Norwin athletes compete in an array of sports at Norwin High School, ranging from classic sports like basketball and football all the way to sports like field hockey and bowling. However, Norwin High juniors Danny Tyskiewicz and Gavin Isaacs do a unique type of sport–race car driving.
More specifically, both Isaacs and Tyskiewicz compete in the sport of karting, which has several levels. Both of these boys compete in CKNA Karting which stands for Cup Karts of North America. Although this is a semi-pro and intermediate level of racing, there is also a professional level which is the FIA.
The sport of karting is sprint-style racing, which means that whoever completes the set amount of laps first wins. In order to get better and to get ready, there is typically a practice held before every race weekend or match. At practice at the events, there is an open track and you can tune or change your motor; however, you need it adjusted. In these practices and prior race sessions, the fastest lap that you race will or will not qualify you for the pre-final. In order to qualify for the final race, you need to place within a certain few places depending on the race. The weekend’s final race is essentially the main event where the karting champion is determined. At these races, there are multiple rows of karts, and when the green flag is waved, the karters take off and finish when they see the checker flag.
In addition to practice on the tracks, most drivers have a driving simulator computer set up with a steering wheel, gas pedal, and seat, similar to an arcade video game. Tyskiewicz has one in his room that takes up a good part of his room where he practices many hours.
Going into a race weekend, karters need to prepare mentally, physically, and as a team. They need to select a team of a couple of people who can work on their kart or help them out with changes regarding their car. However, traveling and entering a racing team can be quite pricey causing most young karters to go to competitions without a team. Typically on these race weekends, there is a huge tent that houses all karters, karts, and much more. There are trucks of spare parts, food, and technology like computers typically provided to run data regarding the respective karts’ performance. Kart racers such as Tyskiewicz and Isaacs have to take into account several things on these race weekends regarding their karts such as tire pressure, temperature, grip, the dampness of their initial turn and turns, along with many other things.
“I would also say karting is different from other sports as it’s just as strategic as it is physical, in some corners, you could pull as much as 3-4 Gs and you have to keep your head straight,” said Tyskiewicz.
Danny races junior and senior division. Junior division is ages 13-16. And senior division is 16 to any age competition.
Tyskiewicz and Isaacs compete in CKNA Northeast Regional Series and Star National Series. They have race weekends about every 8-10 weeks. After karting, there are several levels of racing and the final, most professional level is F1. However, progressing through the tiers of racing can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and at the F1 level sometimes millions.
“I’m most likely going to top out at karting or low-level racing, as the paywalls between the different series are so high, but it is and was always a blast and I love it,” said Tyskiewicz.
