Karting: Living the dream

A two-year dream will be realised on September 30, when Busselton Kart Club hosts the three-day Australian Dirt Kart Nationals for the first time.

Since unanimously winning the application bid in September 2009, the club had worked hard to upgrade facilities and prepare to welcome elite kart drivers from across the country.

Busselton Kart Club vice-president Paul Wettinger said it was a great achievement to lure the titles to the area, in what would be only the second time the event had been held in WA.

“It’s really put Busselton on the map,” he said.

Wettinger said it had been an ongoing job for the committee and volunteers to fundraise for and coordinate the upgrades, but the result was a venue which was “second to none”.

Features and facilities included a new canteen, track lights, resurfacing of the track, covered and extra grids and unique treelined and shady areas.

The event had attracted about 300 entries to date, including 40 Busselton Club members, and was expected to welcome up to 2000 attendees from across Australia.

Wettinger would compete in the 125 and K2 Heavy’s classes while his daughter, three-time club champion Jemma Wettinger, would vye for success in the Junior Heavy class.

The next club race meeting tomorrow could draw more people than usual as participants put finishing touches on becoming “race fit” and interest in the motorsport grew, Wettinger said.