Driven by dreams

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Die-hard motorsport fans, Andrew and Kristene Tong, have been fantasising about their eldest child, seven-year-old Krisann. They hope, one day, she will mature into a top-class driver and race in the Formula One championships overseas.

"Of our three children, she is the tom boy of the family. She is very athletic and competes in gymnastic championships, a sport in which she has been doing well," said Kristene.

Like their parents, the children have fallen in love with motor racing. Both parents have been involved in drag racing over the years and frequently attend major rally events including Dover race meets. Now, two of their children, Krisann and Ashely, have begun competing in go kart events and, according to Kristene, when her three year-old son gets much older, he too will be racing.

Go kart fraternity

Krisann, a two-grade student of Splendor Preparatory School in St Andrew, stunned the go kart fraternity two weeks ago at the Palisadoes International Raceway, Kingston. In her first ever competitive event, Krisann blew away the opposition in the 50cc class to register a hat-trick of wins.

"She got hooked to the sport since she was four years old. One Saturday, she watched it on television and then told us she wanted to try it, but she was too young then. A year later, we spoke with Guy Eaton and he began to give her some lessons," said the former drag racer.

Nervous moment

On September 12 this year, Kristene says her stomach was filled with butterflies as her daughters, Krisann and Ashley, took to the track for the first time.

"I was so nervous, but when Krisann won I was overwhelmed. I almost ran on to the track," she said.

That race meet produced a number of outstanding performers. According to the president of the Jamaica Karting Association, Peter Rae, among some of the winners were Matthew Williams in the Rotax Junior Class, Thomas Issa and Jonathan Law in the Mini Max Class and Garth Genus in the Masters Class.

The next go kart race meet has been scheduled for Sunday, October 10.