Small wheels, big dreams

By Stuart Teather
Berwick 10-year-old Lachlan Naismith put the finishing touch on a remarkable comeback by claiming a national go-kart title, recently.
The young racer won the Australasian C and D Grade Go Kart Title at Gippsland Kart Club on August 9, beating some of the nation’s best junior racers.
The win was all the more impressive as it came just five months after a dramatic crash that threatened Lachlan’s racing career.
Back in March, Lachlan was racing at Horsham in round one of the Vic Country series when he clipped another car trying to take the lead in the race, flipping his kart and sending him hurtling through the air.
Three displaced vertebrae, a sprained wrist, concussion, bruised ribs and some nasty whiplash later, Lachlan earned an ambulance ride to hospital, leaving some very worried parents.
“He loves being around cars, his dad’s a mechanic, I kept saying no — being the mum,” concerned parent Kirsty said.“He’s a very stubborn little man to get straight back into the go-kart and say ‘okay, let me go’, after the rollover.”
Lachlan saw a chiropractor for three weeks to get his neck back into shape before jumping straight back in the kart.
But the problems had only just begun for the young racer, with his kart, affectionately known as ‘Larry’, sustaining more damage than its driver.
Months of tweaking and testing finally had the kart back to speed for the race at Gippsland, and Lachlan did not disappoint, winning by a nose in a dramatic race.
His prize was an enormous trophy, but paled in comparison to the sense of achievement for completing his comeback.
Kirsty was full of pride for her son. “It was huge event and he actually managed to win his division, it’s a humungous thing so he’s now the title holder.”