It’s go, go, go for Lachlan

An 11-year-old go-karter has won big at the Indy 800 series at Wilberforce in only his second year of racing.

Go-Kart Champion Lachlan Campbell 11, from Annangrove wit his go-kart.

An 11-year-old go-karter has won big at the Indy 800 series at Wilberforce in only his second year of racing.

Lachlan Campbell, of Annangrove, took out the comer class of the Indy 800 Racing Series held at Butterfly Farm, Wilberforce, throughout the year.

Campbell won seven of the nine rounds of the series against about 12 other competitors, and achieved the highest overall points.

Lachlan said he enjoyed competing at Butterfly Farm, which had a good atmosphere for young racers.

“Butterfly Farm is a lot of fun, everyone is really friendly,” Lachlan said.

Lachlan Campbell with his trophies. Picture: David Swift

After winning the Indy 800, Lachlan competed in the North Shore Kart Club Championship at Eastern Creek, run by the Australian Karting Association.

He raced in the Cadet 12 category and came third overall.

Lachlan’s love of go-karting began from a young age, when his dad Greg would take him out for a ride.

“Dad used to go out to the hire karts and get a double one and take us for a ride,” he said.

“Then one of our karts blew up so we borrowed a kart, and I kept practising and it got to the stage where they thought I should get a proper kart and then I started racing,” he said.

After competing in a few races last year, Lachlan stepped it up this year and began entering state titles, travelling to Lithgow, Orange and Canberra to compete.

“We have to take two eskies and a lot of food and we put a mattress up the top so that if it’s two days we can sleep,” Lachlan said.

Although he did not place at the state titles, Lachlan said the competitions were a good learning experience.

“It was fun because everyone there had clean races and we could do side-by-side racing,” he said.

“Now that I’ve done it this year I know a lot of the competitors, so when I go to race (next year) if they’re there I know what the standard is going to be.”

Lachlan Campbell (right) shakes hands following a go-kart race earlier this year.

In his spare time Lachlan works on his go-karts, spending a few hours each week in the shed tinkering away.

“We have two karts so one is a kart that we’re serious with and the other one is basically one that we experiment with,” he said.

“So the serious one, we have a set up and we leave it at that.

“But the other one we experiment with different things, like wheel alignment and tyre pressure.”

Lachlan has been supported with parts for his go-kart from Performance Metals at Riverstone and Burson’s Auto Parts at McGraths Hill.

Despite his young age, Lachlan completes his own engine swaps and race preparations, and has always had an interest in mechanics.

“When I was little, because my dad’s a mechanic, I used to go down to the shed and help him,” he said.

“And I’ve always been into engines and how engines work, so I know a lot of things like how to take engines on and off the chassis.”

Lachlan Campbell racing at Eastern Creek earlier this year.

Lachlan’s favourite part about go-kart racing is spending quality time with his dad, especially when they take road trips to compete in state titles.

“It’s a good father-son weekend where we can have some time together, and its always a good time,” he said.

“We always have fun.”

The Indy 800 Racing Series at Butterfly Farm starts again February.