CRAZY boy racers are usually considered the scourge of our streets.
But a daredevil youngster won a round of applause when he blazed past flabbergasted onlookers in Hampshire yesterday.
Schoolboy William Warrick Smith (below) clocked up the fastest time at the Winchester Wacky Go-Kart Races in Kings Worthy.
The 11-year-old was one of 103 people careering down a steep 300-metre hill in their homemade karts at Bank Farm.
A record number of people entered weird and wonderful vehicles to battle it out in 18 categories.
But the youngster from Winchester held his nerve to take the most coveted prize of all, sweeping along the course in 11.41 seconds in his self-styled stealth canoe, fashioned from a black boat.
But while it was a smooth ride for the schoolboy – who also clinched the 10-12 year-old category – it proved a steeper learning curve for others, as their karts capsized or embarrassingly overturned in the ultimate destruction derby.
The event raised an estimated £1,800 to be split between charities including Naomi House, Hampshire Riding Therapy Centre and A Better Life.
Leigh McQueen organised the race with her friend Liza Bowers. She said: “It was fabulous – it gets bigger and wackier every year. It’s great that families and people of all ages can work together to create their own karts, and it really brings the generations together.”
Dave Bowers, 72, from Colden Common, gave a new meaning to rubbish driving when he won the 60-plus veterans category, crossing the line in his converted grey wheelie bin.
Meanwhile, the Gurier and Tyler families from Winchester won the wackiest creation gong for their F1 cheese kart, fashioned like a slice of edam.
The best technical design prize went to Darryll Kirley, from Kingsworthy for his jungle jeep.
There was also a trail bike demo, a hog roast and stalls.
Mercedes Benz were among the companies sponsoring the event.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here