GYMPIE KART DRIVER TO HIT NSW
Article Matthew Lee | 15th January 2010 [Gympie Times Newspaper]

GYMPIE kart driver Sharon Jaenke enjoys plenty of support from her father Wayne, who is shown helping with adjustments between races last weekend.

Jaenke, 22, has a brand new kart [Monaco] in her possession, worth a hefty $4200.

Now she is eager to hit the track with a renewed determination.

The enthusiastic kart racer purchased the new kart [Monaco] chassis prior to Christmas.

"I had been thinking for a while about getting a new kart, and I decided to finally make it happen," she said.

Jaenke's previous kart was 18 months old and beginning to show telltale signs of fatigue and general wear and tear.

"It was starting to get costly with the ongoing maintenance, so the timing was perfect to get another," she said.

The kart required a new engine, and with plenty more horsepower, Jaenke is itching to hit the track and break it in.

Jaenke got her first taste of racing with her new machine at the weekend as the Cooloola Coast Kart Club conducted its first race meet of the year.

Despite school holidays, a resonable field turned out in force to contest the event.

"It was a real eye-opener," Jaenke said.

Competing outside her normal class of Leopard Light, Janeke took part in the Sportsman 125 Class for the first time. "I was a bit unlucky on Saturday with engine problems, but Sunday I did much better and finished second overall," she said.

Racing over the weekend also involved the use of new tyres [MG Yellows] credited with being more economical.

"My [MG] tyres were second-hand but I could definitely see how they are going to have more of a life-span than the standard ones," Jaenke said.

Janeke now has a brief break before her next big event next weekend on January 24.

The Gympie competitor will be joined by fellow Cooloola Coast Kart Club members, Lauren Coomber and Lilly Mayes, in travelling to Lithgow, New South Wales, for a Ladies Race Meet. "It will be different not racing against the boys"

As the name suggests, only female drivers will be taking part, and the event will be also doubling as a fundraiser for breast cancer research.

"It's my first time to New South Wales to compete, so I'm pretty excited about that," Jaenke said.

"Drivers will be competing for pink plates, and I think the event is great because it will showcase what girls can do on the track."

The event raised over $24,000 for breast cancer research last year, and this year organisers are hopeful of surpassing this amount.

Jaenke herself has been actively fundraising, selling over 100 raffle tickets at the Cooloola Coast Kart Club's meet at the weekend.

The Gympie driver says she would love a win in Lithgow, but says limited practice will be an obstacle to overcome.

"They are holding a Junior event down there as well and we are hoping that finishes on time so we can have a bit of time on the track to get used to the circuit," Jaenke said.

Jaenke continues to impress the Cooloola Coast Kart Club, juggling her racing commitments with full time work and study.