This is my first post and am sad that I am unable to start on a positive. I am a karting Mum and relatively new to the sport, although have loved motorsport for many years.
This weekend we were racing at Whilton Mill, as we have done every month since the beginning of this year when our son began his MSA racing journey. The grid in his class this month was dominated by the Super One drivers practising for their meeting next weekend. Our son was looking forward to the challenge and to learn what he could from those racing at the top of their class in the British Championships.
I cannot begin to tell you my disappointment at what then played out in front of me once the racing began.
I know that there is big money in Super One and I know that the big teams dominate BUT what I wasn't prepared for was the absolute lack of racecraft. Yes, they are quick there is no getting away from that but money buys speed. Even in testing on Saturday they were taking each other off the track with ridiculous moves. Race day was even worse, even to he extent that one of them sneaked up 4 places on the grid on the start of one heat (yes it should have been noticed but he outright cheated!). The arrogance of both the children/drivers and the teams/parents in parc ferme, grid and around the paddock was astounding. It seems people are too afraid of the money to keep this in check, but these attitudes and driving techniques will destroy the sport.
I am a lover of the sport and as a family and as a team we pride ourselves on teaching our children respect and fairness - a dying breed it seems, but we are determined that it is those characteristics along with genuine drive, determination and hard work that will see them succeed and continue to aspire to the pinnacles of their sport.
We will not be put off our MSA racing journey instead we shall be even more determined to maintain our standards and enjoy our racing.
This is also not a dig at Whilton Mill and the marshals, they by their own admission can't see everything and perhaps if they were treated better there may be more of them. We have only ever found them to be incredibly hard working and supportive in what can be very difficult circumstances, and indeed having to deal with the attitudes mentioned above it is little wonder they get disillusioned sometimes!
|
|
