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As parents who have both spent many years competing in Karting, I have to say that I want my 9 year old son to have the same opportunities that we had. If he makes a career from either racing or a motorsport related business, then fantastic. But most of all, I want him to enjoy what he is doing. We didn't have to encourage Jack to take it up, he couldn't wait!
We have spent 4 months testing on secondhand equipment purely to get him to learn some race craft. As it happens he eats, breathes and dreams karting and can't wait to start racing next year, which will require newer equipment, it will cost us but the enjoyment of racing as a family means we will make sacrifices in other areas. We don't intend to spend silly amounts, that pressure only leads to a loss of enjoyment for everyone. What I can see is my son has grown in his confidence as a person, so much that his school have complimented him. Not in a big-headed way but he has gone from lacking in confidence generally to believing he can do things and is making lots of friends through his karting.
Remember that not everyone who is successful becomes a household name like Lewis, Motorsport employs a huge workforce and many of the kids I raced with in the 80's have gone on to have long careers as team owners, technicians, engineers etc.
Lewis Hamilton's achievement is a great story of drive and ambition. Parents must be careful that it isn't themselves that are chasing the dream....
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