General News
9 July, 2023
Karts closer to the finish line
Submitted by Tom Huf Work on the go-kart track at Hopetoun took another giant step forward over the weekend as the Southern Mallee Kart Club nears the finish line of its track redevelopment. The redevelopment, when completed, will allow racing to...
Submitted by Tom Huf
Work on the go-kart track at Hopetoun took another giant step forward over the weekend as the Southern Mallee Kart Club nears the finish line of its track redevelopment.
The redevelopment, when completed, will allow racing to return to the track that last hosted karts in race trim nearly 30 years ago.
A considerable contingent attended working bees last Saturday and Sunday, using expert skill to level track verges and the infield of the track.
The extensive works required to repair the facility, as well as bring it up to modern standards, have been underway for nearly 18 months.
The transformation over that time has been vast, but wouldn't have been possible without the hard work of club volunteers and the support of the wider Southern Mallee community.
The club and the Northern Loch Public Recreation Reserve have also been lucky to receive a small number of grants allowing for even more infrastructure to be put in place.
Almost all of the materials, machinery hire and time has been donated by local businesses and individuals, making the club's unlikely revival achievable, after even peak karting bodies gave the club no chance of getting the track back up to standard.
The Southern Mallee Kart Club, under the guidance of larger clubs in Victoria, is implementing an independent model that aims to make karting as inexpensive and accessible as possible.
The model has worked well in Geelong where karting numbers have jumped, and already karters are lining up to come from as far as Geelong, Mildura and everywhere in between.
Deals are also being made to make cheaper consumables, such as tyres available to members, to keep costs down.
Although the track is a little shorter than others, it is remembered fondly as a real “driver's track” due to its fast bends and its need for technique rather than out-and-out kart speed.
The promise of Victoria's cheapest racing and an exciting track has karters looking to travel from far and wide when the track reopens.
The track now has all new fencing and newly repaired track edges to ensure safety.
Over 1000 tyres have been moved into place for the tyre walls and both water and power have been added to the facility.
A large number of other enhancements are nearing completion and will be unveiled at the reopening of the track.
Minor patching of the track surface, line painting and the concreting of the new grids are all that awaits the hard-working volunteers before the sound of two-stroke engines returns to Hopetoun.
Anyone wanting to get involved as a karter, parent, sponsor or volunteer is urged to stay up to date by finding the Southern Mallee Kart Club on Facebook or atwww.smkc.com.au