The Visor

Freshman Student Nationally Ranked Go-Kart Racer

October 16, 2011

By Jack Srail

Freshman Sarah Carmon isn’t a typical fourteen year old girl. Most girls her age wear headbands, but she prefers a helmet. Most girls spend their weekends shopping; Sarah prefers practicing at the race track.

Carmon has been riding go-karts for almost nine years and because of this dedication is one of the top racers in the nation.

    Carmon fell in love with go-karts one day when her father took her to Cedar Point.

“We rode the go-karts for almost two hours that day,” Carmon said. “It all just started from there.”

    The karts that Carmon now drives are nothing like the ones that she first drove at Cedar Point. The body is custom-made in Italy then brought to the U.S. for competition. Carmon’s father is her wrench and lead mechanic, helping with the motor and putting the whole kart together. When the kart is entirely assembled, it can reach speeds up to 65 mph.
Carmon has also received a number of awards throughout her racing career. She has achieved such honors as Regional Champion and Most Improved on the Florida Tour. Being unfamiliar with racing phrases can cause one to underrate these achievements, but in simpler terms, Carmon is ranked tenth in the nation in the coed 12-16-year-old division.
With such a history of success, Carmon looks to continue this trend in the future.
“I want to attend Skip Barber Racing School in Atlanta, Georgia,” Carmon said. “It is the most well known racing driving school in the country.”

Skip Barber isn’t anything similar to Drive Team or Meyers Driving School. This is where students are taught techniques and strategies by either current or former professional race car drivers. Barber is the most elite driving school that the country has to offer.  In the near future, Carmon is planning on progressing to racing F1600s, which are second only to the engines driven by the professionals.

“My favorite NASCAR driver has to be Jimmy Johnson,” Carmon said. “He is the only five-time defending champion that the sport has ever seen.”

Whether professional or amateur, go-karting provides a thrill for many of its drivers.

“It is a whole lot of fun,” Carmon said. “You are filled with adrenaline before [the race], and during the race, and its just addicting.”

   Every Friday afternoon, Carmon straps on her helmet and practices her driving before racing in the weekend competition. It all begins with a ritual handshake between father and daughter. Then, the race is on.

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