F1 Racing Column: Combining karting antics with charity work in the holiday season

With only one test session in December, I seemed to have spent most of the month in karts. First there was Mika Salo's indoor event in Helsinki, then my own charity enduro in London, and finally the Elf Masters at Bercy in Paris. In their own way, these events are the modem equivalent of the old cricket matches F1 drivers used to play around British GP time. Certainly, they are the only time, testing apart, that drivers get together away from races. It might sound corny but charity represents a way to give something back, and I think most people contribute because of something that's happened to them or their family. I do work for the children's charity SPARKS, and a little bit with the Sidney Kidney Foundation because, when my daughter Chloe was a year old, she had a problem with one of her kidneys. Both charities seek to find out all they can about diseases in young or even unborn babies, to help prevent similar occurrences. SPARKS, in particular, presents me with the opportunity to give something back.

This year we raised almost £34,000 via the Johnny Herbert Celebrity Karting Challenge at The Raceway track near London's King's Cross. It's good because both the event and the money we generate from it has grown each year. Last year we raised £27,000, so it all seems to be going very well. There was a good ambience this year, particularly as we had one of those little spinning minicars there, and a guy who did the most remarkable balancing tricks, Dougie Lampkin-style, on his trials bike. At one stage he jumped his bike over seven of us, without using a ramp. But that was child's play to him because he holds the world record for jumping over 27 people. He hit the 28th person! Well, not really, but I can think of a few candidates I'd suggest for that position! We also had a twin-engined 100cc kart there- that thing is seriously quick. Out-of-control quick!

I was accused of being totally out of control in Helsinki, too. Several of the Champcar guys were over: Greg Moore, Dario Franchitti, JJ Lehto, Jimmy Vasser, and Jacques Villeneuve was there, too. It was a nice mix and it was fun, even if it was damned cold. Of course it's nice to win, but that's not the point at such events. It's about enjoying it. In the final I had a little run-in with Greg. I gave him a nudge, and he hit the wall and got stuck. I got caught in the back of his kart, then Jacques and JJ crashed into us too - we were all stranded there, with Mika Salo waving every time he came past. It was refreshing that they all laughed about it afterwards - none of the usual recrimination.

The Elf Masters at Bercy is a little more serious, and there is one guy I always avoid - who should remain nameless. In fact, I even parked up to let him come by and crash into somebody else before I continued. Bercy was started when Alain Prost helped Philippe Streiff put something together in the aftermath of his accident at Rio in '89. In the early days the whole point was that you raced there without reward to help Philippe, it changed when a couple of stars got paid to go. Again, it's just sheer enjoyment, or should be. I thought the funniest thing was Mick Doohan's accident. He got the kart up on two wheels and was thrown off when the tyres gripped again. Usually the thing rolls over, but not this time. I suppose it was the equivalent of Mick going over the handlebars. I've never seen anybody do that in a kart. My only problem was trying to work out why Winfield presented me with a giant kangaroo.

A lot of the guys at Bercy test in readiness all year. I don't, but I usually find myself getting better and better by the Sunday events. I've just taken delivery of a couple of Swiss Hutless karts, how-ever, and I'll be using them at an Italian circuit just over the border from Monaco. It's an excellent way to keep yourself sharp for F1.

These GP Columns appeared exclusively in F1 Racing magazine every month.
The columns are reproduced by kind permission of the Editor, Matt Bishop.
With thanks to F1 Racing ©. All rights reserved.
This page prepared 23rd January 1999.