From V8 Supercars stalwart Garry Jacobson to rising Formula One star Oscar Piastri, Shepparton has a proud history of producing elite motor sporting talent.
And while this exciting duo continues to take on the national and international stage, the next generation of young drivers are beginning to follow in their footsteps, with cousins Will Thompson, 14, and Jensen Damaschino, 9, leading the way.
Numurkah-based Goulburn Valley Kart Club members — the pair has been flying the flag for the region in the ongoing 2022 Australian Kart Championship — with their exploits in round three of the competition last weekend taking even their parents by surprise.
Taking to the track at Puckapunyal’s Eastern Lions Kart Club, Thompson braced the wet and slippery conditions to claim victory in the KA4 Junior category, while the younger Damaschino followed his cousin’s triumph, winning in the Cadet 9 race.
With just one victory on the Australian Kart Championship stage being a long-time goal of the Thompson-Damaschino family, to have two come on the same weekend was nothing short of a fairytale.
Having spent countless hours in the garage and on the track with their sons, Jarrod Thompson and Michael Damaschino said it was an incredible weekend of racing to be a part of.
“It was such a thrill to see the boys do so well,” Thompson said.
“The Australian Kart Championships are the races everyone really strives towards, so to come away with a win on that stage is really the pinnacle.
“So for us as a family to have the two cousins come away with victories on the same weekend, it is very special and we are very proud.”
Forming a special bond as cousins, Will and Jensen have spent much of their childhoods travelling the country together to compete in various karting events.
Thompson said it was fantastic for the boys to have each other there to share these special memories.
“As a big extended family we love hitting the road together,” he said.
“This year we’ve done Adelaide a couple of times, the Sapphire Coast, so we do get around a fair bit and it just creates great family memories.”
With both boys approaching speeds of about 100km/h on race day, there is much more that goes into securing a good result than what happens on the track.
From kart maintenance, to on-track testing and everything in between, Damaschino detailed the hours of preparation that went into last weekend’s race.
“Before a race meeting we are in the shed virtually every night preparing and making sure the karts are in tip-top shape,” Damaschino said.
“Going through things like engine maintenance, air filters, putting the correct gearing on, changing motors, changing tyres, a lot goes into it.
“In the lead up to the race it is funny, because I say to myself, I’ll get this done in 10 hours and 20 hours later I’m still going.
“They don’t seem like much, but certainly a lot of work goes into them.”
As the boys continue to rise through the ranks and hopefully secure more titles, Thompson said the lessons they learnt on the karting track would put them in great stead moving forward.
“It (go-karting) is a good grounding for a lot of things in life,” he said.
“Every race car driver starts in a go-kart, be it F1 or V8 Supercars, so for the boys to be doing so well it is very warming to see.
“A win at the Australian Kart Championships, it is something a lot of people strive for and never achieve, so for Will and Jensen they have a golden opportunity.
“As parents we can’t wait to see what they achieve.”
For those keen to get into go-karting, the Goulburn Valley Kart Club is always on the look out for new members.
If you are interested contact the club on Facebook or phone secretary Brent Opey on 0417 503 068.