First time kart racer scores a victory
Every Dad dreams of being a father to a racing champion. Whether it’s to be like Anthony Hamilton (father of seven-time F1 champion, Lewis), or Jos Verstappen (former F1 driver and father of Max), there could be no better source of pride than a son that’s the king of speed.
For father and son tandem, Ronnie and Max Trinidad, that dream turned into reality last May at City Kart Porac Pampanga.
Five-year old Maximino “Max” Isaguirre Trinidad is a first time go-kart driver who won during the EHPAF Karting Series (EKS) 2022 Round 3 Race 5. He was introduced to go-karting only at the end of February 2022.
It was first through a skateboard video that Max was spotted by Coach Pacho Blanco of Team Blanco Race Engineering (Team BRE). Dad, Ronnie, a motoring journalist from AutoCar Magazine and website, shared the video of Max doing stunts on his skateboard. Coach Pacho saw that he is strong spirited and enjoys speed.
Normally, it takes months to train and practice to see an individual’s potential, but for Max, he was determined to join a competitive race and test his skills and capabilities. After a trial that eventually led to a series of karting clinics and sessions coached by Pacho, Max got the green light to join his first race in March 26.
This first race was the first round of the 2022 EHPAF Karting Series (EKS), a National Karting Championship in the Philippines for race karts owners founded and organized by EHPAF Racing Services managed by Jean-Marc Freihuber situated at Alviera Ayala Estates.
For parents Ronnie and Tinni Trinidad, they knew how motorsport can be dangerous especially for their only son, but they were willing to provide him the opportunity to experience it.
“Never in my wildest dreams have I thought my son would be karting,” shared Ronnie. “With his height, I thought he would be better in basketball. It's a blessing that we are able to do this. I know it will be expensive to do. We are just lucky that I get to work for the series. I started last year at the end of the series when Jean-Marc Freihuber requested for my services. I would produce the live video for the series to air on Facebook and other materials he needed. It eventually helped us pay the bills for him to go karting.”
Max was the second to the youngest in the Bambino Series for the age group of 4-6 year olds, with a total of 6-7 competitors with different levels of experience. Some have been racing for years already while others were novices as well.
Understandably, during his first run, Max did not follow the formation grid, which led to several talks from the organizers to re-brief him. In the race, he was spinning out, hitting other karters and not following the racing lines. He hit the barriers, requiring a check by the medics to make sure he was ok. These incidents only made him stronger and more determined to finish the race.
There were challenges for dad, Ronnie, as well. “Imagine this! I was directing a live video and also had to commentate because the host was not available. All this during my son's race! It was hard to control my emotions while commenting. After he won, I wanted to hug and celebrate while I was live on Facebook coverage. But I couldn't because the race official had to work with me with some replays. Deep inside, I was crying of happiness. He walked into my broadcast room asking how he did and I told him he was first place. With that smile I was just melting inside. What an experience! That’s how God works. Only he can create this.”
“We just had to trust Coach Pacho Blancho and we knew he had to work to get the best time in the kart. And the only way to get better is to practice and practice. I even told him of a saying in basketball that, if you're good at basketball you probably sleep on the court already. He literally wanted to sleep on the race track.”
Motivation was also an integral part of their success. Every night, during storytelling time, Daddy Ronnie and Max built the determination to win a trophy. He always aimed to be number 1 and imagined that he overtook his other competitors. For two months, every night it was his dream, and winning a trophy during the Race 5 was an answered prayer. Every night also, he prays to Papa Jesus to grant him his wish. And indeed, according to Mark 10:13-16, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these”.
Max is looking to score more victories in the next rounds of the 2022 EHPAF Karting Series (EKS) on July 16 to 17; August 20 to 21; September 10 to 11; October 8 to 9; and November 12 to 13, 2022. Catch the races live at City Kart, Porac Pampanga or on @EKS.EhpafKartingSeries on Facebook.