by Chelsea Preen
After two decades away from competitive karting, I found myself back on track—literally—thanks to a community that knows how to get behind one of their own.
It all began in November 2024, when I attended the Lithgow Ladies Day as a media representative for Karting NSW. Somewhere between the interviews and atmosphere, a hare-brained idea took hold: what if I got back behind the wheel?
The response from the karting community was instant and overwhelming. In true grassroots fashion, we patched together what we needed through a “beg, borrow, steal” approach—just enough to get me back in the seat.
My competitive karting days date back to 2003 and 2004, racing club-level events. In 2007, I returned for a one-off appearance at the inaugural Combined Districts Ladies Event, running Senior National Heavy in my brother’s Phoenix kart—his helmet, suit, and all. Back then, I drove a Yamaha KT100J on Dunlop SL1s. This time around, I jumped into a PRD Galaxy on Dunlop DHHs—a massive shift. The grip was wild, the power fun, and the resurfaced Orange track familiar, if slightly altered. (They sadly removed my turning bump at Windmill—if you know, you know.)
Sharing this ride with my crew chief—aka Dad—has been a journey in itself. He’s getting used to water-cooled engines; I’m figuring out how hard I can push. It’s like riding a bike… if the bike was on fire and cornering at 80km/h.
My first practice session was met with the high praise of “not as bad as I thought you’d be,” and things only improved from there. Each session brought faster lap times and a boost in confidence—along with a few detours through the gravel, some impromptu lawn care, and an accidental-kind-of-on-purpose brake test on the main straight. That’s all part of shaking off the rust.
Practice at Lithgow reminded me how comfortable I am at Orange—and how intimidating other tracks can be. Maybe it’s a throwback to pre-clutch days when a spin meant Dad walking halfway across the circuit to push-start me again. I also seem to have a talent for collecting tyre marbles, so if anyone needs a track cleaner, I’m available.
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While karting has changed a lot technically since 2004, the soul of the sport remains the same. I thought I’d left it behind in 2008, but my return in early 2024 reignited my passion—not just for racing, but for promoting the sport, especially for women in motorsport.
In karting, you’re not a “girl on the track”—you’re just another helmet. I’ve always said karting is gender-neutral, and that rings truer now than ever. We’re seeing more single mums in the pits, more women officiating—not because their kids race, but because they love the sport. You don’t need a reason to be involved beyond your passion.
That’s why I continue to champion the #WomenOnTrack movement. Our goal isn’t parity; it’s visibility. Some women may never want to be on the grid, and that’s okay. But for those who do, we want to make sure they know they’re welcome—whether it’s racing, wrenching, or waving flags.
So here’s my call to action: ladies, let’s get back in the seat. Combined Districts Kart Club’s next Ladies Day is set for May 24. The class is TaG Restricted Light, with an optional larger restrictor for drivers 20+kg over the class minimum (check the supp regs). Trust me when I say the karting community will rally around you and help—you just need to put it out there.
This ride wouldn’t have been possible without support from Karting NSW, Dunlop, Mitch Lozina, TPR Engineering, and Jackson By Design. And of course, thanks to Mum and Dad for once again backing one of my harebrained ideas.
Who knows? Maybe I’ll do it all again sometime.
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