FATHER-and-son duo Stephen and Marcus Hocking are ready to wave the south-west flag when two-stroke go-karts competition returns to Laang Speedway on Sunday.
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The Camperdown drivers will compete against up to 50 drivers from around the state.
Stephen, 59, and Marcus, 24, hope the meeting leads to more frequent events on their home patch.
“2013 was the last time two strokes ran here, and that was a demo, and 2007 was the last race meeting,” Marcus said.
“The speedway club approached us a couple of years ago to start up a four-stroke class and with the general interest of the four-stroke club running, the Melbourne-based two-stroke clubs have got the interest and wanted to hire the track out.”
“It is good for us. Where we’re based in Camperdown, if we’re to run these anywhere we basically have to drive three to four hours for any sort of race.
“So to have something that’s only half-an-hour down the road is brilliant.”
Lifelong competitor Stephen makes a rare appearance on the track nowadays, instead preferring to help his son with his car set up.
But he is excited to race alongside him on Sunday.
“I reckon it’s great – it’s the only reason I got back driving again was to have fun with Marcus,” Stephen said.
“We high-five each other which we get into trouble for.”
Marcus echoed his father’s sentiments.
“It’s always good to bash the old boy out of the road,” he said, tongue-in-cheek.
“Occasionally I have to lap him.
“Dad has been involved in it all his life basically and I was born into it through him so it was either do this or sit at home doing nothing.
“It is always good to get out and do something with Dad and at least this way we can run side-by-side and have lots of fun.”
Marcus said the two-stroke go-karts could zip around the track in 12 to 13 seconds and reach speeds of 100km/h.
“This one probably puts out about 15 horsepower whereas the four-stroke one unrestricted is lucky to get eight or nine,” he said.
Sunday’s meeting starts at 10am.
The only reason I got back driving again was to have fun with Marcus. We high-five each other which we get into trouble for.
- Stephen Hocking