Seven-year-old racer – the legacy continues
Seven-year-old Stephan van der Merwe has Oval Track racing in his veins. This weekend, January 31, he will make his racing debut while his father, Hendrik, who has been racing for almost 17 years, looks on.
The dirt oval has made and broken many a racer.
From the start, mud and dust flying, racers slam their cars into full speed as soon as the flag drops. The high adrenaline, high octane and high-speed races were created for one reason: to separate the men from the boys.
Seven-year-old Stephan van der Merwe has Oval Track racing in his veins. This weekend, January 31, he will make his racing debut while his father, Hendrik, who has been racing for almost 17 years, looks on.
Standing at a trophy case filled with almost 100 trophies from Hendrik’s multiple victories over the years, a proud father told Newcastle Advertiser how his son was begging for a chance to race since he was five.
Last year, Hendrik won the Two-litre and Hot Rod Club Championship, as well as Most Dedicated Driver and Sportsman of the Year, an award he received for always being willing to help other racers.
Over the past few months, Stephan has been on the receiving end of some hard-earned wisdom from his father.
In a specially modified racing car Hendrik built for him, Stephan has managed to complete almost 200 laps in preparation for his first ever race.
The shy youngster smiled broadly when asked if he was looking forward to the racing action.
“I am excited,” he said. “I am ready for Saturday.”
Stephan will be racing in the Rookies division, a special category for young racing hopefuls. He will be part of VDM Racing, a team put together specially for the Van der Merwe clan.
“I just think it’s amazing that a boy his age is even capable of driving the car,” said Hendrik. “I have always been building and selling Oval Track cars, and now I have finally decided to build a car for him to see what he can do.”
Hendrik knew Stephan was hooked when one night, after a race, he let him drive his racecar on the track.
“He was sitting on my lap, and he couldn’t even reach the pedals,” he said. “I put the car in second gear and let him steer. It was amazing.”
On Saturday, Stephan will go up against other rookies, who have been driving for much longer. He hopes to do well, and continue the legacy his father created.
