The Drive To Drive

Many of us might have the desire to race cars and crave the adrenaline rush that comes with speed and danger.  But car racing without having the needed skills can be quite dangerous. However, there is an alternative that is not only safe, but is fun. The monthly DAMC Karting Championship at the Dubai Autodrome allows car lovers and racers alike a chance to enjoy the action all year long (except summer). The first race of the year took place on Friday, 20th January 2012, when petrol-heads came together to get their fix. Hussein Ali, an Emirati racer, said, “I have been involved in karting for the past 4 years, it’s a part of my life and I have no intentions of ever leaving it”.    To take part in the monthly karting event, one can join in any of three categories: First, the professional championship for which the participant must bring along a kart and a karting license. Second, participation in all the races – usually reserved for professional racers - and earn cumulative points to determine their position in the UAE national karting championship. Lastly, racers can opt for the rental kart race. For this category, participants are not required to have their own car and they do not need to participate in all the monthly races. It is the cheapest category.

“Karting is active. It not only improves learning skills but also is extremely safe,” said Darrel Smith, a 40 year veteran of auto racing and karting. “Parents gets their

kids involved as young as the age of 8 since karting improves concentration and helps develop precision in car control, quick reflexes and decision making skills”, added Smith, who is also a karting instructor at the Autodrome.  Karting, he said, “can also lead to a career path. Many racing champions had to master karting, before progressing to car racing”. Smith said that karting can help build friends and social skills too. “It helps build bonds between friends and family so it has a social aspect to it as well”, he said. Mr. Jonathon Mowatt, a finance analyst from London moved to Dubai 2 years ago. He races regularly at the DAMC karting championship. He said karting has been a source of new friends in the city. “Dubai is difficult to crack but most of the friends I made here are through karting”. ‘Speed kills’, we’ve heard this so many times. But it doesn’t seem to have an impact on Dubai’s motorists. Despite numerous safety campaigns, the UAE has the highest rate of road deaths. 80% of the accidents that occur are due to speeding. Students were involved in 46% of total accidents, according to an article, “UAE students still ignore warning” published in 7days. Last year 184,745 speeding tickets were issued in the UAE. The Ministry of Health revealed that road and traffic accidents are the main reason for childhood/children’s death in the UAE and a traffic offence is committed every five seconds. When driving, one is required to multi-task. For many, this is a daunting fact. One can easily lose focus on the road. Choosing karting as a sport can help improve one’s cognitive ability and hence help him/her become a more alert and a safer driver on the road. Karting is an interactive activity and it gives people a chance to spend time outdoors. Events like DAMC encourage friendly competitions, especially among the younger generation who have the desire and the energy to see who is faster. Unfortunately, this ambition usually reveals itself when teens race on the highway, putting their lives as well as others’ in jeopardy. Check out the race date for DAMC 2012 on the link below http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/calendar/