Liam Carries The Hunter History Forward
| 29 April 2017 |
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Liam Hunter’s family has won 27 National karting titles plus State karting titles in the hundreds.
Liam’s great grandfather, Noel Hunter, was a racer of karts and motorcycles. He was the President of the Australian Karting Association and the importer of the first American Bug go karts into Australia.
Above: Liam Hunter and vintage Mac Minerelli (pic - Hunter collection)
Liam’s grandfather, Brian Hunter, was known as "Mr 200" and won more 200cc events than any other in Australia /USA and multiple times at the prestigious Hong Kong Asian Pacific Karting Grand Prix.
Above: Brian Hunter racing twins in the USA (pic - Hunter collection)
Liam’s Uncle, Robert Hunter, won many titles and raced against the likes of Ayrton Senna, Terry Fullerton, Mike Wilson, Stefano Modena & Alex Zanardi in the World Karting finals in 1979/1980.
Above: Robert Hunter: 200cc Super @ Mt Gambier 2017 (pic - Hunter collection)
Liam’s father, Leigh Hunter, was a karting and Jet ski champion, who raced with the likes of Touring Car greats Craig Lowndes, Jason Bright and Russel Ingall.
And now, Liam is the fourth generation karter in the Hunter family.
“Our family has been in karting for 58 years”
Liam Hunter is 15-years-old from Mentone (Victoria) and is a student at St Bedes College. He was a state finalist in the F1 Challenge for Schools last year and has a passion for motorsport, exotic cars, Forza Motorsports and now karting.
It all started a few years ago. Liam was doing kart photography for the Australian vintage karting movement (in which his father still competes) where he makes and sells calendars, posters and discs of photos.
Above: Liam Hunter : 100cc Super @ Mt Gambier 2017 (pic - Hunter collection)
"He wasn’t that keen on karts" said his father. "We bought him a couple of karts and he did some practice, but he wasn’t keen on the idea of racing. He wanted to pursue Football and Basketball."
That all changed in 2015. Liam had made some good money from his karting photography and bought an X-Box 1 then made his own simulator. He very quickly became a master of online races and car games (Forza Horizon 2, Forza Motorsport 5 & 6, Need for Speed , Project Cars). He played with a large group of online friends and would dress up in all his karting gear to play.
Above: Liam in his self-built simulator (pic - Hunter collection)
"A few months later I noted just how good he was and his car control and reflexes were fantastic" Leigh said. "He designed and built his own cars on the game, and his knowledge of exotic cars had become amazing. I played with him on occasion and could not get close to him."
In 2016 Liam became eligible to get a vintage kart Licence and competed in the annual Vintage Karting Grand Nationals at Numurkah in Victoria in which they have spirited demonstrations and time trial events.
Liam not only qualified in the top ten Vintage karts in Australia, he beat 25 other 30hp 100cc machines with ex Australian champions and state title holders to be 7th overall at the event. Only machines with a higher power rating beat him, and he also beat many higher power karts to qualify in the top ten.
Above: Liam in his 125 TaG Tony Kart /IAME X30 (pic - Hunter collection)
Liam has also competed this year at the vintage event at Mount Gambier in South Australia, placing 5th overall and again beating all other 100cc karts.
Liam is now practicing in his father's 70hp 200cc twin methanol engine powered Swiss Hutless kart at speeds of over 130 kph.
He made his Karting Australia debut at Todd Rd in February in a 125cc X30 Tony Kart and placed third in his final of TAG 125 Restricted Light against 21 other karts.
Above: Liam Hunter at his first competition race meeting, starting on pole for the final. (pic - Hunter collection)
"I am thrilled he is racing now, thanks to his Xbox 1, he is now the 4th generation in my family to race karts and wants it so badly now.
"If his times and form are any guide, he may just be another Champion in the waiting."
Above: Liam 1st ever race podium:1st Louis Rutlege, 2nd Tyler Macellari, 3rd Liam Hunter (pic - Hunter collection)
Above: Tasmania 1978: Leigh Hunter 502, Russell Ingall 66 (pic - Hunter collection)
Above: 200cc Supers in Hong Kong - 12 Brian Hunter (Aust), 2 Mickey Allen(GB), 4 Gary Hardman (USA) (pic - Hunter collection)
Above: Liam @ Vintage Kart Meeting Numurkah 2016, Mac Minerelli / Rotax DSB (pic - Hunter collection)
Above: Liam's F1 for schools project (pic - Hunter collection)
Above: Liam 1st vintage kart test 2015 (pic - Hunter collection)
Above: Leigh Hunter - Factory supported Racing, Seadoo Jetski (pic - Hunter collection)
Above: Liam Hunter: tests a 200cc super @ Mt Gambier (pic - Hunter collection)
