Most karting paddocks across the country have been dominated by young lads, inspired by their motor racing heroes on TV and encouraged by their dad's love of motorsport. But recently there's been a change. Mum and son teams, dad and daughter teams, and mum and daughter teams are a much more regular sight at the track. I became part of that change when I introduced my daughter to karting in early 2023.
Here's a little about how we got into karting, and some advice to help you get more out of it.
How it started
My daughter Autumn was an accomplished ballroom and Latin dancer for 8 years, competing at national level all over the country. As she grew older it became harder to find a suitable dance partner, and she became disillusioned. In December 2022 she decided to take a break from dancing.
Knowing she'd quickly get bored doing nothing, I asked if there was anything else she'd like to try. "Don't know!" was the typical teenage answer, so I left her to think about it. A couple of weeks later, seeing she was indeed bored, I booked us a karting session at our local track, Buckmore Park.
Being a 13-year-old girl who loved dancing, she wasn't the most enthusiastic teenager on the planet. But as a dad who loves motorsport, I was excited to take her anyway! The Buckmore team were enthusiastic and professional, taking her through the safety information and track briefing and providing all the kit she needed.
Armed with all this new information, Autumn looked apprehensive, to say the least. But off she went to her kart, and I took my place trackside (with a touch of apprehension of my own).
As expected, she started cautiously. But as the laps went by and my nerves settled, so did hers, and her lap times got better. All too soon the 30-minute junior session ended. As she climbed out and took off her helmet, I was greeted with the biggest grin, ear to ear. "I want to do that again! Dad, can we?"
She told Mum all about it when we got home, and her excitement was obvious. So, as it worked out cheaper, we booked a block of sessions over the next few weekends.
Over the following weeks we both watched, sometimes through our fingers, as she gained confidence, learned new skills and improved her lap times. She also made new friends, sharing the excitement with people her own age, learning together with a bit of friendly rivalry.
Talk to people
Karting can be relatively inexpensive if you use your local track, their karts and their safety kit. That's how most people start, and how we did. But it's a good idea to talk to the other parents at the track. Many have been doing it for a while and are only too happy to share what they've learned.
We've had great advice over the past year and made good friends. The same goes for the track team. They're the professionals, so get to know them and ask as much as you can. As your daughter grows into the sport, they'll advise on the best equipment to buy (helmets, gloves, suits) and how to move up to the next level.
Moving up
After a few months Autumn was totally absorbed, so we started buying her own equipment. Helmet, gloves and suit came first, then a neck brace to help with the bumps and scrapes. We also started looking at buying our own kart, and this is where you'll need the professionals.
The owner-driver world was the first big step up in commitment and cost. Over the next couple of months we booked "track days", where you use your own kit and kart and go round and round learning about your kart and, most importantly, how to make it go quicker. Don't panic, track days aren't a free-for-all. Sessions are grouped by age and ability, so it's a safe way to learn what you and your kart can do.
We were both learning fast by now: Autumn about driving and the track, me about repairing and fixing the kart! With encouragement from the track staff, we decided it was time to apply for Autumn's race licence. It's a fairly straightforward process: practical driving tests at the track, then apply to Motorsport UK and take the ARKS test. Once passed, she could race in her age category at novice level, and after 5 races without incident, move up to rookie level, and so on.
Our advice
Our journey so far has brought a wealth of knowledge and great experiences, and we've both gained new skills. It's still dominated by lads and their dads, but don't let that put you off! It's a great way for parents and children to bond in a fabulous sport, and it's open to everyone.
Find your local track and book a turn-up-and-drive session. Some tracks run family sessions, so you can go out together.
If you both enjoy it, most tracks run academies where you can join a club and race using track kit.
If you want to go further, owner-driver track days are the way forward. Involve your club so they can advise you.
Everyone in the paddock has been through the same process, and most are happy to help and make you feel welcome.
From there the world is your oyster. The biggest rules: safety, and enjoyment. Good luck!
Simon and Autumn
Follow Autumn on Instagram: @_autumnracegirl_