May 10, 2013
Charlie Ploetz is only eight but he’s already a champion on the racetrack after just seven races.
Charlie, from Kingaroy, took out the Young Gun Title – one of the biggest junior karting competitions in Australia – at Lismore in NSW last weekend.
And who did he beat? Only Jett Johnson (grandson of the legendary Dick Johnson) and Seth Crump (son of three-times world speedway champion Jason Crump).
The Young Gun Titles attracts about 170 drivers in eight classes, ranging in age from 7-years-old to 16-years-old.
Charlie competed in the Cadets P Plate class which he dominated against much more experienced competition.
In fact, he lost only one race across the weekend of racing … after he spun out in the pre-final while he was in the lead. But he quickly made up for it, working his way back through the field to 3rd position and setting a best lap time only 0.1 off the record in the process.
The spin meant he started the final in third spot on the grid, but he won by 1.8 seconds against drivers up to two years older than him.
Proud dad Peter Ploetz said Charlie only started racing in February this year but he’s already brought home five trophies from seven meetings.
“He’s a natural, it’s amazing,” Peter said.
And that’s on the basis of little practice. The nearest kart track that he can use is in Toowoomba; many of his rivals practice regularly at the tracks where they’re racing.
Charlie’s 80cc Italian-built “Tony” kart has a top speed of 85km/h and races only centimetres off the ground, but Charlie isn’t scared. He’s been riding quad bikes since he was two.
Peter said Charlie had received a lot of help from another Kingaroy resident, Howard Williams whose son Chris is a go-kart racer.
“A Kingaroy boy helping a Kingaroy boy,” Peter said. “Chris volunteered his time to come down to Lismore and help. He was a huge help.”
Charlie’s hero is V8 Supercar driver Craig Lowndes – whom he has met – and he hopes one day to be following in his tyre tracks.
If he keeps on going the way he’s started, that day could be just around the corner …
