Jayden Batimore was six years old when he “smoked” everyone in an indoor cart while his family was out.
Two years later, the eight-year-old dreams of becoming a three-time national champion in the outdoor version of the sport and becoming a supercar champion.
“He just smoked everyone and we wondered what’s going on,” mother Kathy Batimore said of her first visit to Nakinitro in New Plymouth.
“So we took him to the Taranaki club, where you can take the kids and see if they take it.”
read more:
* Muddy fun at Tapawera’s annual glass skirt event
* Britney Spears shares a rare photo with his sons Sean and Jayden: “My boy is so big now!”
* “Rude on so many levels”: Kevin Hart roasts NBC for mistaken for Olympic athlete Usain Bolt
VANESSA LAURIE / Stuff
His passion for sports has grown and in recent third place he has cut his number beside his head.
Hooray. And within three months, he started competing with used gear that his family bought or rented.
Fitzroy Elementary School students’ love for Kurt is now obsessed. He has a professional sponsor, his own team racing sticker, and a carved cart number on the side of his head.
“He gets up at 6:30 am and arrives at a big race track. He’s not a kid out of bed, but in the race he is,” Kathy said.
“He did things like bikes, but he didn’t do this.”
Jayden started at Wellington’s Kart Sports New Zealand Nationals and has won three national titles since recently finishing third.
And his 3rd place means that he can race on the 3rd plate until the next national tournament.
“He was very proud to be in third place, which is a pretty big achievement at that age,” Kathy said.
VANESSA LAURIE / Stuff
Jayden discovered Kurt’s talent when his family took him to an indoor cart truck at the age of six.
“The more work you put in, the better you are and he puts in more work.”
But Kathy said diligence and trophies weren’t the only rewards at the weekend tournament.
“The great thing about this sport is the companions they made from all the different towns.”
And Kathy said that the drivers are all so competitive with each other that they never move away from the “smack talk” on race day.
“They are competitive there, then they are the best companions.”
His success may be related to the fact that the race is in the blood.
VANESSA LAURIE / Stuff
When he is racing, Jayden can only think of something for dinner.
His dad Matt had a 10-year history as a drag racer before giving up on it three years ago.
“His dad teaches him a lot. They go out to the hut together and learn how things work.
“At the first blockade, Matt bought the chassis and motor, and after he went straight out onto the truck, they both assembled it.”
The pair spends their time training at the Waitara Racecourse every two weeks, working on Jayden’s dream of becoming a supercar star like Shane van Gisbergen.
To do that, his next goal is to come first in the 2023 national race and break his record time on the home track.
“When I race, all I think about is what to eat for dinner, but my favorite part is winning trophies.”