A Grade 10 student at Edward Milne Community School whoB次元官网网址檚 found the fast lane in go-kart racing will soon be turning heads in Western Canada and the United States.
Fifteen-year-old Charlotte Baye Pearson canB次元官网网址檛 drive legally yet but has already topped 120 km/h on four wheels.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 the speed. ItB次元官网网址檚 a big adrenaline rush. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what I like about karting,B次元官网网址� Pearson said.
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Pearson fell in love with the sport after her father Quinn initially bought a go-kart for her little brother three years ago.
The sport didnB次元官网网址檛 appeal to the brother, but she took a turn at the wheel and fell in love. First, she practised in her Otter Point neighbourhood near Sooke. Then she kicked into high gear when she began competing at Western Speedway.
B次元官网网址淧eople drove by me so fast and my dad said, B次元官网网址榊ou need to pass them.B次元官网网址� So I learned how to do that; it was so much fun. That was my first experience with that kind of competitiveness,B次元官网网址� Pearson said.
Racing coach George Dornan met Pearson at her first race at Western Speedway and saw her struggling on the wet track.
He offered her a few tips, and her racing improved almost instantaneously.
B次元官网网址淭he one difference about Charlotte is that she listens,B次元官网网址� said Dornan, who is now PearsonB次元官网网址檚 coach.
B次元官网网址淚 watched her go through her season this year, and sheB次元官网网址檚 made me very proud.B次元官网网址�
Pearson has taken her racing to the next level - often the only girl in the race B次元官网网址� racing competitively almost every spring and summer weekend, with stops in Cowichan, Chilliwack and Oliver in the junior circuit. Among her wins are second overall in the province, best on the Island, most improved driver and numerous podium finishes.
She moves to senior racing next year and hopes to take her go-kart on the road to Las Vegas and other U.S. destinations.
Racing costs money. SheB次元官网网址檚 now part of a racing team but is still looking for a travel sponsor.
B次元官网网址淧arents have sacrificed a lot,B次元官网网址� Pearson said. B次元官网网址淢y dad puts in extra hours at work, and my mom always ensures IB次元官网网址檓 ready for the races. It is an expensive sport and sometimes the bills can be a bit tight.B次元官网网址�
PearsonB次元官网网址檚 first go-kart sped up to 75 km/h an hour, but now those speeds can top 120 km/h.
Racing at higher speeds heightens the risk of injury, but she never gets frightened by the speed.
B次元官网网址淚 think IB次元官网网址檓 just afraid of crashing,B次元官网网址� Pearson said.
SheB次元官网网址檚 only been injured once, when she hurt her wrist and was looked at by a track medic.
For Pearson, chasing her dream in a high-adrenaline sport might mean leaving the public school system and attending online schooling.
B次元官网网址淚 like school, and it will be a big sacrifice,B次元官网网址� she says, adding that she would like to race in the Formula series one day.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 something I want to do when IB次元官网网址檓 older.B次元官网网址�
editor@sookenewsmirror.com
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