Go-karters build S$2m race track
By Christopher Tan
Senior Correspondent
A GROUP of veteran go-karters have put their money where their heart is and built a competition-grade circuit.
Located at the Arena Country Club in Upper Jurong Road, the 750m track is due to open on Oct 1.
It is the product of lawyer Jude Benny, 52, businessman Allan Teo, 47, and Mr Kevin Kwee, 38-year-old executive director of car-and-leisure Group Exklusiv.
Mr Benny was once chairman of the now dormant Karting Club of Singapore, and Mr Teo its former secretary.
Mr Kwee has been taking part in races for more than 20 years, starting with go-karts when he was 15 years old.
The three, along with three other "sleeping partners", put up close to S$2 million to build Kartright Speedway.
The track is open to the public (from S$30 per 10-minute slots) as well as competitive karters who have their own machines (S$60 per three-hour sessions).
Mr Benny said Kartright Speedway will also run a karting academy for children, and hold national races.
Singapore Motor Sports Association (SMSA) president Tan Teng Lip said the association has done a preliminary inspection of the facility and found it suitable. "It is still a bit short for international races, but I think we can definitely have national events there.
"Some of the turns are a bit tight, but I think we can do something to make it meet safety requirements."
There are an estimated 300 karting enthusiasts here, with many of them going across the Causeway to indulge in their hobby.
Until the Changi race track is up in 2011 and the Kallang Sports Hub is ready a few years later, Kartright will be the only competitive karting circuit here. In the region, the nearest is in Malaysia.
Back in the 1990s, go-kart races were held at Kallang Carpark C.
But that stopped when the MRT works started about seven years ago.
Enthusiast Eric Ho, who took up the sport in 1993, recalled: "Back then, when you needed to take a leak, you had to walk all the way to the National Stadium."
The 38-year-old general manager of an engineering services company said he used to go to Johor Baru and, more recently, to a motorcycle track in Tuas to kart.
"I am glad there is now a proper track with proper facilities," he said.
Mr Benny said the advent of Formula One in Singapore has whipped up interest in motorsports here.
The SMSA, which helps hold a series of karting events in the heartland, confirms this. Its president, Mr Tan, said this year's series drew close to 2,000 participants, up from 1,500 last year.
On average, 9,000 spectators turn up at each "race".
And when Caltex held a karting competition in the east coast in 2007, 100 teams signed up.
Mr Benny and partners first found a spot in Jurong West to build a track.
They started some groundwork, but failed to get approval from the authorities because the place was near a school and flats.
Then, about 18 months ago, they found the current location. Kartright is leasing a plot from the Arena Country Club, a private club operated by entrepreneur Lawrence Leow. Membership at the club starts from $8,800.
Kartright has a host of amenities, including a covered spectator stand, a pit building, indoor kart storage, showers and a lounge.
And being in a country club, F&B outlets as well.
"There is Burger King, Pastamania and Tung Lok," Mr Benny said. "We have made arrangements with the club to allow our members to make use of facilities such as the swimming pool and bowling alley.
"So, while the karters are racing, the family has something to do."
Kartright will pose some competition to Kart World, a 12-year-old 500m track also in Jurong. Kart World owner Thia Yoke Kian, who is part of a consortium bidding for the multimillion-dollar Changi circuit project, does not seem too worried though.
"Like us, it is not an internationally sanctioned track," he said of Kartright.
"But to keep the sport going until the Changi track is up, it is all right.
"Better than playing in carparks."
Source:
http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring...17-168503.html 
Go-karters build S$2m race track 
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