AFTER watching his two uncles’ spectacular billy cart crashes, you would forgive Mickey Knighton, 11, for being too scared to get behind the wheel.
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But the Wahgunyah Primary School student said he wasn’t frightened to race for the first time at Corowa’s Australian Billy Cart Championships on Saturday.
In fact, it wouldn’t be so bad if he crashed.
“I would mind it if it broke (the cart), but if not I wouldn’t mind,” Mickey said.
The speedway fan followed in a family tradition entering the more than 120-year-old event, with his grandfather, father and uncle all competing before him.
But his uncle, Matt Knighton, said he wasn’t keen to again after he once crashed into a pole, nearly choked on his helmet’s strap and tripped a young boy who knocked out some teeth.
Another uncle, Dean Rowan, who also competed on Saturday, broke two ribs when he rolled his cart last year.
His father Michael Knighton said Mickey, who’s been driving cars since he was eight, wasn’t phased.
“Mickey’s not scared of anything,” he said.
“I’ve got to keep an eye on him at times.”
Mickey’s grandfather made his cart out of an old lawn mower, bike and tractor parts with a shovel for the seat.
Brock Mihan, 6, of Park Orchids won the nine years and under, Olivea Beltrame of Albury won the 10 to 13 years, Isobelle Beltrame, of Albury won the 14 to 17 years and Alan Treloar, of Avenel won the 18 years and over.