ABOVE: Terry Carter prepares son Michael for his first-ever go-kart race, at Stratotech Park In May. Behind Michael is Adam Dowler. The X on the numbers marks the rookies. Photo: Dave Cameron, Special to the Sun.

LEFT: A 14-year-old Daryl Harr high-fives with his father Cari at the City Centre Airport in 1996. Photo: Christine Vanzella, Sun file photo.

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Go Karts, Go!

Its fun, yes, but racers say its an education, too

Hey, you could say he was doing algebra.

“He's been accused in math class of drawing out the racetrack and drawing out his lines.” Terry Carter said of his nine-year-old son Michael as he prepared for his first season in go-kart racing.

It's been a big countdown for about two months. Big X's on the calendar. It's been a really long two weeks since the (mandatory kart) school," said Terry, dad as excited as son.

“It's been a busy couple of weeks. A scramble, jamming it together last night,” Terry said on the first day of Michael's season at Stratotech Park, just west of Fort Saskatchewan.

Michael is racing in the Junior 1 category for ages eight to 11. The karts are powered by a restricted 5.5-hp, 4-stroke that reach 45 kmh. Junior 2 is ages 12 to 15 with the same engines unrestricted, reaching 60 kmh.

It's Year 1 in karting for both Carters, with Terry coming from a stock-car, oval-racing back-ground.

“It's neat to bring in a second generation. It's neat that you can give them a leg up and they start out with equipment that's prepared. They can focus on driving rather than breakdowns," said Terry, who makes the drive in from his Aldon's Autobody yard in Lament. He drags along neighbour Herb Resch, the heavy equipment maintenance man at NAIT, as “the crew.”

Michael's doing fine, learning as he goes. It should be an easy adjustment for a racer like Terry, right?

“It's really intense. It's about conditioning and focus and more conditioning. Middle-age guys shouldn't just climb in and think they can do it,” Terry laughed.

“You can go like crazy for a couple of laps and then you look for excuses to slow down, so you adjust the carburetor or something!”

“It's really demanding - remarkably physically demanding. You go down the straightaway until just after you see God, and then you turn left. You turn long after you think it should be capable of turning. They really stick.”

Dowler says it's time for the kids

He won a CASCAR race at the Molson Indy.He won CASCA races twice in front of a hometown crowd at City Centre Airport.

All pretty cool moments for a stock car racer.

Doesn’t compare anymore for Kevin Dowler. He's a go-kart dad now.

“Sending the kids away (on their runs), 10 times more fun.”

“Winning in Toronto was a pretty big deal. But seeing my kid jump up and down with happiness before, during and after the race is all I need nowadays,” said the defending CASCAR West champ.

Noel, 13, and Adam, 10, are running in junior 1 and junior 2 kart classes. They may be starting on the same road as dad.

“That's how I cut my teeth. Started racing karts when I was eight. I've been racing 32 seasons.”

Dowler agrees that it's an important training ground.

“Every individual that is on the street to day should get a karting licence before they go on the streets because they'd learn more in those first few years of driving (that it would) make all the difference in the world.”

A headstart for Harr

Just 24, Daryl Harr is a racing veteran.

The St. Albert driver got his headstart in karting.

“It's not a great learning ground, it's THE learning ground,” Harr says.

Racing alongside teammate/father Carl mostly in NASCAR Grand National West in recent seasons, the Harrs are running CASCAR West races this season because of the series’ return to the City Centre Airport track this summer. Daryl won the season opener in Vernon, B.C. last weekend.

“There are skills that I will be using in July at the Edmonton Grand Prix that I learned when I was 14 years old, running my go-kart at that same circuit.”

“The thing about parents getting into it, that's where your kid's going to start, too. Do like my dad for me - pave the path.”

“You don't need a two-car garage to get into it. You don't need a huge car hauler. You can fit two sets of tires in your gym bag! You need a buddy, you don't need five people to help you out. You need one ...

“It's like grassroots hockey. It's the best way to go.”