Rubber on track as karts return to practice in hope of season restart

The smell of fuel fumes and hot rubber has returned to the Albany City Kart Club.

As Government restrictions begin to be eased and sports around the country take their first steps towards normality, the Albany kart track came back to life at the weekend as it opened officially for practice.

Under strict conditions, cadet, junior and senior karters hit the track for 10 minutes at a time.

The different divisions were only allowed on the track against drivers from the same category.

ACKC president Howard Heerey said it was great to have members back on the bitumen.

“It’s the start of the road back to racing,” Heerey said.

“These sessions are very controlled, we are only allowing 10 karts and 20 people at the track at once.

“All the kart trailers have to be spread out.”

Albany have already held one of their major meetings for the year and normally host monthly club race days but Heerey hoped competitive racing would be back soon.

“Maybe after a month we can start having club meetings again,” he said.

“When we return we will hold one club meeting a month.

“Karting Australia will issue us with racing permits when we are allowed to race again.”

The fate of the remainder of the South Eastern Zone Series, which a strong contingent of Albany karters take part in, is unclear.

“I am unsure if the rest of the championship will be finished,” he said.

“It’s been a difficult period but hopefully we can start going back to normal.

“It’s great to see people so keen to get back into racing.”