Several years ago, Christian Cameron, now 13, left school and started doing an online home study program. This change provided him the freedom and flexibility to pursue his growing passion for racing go-karts – smaller, simpler versions of race cars. Christian has now traveled all over the country for races, with his sights on Europe in the year ahead. The Sun’s Sarah Ford found out more about his adventures thus far, and his plans for the future.
How did classmates and teachers respond when you left school to pursue racing?
They were kind of surprised, and some thought it was a little crazy. Some of my former teachers still don’t know what to think of it. But many turned around and were supportive. Some have actually come to see me at the track.
How did you first get interested in go-karts and racing?
Well, my dad’s dad was racing stock cars in New Zealand, and my dad started go-karting when he was about 12 or 13. Then later he moved on to the Formula Atlantic car, Prototype cars, and other sports cars. In the 1990s, he won a race in Florida called the 24 Hours of Daytona twice, in the Rolex GTP Light division. So, learning about all that got me curious, and eager to try it out.
How old were you when you started?
When I was four, I started driving up and down our cul de sac, here in Sonoma, in something called a kid kart. It’s a tiny go-kart with a little Honda motor. I loved it! My neighbors thought it was funny. Now my little niece, who also lives on our cul de sac, is driving up and down in her little kart. She’s also learning how to drive at the track. She just turned four. After my dad stopped racing, he started Cameron Racing at Sears Point – now Sonoma Raceway. He also started Cameron Karting and that’s where I started racing for real, when I was five. The karts were called Micros.
And after that?
I started doing the three karting series that I do now. They’re called SKUSA (Super Karts USA), ROK Cup, and USPKS (US Pro Karts Series). For ROK, I was on tour in Florida earlier this year, for two months. And in February I won my first major national race in Orlando – there were 40 karts in the race. Right now, I’m gradually moving from karts and more and more into cars.
How fast do the karts go?
There are Micro, Mini, and 100 cc go-karts, and they can do up to about 60 mph on a normal track. In the 125 Junior Kart, the fastest I ever went was 80. In the race car that I’m driving now, I’m doing 145 mph.
That’s fast!
Yeah, you wear a helmet, neck brace, and a rib protector. And a racing suit that’s made of fire-retardant fabric. I recently did my first car race at a track called Sebring in Florida. It didn’t go that great because the race car had a suspension failure in practice, and I crashed in the fastest corner of the track at about 100 mph. But I wasn’t hurt, and I got right back into another car so I could do the races.
What other safety measures are important?
In the 125 Junior Kart, you put pieces of tape on the radiator vents in the morning when it’s cold, to help the motor stay warm, but you don’t want it ever getting above 130 degrees. If it gets close to 130, you pull off a piece of tape so more cool air goes through and cools the water which cools the motor down. I also go over all the data from the on-board computer with a driver coach after every session.
Do you have sponsors?
Yes. One is Flying Husky, a dog rescue organization. They have a private track day club. Another sponsor is the filmmaker who made a movie about horse jumping called Desert Flight. He has two race cars. Hero Life Insurance is a big help, and the Albanese Group and Brooks Motorcars are also sponsors. The kart team I’m running with right now is PSL Birel Art. They are the North American Birel factory team, which means we get all the newest karts and help from the Italian manufacturer.
So what do you like about racing?
Honestly, I’m not really sure. It’s one of those things where you just go, “I love it!” You can’t really describe it. To be honest, I’m not even sure what I’m thinking about when I’m racing. Sometimes I talk to myself, and kind of zone in completely to the kart.
What’s coming up next for you?
The next big go-kart race is in Las Vegas, in October. It’s called ROK Vegas. Before that, I leave for the Lucas Oil School of Racing series, which is 15 races. If I can win the championship, I’ll win $250,000 in scholarships towards racing.
Anything else on the horizon?
In karting, what you really want to do is to go to Europe. It’s really big over there. They have a huge karting series with championships all over. For example, there’s the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) World Karting Championship. Fingers crossed, I hope by the end of this year I’ll go to Europe to race.
How do you feel about the fact that you can race around a track but can’t drive on the street?
It’s a little frustrating. My mom says I’m a back seat driver.
My name is Ivan Jimenez CEO of Sonoma Auto Spa , I know Chris since he was little , our company serves his personal vehicles and also at Cameron Racing Team at the Sonoma Raceway .
All I can add to this is that his brain works like a tesla , when he drives he knows exactly who is behind him , who is at the front , what speed is opponents are and how fast he needs to go to pass another driver . IN A FRACTION OF SECONDS. It’s very impressive , when I saw him driving , k knew right away that he has a future in this industry . A podium on an F-1 it’s what he is going to achieve , his discipline will take him there , and yes call me crazy but he will get there.