KARTING #MadeMyMark
A school-mate of mine, Matthew Hinton, had a go-kart; his dad used to race midgets on the speedway ovals. I always used to love looking at his kart; the shiny rims, slick tyres and thought it was a real little racing machine. I thought if I could get my hands on one, it might suit me. I had a few test-drives of Matt’s and enjoyed it a lot and started to give up a lot of the other sports I was doing at the time.
Cutting my teeth as a teenager in karts.
Dad bought me a second-hand kart and I began racing when I was 13/14 years old. That became my new life. In hindsight, I would have loved to have started karting a sniff earlier and had the chance to race in Europe against the likes of Jenson, Fernando, Robert (Kubica), Giancarlo Fisichella, Jarno Trulli, etc as I think it would given me another string in my bow in terms of group battles. I’ve never had any problems in one-on-one battles but I thinking European karting would have sharpened me up a bit more when racing in a pack.
Ends//
12 Comments
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Aïsh
on November 19, 2013Your memories are stored in our hearts!
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Jen
on November 19, 2013Nice read, Mark.
We will miss watching you in F1, so hurry back to Austin with Porsche! I’ll be cheering for you to take the Brazil GP and go out with a BANG. -
Annamaria
on November 19, 2013You made F1 the sport to watch just loved turning on the tv in the early hours of the morning to watch the race. It won’t be the same. 🙁 good luck
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Christos
on November 19, 2013Mark, be sure that we will be watching you in Porsche’s championship!
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Brent
on November 19, 2013A mate of mine has one of marks old karts and one of his J motors
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manda culp
on November 19, 2013Loved seeing uou on the podium in Austin and we will continue to keep up with your next adveture! You’re a great all around person and athlete. Goog luck in Sao Palo!
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Richard
on November 19, 2013You got me watching F1 five years ago, your interviews are what done it as you don’t always give a “media” reply, only have Kimi to look out for now. “Multi 21” – great tv. You will be missed but I will be all over the Porsche series next year, good luck.
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Lawrie Reid
on November 19, 2013Matt still tells us you had the hots for his kart
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Simon Miller
on November 20, 2013Happy Days eh Potsy!
Notice you didn’t mention those late nights at Fyshwick Indoor karting as a key stepping stone. Presume Newey doesn’t subscribe to the theorey of rubbing your tyres with diesel before you go out.
Good luck in your pastures new mate. Many podiums ahead I am sure.
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Liam
on November 20, 2013Nice insight into the group battles, thanks for sharing these thougts.
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theo Dimarhos
on November 20, 2013I remember your NSW state championship win at orange. Long time ago now it seems.it has been a pleasure to followcyour career.cheers mate.
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