Saturday 23rd January 2010 - Karting at Llandow

This was a trip that had been planned for a long time but cancelled numerous times due to the heavy snowfalls we had seen over the past six weeks. So it was with relief that we opened the bedroom curtains on Saturday morning and saw bright blue skies and snow free gardens. Karting was on.

Its ten years since my husband quit karting and I haven't missed the weekly grind of nights spent building engines, weekends of travelling around the country practicing and racing or the continual hunt for sponsorship. It has been so pleasant to relax with friends and family over late night dinners, go to the cinema or just enjoy other activities together as a family. So my major concern was will my husband get the bug and want to start racing again.

Saturday's trip had been planned with some friends, Rhys and his two boys, who have just discovered karting. It is also an opportunity for our ten year old daughter to have a try at karting and see if she has the motor racing bug or not.

The day doesn't start too well with our daughter waking up with some viral infection. Her temperature is up and she is vomiting. 'Do you want to stay home?' I ask.

'No way' is the reply, 'I want to go and even if I don't drive I want to support the others'.

Llandow is an old air base and the runways have been modified for racing. It offers owner/driver racing and corporate karting. The routine is simple kids go out for one session, corporate have a session and then adult owner/drivers get their chance to shine. Very informal, everyone is friendly and helpful.

We arrive at lunchtime. I was up very early Saturday morning baking bread and cakes and making a picnic but it's not appreciated and everyone is more concerned with karting than eating. So much so that there is no time for eating during the day and the picnic is saved for our evening meal which we finally eat at home in the warmth of our kitchen.

As for the karting, Ron, Rhys and the two boys have a fantastic time. Debbie & I spend the day freezing cold trying to smile and be as encouraging as possible. Our daughter spends the day in the club rooms being sick. A great family day out!

Did my husband Ron get the karting bug again? Don't know he's full of aches and pains this morning and very non commital.

Does our daughter have the racing bug? Don't know she didn't get a run in a kart too busy being ill

Will we do karting again? Probably