give the most level-headed person a thrill."
Jowett won her third South Island women's title at Invercargill. She also won the title in 2009 and 2011.
She raced for six years but gave up the sport for seven years and only returned to competition after marrying four years ago.
Ken Thompson, her father, and brother Steven (19) both drive rally cars and her mother, Bernadette, is the greatest supporter of the Green Island Karting Club.
Grass karting began for Jack Gibb (67) 19 years ago when his sons convinced him to have some fun with them.
He is the oldest grass karter in New Zealand and proved his competitive ability by winning his sixth South Island title in the 0 to 130cc class at Invercargill.
He has no intention of retiring in the near future.
"While I still enjoy it and my body holds up I'll keep going," he said. "I still feel nerves before a race and it gives me a real buzz.
"I like driving fast and it is not too hard on the body."
Dunedin panelbeater John Tielkes (28), who has been competing in grass karting since the age of 12, won his first South Island title in the elite powersport class.
He has been third three times and was fourth two years ago.
"It's been a long time coming," he said.
"I've had a lot of bad luck and have had my engine blow up before the final. It was good to finally make it."
John, his father, built his first kart, and his wife, Deanna, was third in the women's race this year.
Most of the racing is on grass but it is not limited to one surface. Races are also held on dirt, speedway tracks, hill climbs, streets and on the tarmac.
A grass cart is made of steel or strong chrome and is usually 1.5m long and 1m wide. It consists of a basic frame and an engine that drives the back wheels.
It is not a sport for the faint-hearted because karts can reach speeds of 140km an hour.
A basic kart costs about $1000 and prices range up to $3000.
The South Island is the hub for kart racing in New Zealand with clubs at Dunedin, Christchurch, Invercargill, and Central Otago.
