Scott Andrews: Karts to Cars... and Back To Karts
Scott Andrews is a name that most newer karters are probably not familiar with. After starting his racing career in karts at an age of 11, he did not get the 'competitive bug' until he was 13 and in the Junior National Light category in 2003. And even then, it wasn't until late 2003 until he realised the competitiveness of the sport - and that's when he really wanted to start getting some good results.
In the 2004 Andrews competed in a few Country Series and open rounds, and had some solid top 5 results. In November of 2004, he had his breakthrough first win, at the Val Findlay Memorial. 2005 saw a better year for young Scott as he clinched his Club Title in Jnr Light and Jnr Clubman, plus many top 3 results in meetings such as the Winter Cup, Val Findlay Memorial and various country series rounds competiting with names such as Jordan Ford, Jake Spencer, Mitch Wilmot, Josh Hughes, Corey Mccullagh, James True, Justin Tate, Scott Pye, Daniel Rochford and more.
In 2006, he scaled back his racing to concentrate on his new love for music, and mastering the electric guitar. He still won both Jnr Clubman and Jnr Light club championships and competed in the AKA Nationals at Bolivar. The repecharge in the 2006 Nationals goes down as Scott's favorite drive to this date. Starting off 5th (after his qualifying group encountered a wet track), he was sandwiched into turn one and flew over the karts into the stone trap into turn one. He managed to keep it going, and got back on the track in dead last. In the 15 lap race, he managed to gain more than 20 positions to finish the race in 5th, passing two karts on the last corner on the last lap and setting the fastest lap by 3 tenths in the process.
He took most of 2007 off, but the driving bug bit once again. In his first race for nearly a year, he finished 2nd in both Clubman Light and Clubman Pro against Mitchell McLeod.
Scott then commenced a great alliance with the Foster's (David and Dean of Master Karting). Moving to the Phoenix chassis for 2008, while practicing for the Victorian Open at Geelong, Scott suffered two broken ribs which basically meant he was out for the majority of that season.
He then had the opportunity to drive in the Commodore Cup National series for 2009, and he took to the category like the proverbial duck to water, finishing 5th overall in his first proper race in the National category at Phillip Island. He continued the good form, including pole position at Oran Park. He also bagged a test with the T.A.G Fujitsu V8 Supercar team at Winton.
But in March of this year, whilst continuing to race Commodore Cup (where he finished 4th overall in the 2010 National series), Scott was offered a drive he couldn't resist - and it got him back in the seat of a kart.
“I was approached by Karl Bond (of Kartune fame), who has been a really great friend to us for a long time, and also helped us out with engines when I moved to seniors. He asked if I wanted to drive his F100 at Horsepower Heaven in Geelong. I said no at the start. Then I thought about it, and thought 'why waste such a great opportunity?' So I called him back and told him I was in.” Scott finished 2nd overall, but couldn't quite make it onto the podium in the final to receive a trophy.
With the 2010 season approaching a close, Andrews has entered the Victorian Closed Titles at Cobden next month. “We had an old Monaco GP5 sitting in the shed that needed a lot of work done to it. We took it out the other day, and assessed what it needed.”
“I can't wait to get back in the kart and be competitive again. I'm sure I won't be up there straight away, but in saying that anything can happen in motorsport. I'll be looking for a top 10 finish by the end of the weekend, that will be a great result for sure."
Scott is grateful that he will still be receiving help off Master Karting (the Fosters) and also Kart Tune (Karl Bond). “I really gotta thank these guys. Dad spoke to them both on the phone and they are really keen to help me get back up there. And who knows, if I don't get the budget to run cars again next year, I might try to get in the kart as much as I can...”
