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Interview

Another aspiring racer, another dream

Crowdfunding is becoming a popular way racers are trying to pave his own way in the cutthroat world of auto racing.

Callum Kirkpatrick karting

Callum Kirkpatrick karting

Callum Kirkpatrick karting

Callum Kirkpatrick ... It's a name I doubt few of you know. One of the things I've become fascinated with over the past few years are the new and creative ways that racers are breaking into the sport. 

A few months ago, I told you about Zack Skolnick and his company, DRIVEN Steering Wheels, which helped him launch his racing career forward. Among the many new and innovative ways racers are getting funding these days, one of the most popular is crowdfunding.
 
It's not just used by the dreamers though. David Brabham is using it to revive the iconic Brabham racing team and even more notably, the financially stricken Caterham F1 Team used it to make the grid for the F1 season finale. 
 
Now back to Callum, he is a Scottish-born race fan with aspirations of becoming much more. He wants to start by breaking into karting and has created a gofundme campaign, reaching out to others that want to help make his dream a reality. 

The plan

Callum was inspired to pursue this passion by racing legends Dario Franchitti, Colin McRae, and Jim Clark. His plan is to create a karting team and just see where it takes him.
 
"It took quite a while for me to get to a point to where I actually thought I was any good at this whole racing deal," he told Motorsport.com. "Around 2004ish, I started racing 1/10th scale rc cars at my local club which came with moderate success indoors. After six years racing at my local rc club and around Scotland, I was able to have a modest attempt at a trophy cabinet. For as long as I can always remember, I have always wanted to be a racing driver."
 
"I am hoping to be able to start my racing career competing in Senior Rotax Max at the West of Scotland Karting Club. Achieving my dreams, as everyone knows, takes money and a decent amount of help. I am hoping to use this opportunity that I have been given to its fullest extent!"

Crossing the pond

His dreams are big though, so big that they reach across the Atlantic itself and land on NASCAR's doorstep.
 
"I found myself watching NASCAR for the first time and was instantly hooked. As clichéd as it sounds, NASCAR was and still is the dream from that moment on. I would love nothing more than to have a successful career racing in stock car racing. 
 
"My plan is to run a few seasons in Scotland," Kirkpatrick explained. "Hopefully, I can attract a few sponsors that can help me on my journey and then hope I can receive an opportunity to test my talents across the pond."
 
Callum Kirkpatrick is just one of many racers utilizing new methods to insure their childhood aspirations come to fruition. It's not yet clear what the future holds for the Scot, but one thing is for certain and it's that you're not going to make it if you don't try.

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