Latest news with #go-karting
CNA
2 days ago
- CNA
Man irked by Japan go-karting noise arrested for attempted arson
TOKYO: A Japanese man enraged by the noise of go-karting popular with foreign tourists was arrested on Wednesday (Jul 16) for trying to set fire to the motor vehicles, according to police and local media. Go-karting is a popular sight in Japan - the birthplace of Super Mario - with tourists, dressed up as the video game icon and other characters, allowed to manoeuvre their way through Tokyo streets. The 28-year-old Japanese man was arrested on charges of attempted arson, Tokyo police told AFP. Police said the man was suspected of setting fire last month to waste on the premises of a Tokyo company that operates go-karting tours, with flames spreading to its parked go-karts. Nearby walls were also burned, but the fire was quickly extinguished, police said. Public broadcaster NHK quoted the suspect as telling investigators that he was "stressed out by the engine noise of the go-karts". His workplace was reportedly located adjacent to the scene of the fire. The go-karting operator received a letter in May threatening to "set karts aflame if engines are turned on after tomorrow", NHK reported, adding that police were probing a link to the arson attack.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- ABC News
Mina Langham, 10, part of new wave of girls participating in motorsport
Mina Langham, 10, discovered a natural talent for racing after she tried go-karting for the first time last September. In just under a year, she has already clocked more than 100 races, going from complete novice to now beating seasoned racers. She hits the track at an average of three times per week and, after getting her own kart in April, has already "done well over 500 kilometres in it", according to her dad, Kim. "She's not stopped the last month … She makes a new personal best every day," he said. She is part of the uptick in female participation within go-karting and motorsports in recent years, driven by the ripple effects of documentary series Drive to Survive and an increased interest in Formula 1. Women and girls now represent more than 15 per cent of all motorsport licence holders in Australia and are one of the fastest-growing groups in motorsport, according to Motorsport Australia. For go-karting, they make up 20 per cent of racers at all levels nationally. Nadine Armstrong, the Motorsport Australia general manager of corporate affairs, said while motorsports might be in the theatres currently thanks to Hollywood, the sport was not having a "moment". Rather, she said, the sport's growing popularity was part of a movement that had been bubbling away for some time now. "It still is obvious that females are under-represented in motorsport. Like many industries, we're not unique in that regard," she said. "But I think there's a lot of things that are contributing to the fact that and it is a sport where females can participate on an equal playing field." "Once you get behind the wheel, it doesn't really matter whether you're a female or a male. "If you're behind the wheel of the same car or the same kart, it really comes down to driver ability. "So it's always one of those things that once you put your helmet on, gender does not matter." Armstrong said female participation in the sport was growing, from an increase in licence holders and competitors to an uptick in women in official roles at the grand prix. Applications from women to be officials at the grand prix went up by 20 per cent between 2024 and 2025, she said. Since its inception in 2018, Motorsport Australia's Girls on Track program has seen 3,500 girls and women between the ages of eight and 22 go through the program. At the go-karting level, PowerPlay, the venue where Langham races, saw more than 660 women and girls race last week and 2,500 in June across all four of its venues. Langham and her father recently found out about the F1 Academy, an all-female racing series established by Formula 1 to develop young female drivers and prepare them for higher levels of motorsport, including Formula 1. It is something they now are following closely. Two Australian women are competing this season: 16-year-old Joanne Ciconte and 17-year-old Aiva Anagnostiadis. "My biggest goal is probably to be a part of the Girls Academy … I really hope I can join that when I'm older," Langham said. Her father said she was almost ready for competitive racing. Last Friday on the track, he said, the other kids struggled to keep up with her. "She just has the ability to pick the right lines and apexes. And the other kids were just getting frustrated and they were getting rattled," he said. "They kept turning around and seeing where she was and, at the end of the day, they were spinning off the track." Previous state and national-level go-karter Tayla Dicker now mentors Langham at PowerPlay. She said it had been rewarding to see more girls like Langham give go-karting a go — and find their talent for it. "The first time I saw Mina race, I could tell straight away she had a talent for racing," Dicker said. "She reminded me of why I fell in love with racing in the first place. "It's been incredible to watch her confidence grow, race with her and even watch her beat people on the track that are more than three times her age." Langham added: "It's a lot of fun and I feel like it's something I'd never get bored of, and I hope I never get bored of it because it's really fun and really exciting".
