by Chelsea Preen, OKC
In Orange, there’s a saying: if it doesn’t turn cold and rain before ANZAC Day, it will on ANZAC Day. True to form, Round 2 of the Orange Kart Club Championship, held on Sunday 27th April, kicked off under chilly skies and steady rain. Despite the tough conditions, the spirit of karting was alive and well, with 32 determined drivers braving the weather.
A particular highlight for the club was the strong showing from junior drivers — 20 entries were from the under-16s. With junior numbers declining in recent years, the surge in young talent was a welcome sight. Competitors travelled from across New South Wales to join the event, testament to the growing reputation of Orange club as a premier location for fun, laughs and good racing.
While the wet track made for a slippery start during practice and the first heat, the young drivers quickly adapted. In the Novice class, Rodney Bellbowen dominated, consistently pulling clear leads in the challenging conditions. In Rookies, Neel Vats led the way, while a tight battle unfolded between Raffi Davis and Harrison Stace, with Max Goodman moving into second. A standout moment of the day came during the final when Davis, despite pulling ahead following Goodman’s engine troubles, showed incredible sportsmanship by waving Goodman through at the finish line to reclaim second place. His act didn’t go unnoticed, earning him the rare “NicPic LEGEND” award from Karting NSW photographer Nick Curry (NicPic).
The combined Junior Light and Heavy class delivered thrilling heats, especially between brothers Sonny and Tatum Ratcliff, who recently graduated from their provisional licenses. Their fierce on-track rivalry entertained the crowd, but in the final, Tatum dropped back (being in heavies) while Sonny battled Robert Cribbin, securing a strong second-place finish.
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In the 4SS Light class, local favourite Ryan Parkinson took an early and commanding lead. Meanwhile, the midfield saw an intense tussle between Jack Hayes, Shih-Hung Lee, and Will Jones, all familiar faces at the club. The final standings saw Parkinson atop the podium, followed by Lee in second and Jones in third.
Despite the cold and wet, the atmosphere remained electric throughout the day. Orange Kart Club extends a huge thank you to Nick from NicPic for his outstanding event photography and ongoing support.
The club looks forward to welcoming members and visitors back for the next Club Day on 8th June — entries will open soon via the Karting NSW portal.
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