There was little doubt that Noah Graham Hutson's life would involve motor racing. The Kansas City racing driver's father is one of the sport's best photographers and Noah takes his middle name from a double Formula 1 World Champion. He recently spoke to Suite101 about his racing career to date and his hopes for the future.
Noah is currently 13 years old and competes throughout America. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of other great kart racers such as Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and current Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton.
Q. When did you first start racing, and what attracted you to the sport?
A. My dad has always been a car guy, since my grandpa took him to Indy for the 500 in 1962. He only got the chance to race later in his life I think. When my dad had me test drive a kart a couple of times in St Louis at the end of 2007 it was great! I loved the speed, the noise and beating other racers.
Q. Your father is a well known motor racing photographer. How big an influence has he been on your career?
A. Dad has introduced me to some of his racing friends like Bobby Rahal, Emerson Fittipaldi and James King. Phil Harris, a racer from New Zealand, has been a big help with coaching and race advice. I like him a lot and I'd love to visit his country. Phil Reilly, one of the owners of Historic Grand Prix (HGP), has also been a big friend. He always remembers my name and asks about my racing. I've made my kart look like his historic Brabham, which is a BT44 I think. All white with some black pin stripes.
Q. What is your favourite circuit?
A. Road America in Elkhart Lake. It's fast, open, lots of interesting corners, up hills and down. They race my kind of kart there but I have to be 16 to race on the full four mile circuit at speeds up to 135 mph. I've also seen Dario Franchitti win the Indy 500, which looks cool but kind of boring to me.
Q. What do you do to relax between race weekends?
A. I like to play video games and have met people online with my xBox in Australia, Russia and Scotland. My dad makes me keep everything private and no real names on my gaming profile. I also swim all year long and qualified in all four strokes for the City Conference Championship. I like to skateboard and keep fit by going cycling with my dad.
Q. Has anything unusual ever happened during a race?
A. I got rammed up the backside during a race in Quincy, MO. Our class has a few really dirty drivers who will brake check the person behind during a pace lap and crash to pass. This one guy hit me and my kart jumped up. It landed on the curb and broke all the electric connectors. Dad and I were packing up to leave when the owner of MARGAY Karts (based in St Louis) came up and asked if I'd like to drive his kart in the remaining races.
Since I hadn't qualified I started last, but passed four karts in the first corner. We eventually finished sixth I think. I didn't want to damage their kart, especially as we only had to supply tyres and gas. They were great guys and they made a kart that handled well. We have changed our kart to be more like that.
Q. Do you get nervous before a race?
A. No, I get quiet and think a lot inside my helmet. I try to visualise the race track, thinking about how I'm going to start and where I can pass.
Noah Hutson interview continues here.
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