ABC News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- ABC News
Mina Price, 10, part of new wave of girls participating in motosport
Mina Price, 10, discovered a natural talent for racing after she tried go-karting for the first time last September. In just under a year, she has already clocked more than 100 races, going from complete novice to now beating seasoned racers. She hits the track at an average of three times per week and, after getting her own kart in April, has already "done well over 500 kilometres in it", according to her dad, Kim. "She's not stopped the last month … She makes a new personal best every day," he said. She is part of the uptick in female participation within go-karting and motorsports in recent years, driven by the ripple effects of documentary series Drive to Survive and an increased interest in Formula 1. Women and girls now represent more than 15 per cent of all motorsport licence holders in Australia and are one of the fastest-growing groups in motorsport, according to Motorsport Australia. For go-karting, they make up 20 per cent of racers at all levels nationally. Nadine Armstrong, the Motorsport Australia general manager of corporate affairs, said while motorsports might be in the theatres currently thanks to Hollywood, the sport was not having a "moment". Rather, she said, the sport's growing popularity was part of a movement that had been bubbling away for some time now. "It still is obvious that females are under-represented in motorsport. Like many industries, we're not unique in that regard," she said. "But I think there's a lot of things that are contributing to the fact that and it is a sport where females can participate on an equal playing field." "Once you get behind the wheel, it doesn't really matter whether you're a female or a male. "If you're behind the wheel of the same car or the same kart, it really comes down to driver ability. So it's always one of those things that, you know, once you put your helmet on, gender does not matter." Armstrong said female participation in the sport was growing, from an increase in licence holders and competitors to an uptick in women in official roles at the grand prix. Applications from women to be officials at events went up by 20 per cent between 2024 and 2025, she said. Since its inception in 2018, Motorsport Australia's Girls on Track program has seen 3,500 girls and women between the ages of eight and 22 go through the program. At the go-karting level, PowerPlay, the venue where Price races, saw more than 660 women and girls race last week and 2,500 in June across all four of its venues. Price and her father recently found out about the F1 Academy, an all-female racing series established by Formula 1 to develop young female drivers and prepare them for higher levels of motorsport, including Formula 1. It is something they now are following closely. Two Australian women are competing this season: 16-year-old Joanne Ciconte and 17-year-old Aiva Anagnostiadis. "My biggest goal is probably to be a part of the Girls Academy … I really hope I can join that when I'm older," Price said. Her father said she was almost ready for competitive racing. Last Friday on the track, he said, the other kids struggled to keep up with her. "She just has the ability to pick the right lines and apexes. And the other kids were just getting frustrated and they were getting rattled," he said. "They kept turning around and seeing where she was and, at the end of the day, they were spinning off the track." Previous state and national-level go-karter Tayla Dicker now mentors Price at PowerPlay. She said it had been rewarding to see more girls like Price give go-karting a go — and find their talent for it. "The first time I saw Mina race, I could tell straight away she had a talent for racing," Dicker said. "She reminded me of why I fell in love with racing in the first place. "It's been incredible to watch her confidence grow, race with her and even watch her beat people on the track that are more than three times her age." Price added: "It's a lot of fun and I feel like it's something I'd never get bored of, and I hope I never get bored of it because it's really fun and really exciting".
