Tony Dallas

Published: 22 November, 2012

Tony Dallas casts his eye over sport’s burning issues. With more than 20 years working as a sports development officer, he knows what he’s talking about.

IT’S exhilarating to sit behind the wheel of a fast car and push the accelerator to the floor.

How many times have you buckled up and driven along long winding country roads believing you’re Michael Schumacher or some other icon who legally and lucratively defies the speed limits?

You’ve even made the sounds and voiced the commentary of your road rally slash Grand Prix, haven’t you?

I can’t really say that being a Formula 1 racing driver was ever a dream of mine, but then I found out that the top five get paid between £19million and £38million a year. And that’s before sponsorships!

Ahead of this weekend’s championship finale in Brazil, the TV viewership for F1 has rapidly dropped – which isn’t surprising considering it is no longer free to watch.

I wonder how many inner-city youngsters, tagged away somewhere for driving offences, could become Formula 1 drivers if given the opportunity?

Seriously, the death rates involving 17- to 24-year-old drivers is prompting the government to search for even more ways to clamp down on the freedom of young people. Restrictions include preventing them from carrying any passengers other than family members in their car.

We’ve got to be seeking more creative ways to educate our children on the dangers of reckless driving.

I say let’s make go-karting more affordable and get kids down to the track. Give them the proper instructions in the use of powerful motors, how to fix and maintain them and on how to respect speed. 

Let’s get some of these huge F1 moguls to sponsor schools with simulated driving machines that monitor the skill levels of the driver. I’m sure our youngsters would reap the obvious rewards in such a venture.

Is go-karting the safe way to go? Tell us what you think – at sports@camdennewjournal.com