Brothers To Battle At Rotax Nationals

AKA press release

Having two of your children race go-karts side by side at over 100 km/h would make most Mothers cringe with fear, however, for Jill Lindstrom it is just another Sunday at the kart track.

Given the fact that she met her husband Grant at a kart track when both their Fathers, Clyde Lindstrom and Jack Greensmith, were racing karts during the 1970s, Jill has been around the sport for many years.

Now with their three sons Jace, Jordie and Adam competing on the kart track, life in the fast lane is something Jill accepts as a part of a normal weekend.

Above: Jordie (left) and Jace Lindstrom pics - photowagon.com.au

During the week Grant operates a successful kart shop in Greensborough (Melbourne, Vic) and on a weekend his focus turns to being head mechanic for the three boys.

During this weekend’s Sparco Rotax Nationals, to be held at Melbourne’s VACC Park, the oldest brothers, Jace and Jordie, will go head to head as they battle for the honour of becoming Australian Champion.

“Even though I’ve been around the sport for so many years I’m the first to admit that I get nervous when the boys race but it is something I have grown to live with over the years,” said Jill.

“However, this weekend may be a bit different, it is a National Title and they both believe they will be close to the front of the field and really want to win.

Above: Jace (6) and Jordie (49) are ready to go head-to-head this weekend at VACC Park to try and win the Rotax Light National Championship, plus book a berth in the Rotax World Final.
pic - photowagon.com.au

“The sport has been really good to us as a family. We do so many things together and have made some really good friends along the way, for us it is not just about the racing but the people as well.

“All of the boys have been racing since they were seven, while I was a nervous when they were that young I knew that what they were doing on the track was in a safe environment and it would give them confidence and experience for when they got their road licence – and it has.”

The two boys are the best of mates, as are most of the racers, off the track but once the helmet is strapped on there will be no love loss between the pair.

To assist with keeping their Mother’s blood pressure down, Jace and Jordie have only competed against each other on three occasions. Entering this weekend’s event Jace leads in the head-to-head battle, however, his younger sibling is keen to even up the scorecard.

“Over the past four years both Jace and I have concentrated on different classes, so we haven’t raced against each other a lot. But when we have he has beaten me twice. My only win over him came back in this event during 2004 when I first moved up from Juniors,” said Jordie.

“In saying that though, I’m pretty keen to make it two all by the end of the Rotax Nationals. The other week in a shakedown event he finished second and I was third, so there isn’t much between us, it will really be who can get it right on the day when it matters most.

“As for Mum, well she is always pretty nervous watching us but she knows we are doing something we really enjoy and while we get our adrenaline fix on the track we don’t have a need to go hooning around the streets.”

Long-time mechanic for the Lindstrom boys, Ross Harrod, finds it tough to select a favourite from the pair for this weekend’s event.

"It would be a very close bet as to who I would pick. Both have different qualities and driving styles but are equally as good as one another. I will be giving both the boys all the support I can give,” said Harrod.

The Lindstrom boys will line up in the highly competitive 125cc Rotax Light category, which features 41 of the country’s best drivers, at this weekend’s event.

In the other championship category of the weekend, Rotax Heavy, Queenslander William Yarwood – a four-time winner of the event, defending champion Kel Treseder and recent winner of the City of Melbourne Titles Luc Price will start as favourites.

At the completion of the Sparco Rotax Nationals a total of five drivers will have secured a berth to represent Australia in the World Rotax Challenge at La Conca in Italy later this year.

The two junior drivers to be offered the opportunity to complete in Italy will be determined by the highest and second highest point’s scorers in the Formula JMA rankings as of Monday 8th September 2008.

Two of the senior positions will be offered to the highest point’s scorers in the Rotax Light and Rotax Heavy rankings as of Monday 8th September 2008. The third and final senior position will be offered to the winner of Rotax Light at the Rotax Nationals. One of the three senior competitors will compete in the DD2 class. International Karting Distributors, the Australian Rotax importer, will select from the three senior drivers the person best suited to compete in DD2.

Support categories over the weekend will be Formula JMA, the two-speed Rotax DD2 class, Rotax Over 35’s and Junior National Light.

The official welcome dinner for the event, which will feature boast entertainment, an array of prizes and visits from V8 Supercar stars Steven Johnson, Will Davison and Cameron McConville will be held on Friday. Qualifying and heat races held on Saturday and the finals contested on Sunday.

VACC Park is located on the corner of Todd Road and Cook Street, Port Melbourne, Victoria

Former winners of the Sparco Rotax Karting National Titles

Rotax Light
2001 – Matthew Wall (Vic)
2002 – Josh Arandt (Vic)
2003 – Bart Price (Vic)
2004 – Scott Auld (Qld)
2005 – David Sera (Vic)
2006 – Hayden McBride (NSW)
2007 – David Sera (Vic)

Rotax Heavy
2001 – Damien Meyer (NSW)
2002 – Brett Davidson (Vic)
2003 – William Yarwood (Qld)
2004 – William Yarwood (Qld)
2005 – William Yarwood (Qld)
2006 – William Yarwood (Qld)
2007 – Kel Treseder (Qld)

Previous Venues
2001 – Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway, Sydney, NSW
2002 – VACC Park, Melbourne, Vic
2003 – Mt Sugarloaf Raceway, Newcastle, NSW
2004 – Ipswich Raceway, Ipswich, QLD
2005 – Beckley Park Raceway, Geelong, Vic
2006 – Mt Sugarloaf Raceway, Newcastle, NSW
2007 – Ipswich Raceway, Ipswich, QLD

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