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Amanda Holden, 54, puts on a VERY leggy display in a brown 'skort' as she tries her luck at go-karting against F1 legend Jenson Button
Amanda Holden put on a leggy display in a brown skort for a go-karting race in central London against F1 legend Jenson Button. After showing off her look in an Instagram video earlier in the day, the radio presenter, 54, was snapped arriving in sunny Leicester Square looking noticeably tanned. Sporting an all-brown ensemble consisting of the £125 skort from The Frankie Shop and a coordinated silk tank top from Mint Velvet, Amanda seemed thrilled to be trying her luck at go-karting. However it seems Jenson, who enjoyed a 17-year career in Formula 1, unsurprisingly got the best of the rookie as he was pictured whizzing around a corner in-front of Amanda. The contest was played in great spirits however, with the blonde stunner and the victorious Jenson embracing with a hug afterwards. Earlier in the day Amanda had posted videos to her Instagram showing off her look, in particular the rarely-seen skort. A skort is a pair of shorts covered by a flap over its front and sometimes back giving it the appearance of a skirt. And the Britain's Got Talent judge certainly pulled the look off, looking as sensational as ever while putting on a leggy display in the all brown outfit. Amanda was eager to show off her unique fashion-choice for the day, making absolutely sure her followers knew 'it's a skort!' Sharing a video to her Instagram Stories, Amanda displayed her long tanned legs in the outfit, saying: 'Good morning, happy Thursday! I'm excited because the sun's coming out and hopefully today is going to be a good day. 'I'm wearing this extraordinary top which is from Mint Velvet, who I'm telling you are smashing it. 'It pairs really nicely with this skort, it's a skort! You think it's a skirt but (pulling up the flap) it's a skort from The Frankie Shop. 'I'm basically very brown today. It's Thursday and on Thursdays we wear brown.' Sporting an all-brown ensemble consisting of the £125 skort from The Frankie Shop and a coordinated silk tank top from Mint Velvet, Amanda seemed thrilled to be in attendance Amanda no doubt topped up her tan during a recent trip to Greece with comedian Alan Carr, which she only returned from earlier this week. The pair of presenters had jetted off to film their BBC renovations show, named Amanda and Alan's Greek Job, which has been in the works for months. But Amanda and Alan made sure the trip was not all work no play as they made time between scenes to film a lip-syncing video to the hit Together from the Gypsy musical. In the clip, Amanda sizzled in a black and white Away That Day Cannes One-Piece as she danced and sang next to Alan, 49, who wore green shorts and a blue T-shirt. The TV presenter looked amazing, showing off her toned legs and bronzed bod as she danced and sang along. Alan and Amanda have indeed spent a lot of time together in recent months, with the Britain's Got Talent judge too making an appearance on her comedian pal's podcast recently. But Amanda no doubt shocked bosses as she took a cheeky swipe at the pair's new endeavour with the BBC, complaining about 'urine soaked dressing room floors'. As they discussed the show on Alan's travel podcast, Alan recalled: 'Do you remember we had to wee in behind bins and sh*** like that? I'm dreading it.' Amanda recalled: 'I have a pile of clothes on me at the back. I've got all of Alan's shirts, like 15 dresses I'll change into, three hats lined up on the back.' She continued: 'And then we get out and I get changed in loos where there's like wee on the floor, beach huts. That's behind the scenes.' Alan added: 'But the thing is people don't understand there's no... The toilets aren't working when we get there. We have to go and use someone's toilet or a portaloo.' Amanda agreed: 'We have to beg for... I mean, how many umbrellas have you put up over various countries when I've had to wee behind them? 'You'll notice that there's hundreds of costume changes for us as well. So we travel, for some reason, the company that we do it with, always hire the smallest cars. 'And I'm in the back with Christian, who does our hair and make up. You're in the front doing the music selection.' They also admitted they didn't like the name of the new series either, Alan suggested it should be called My Big Fat Greek Renovation. While Amanda confessed: 'It's not good. Well, we should argue with the BBC about that.' 'But I've always wanted to visit Japan. It's like the place to go. I want to go in the spring,' she added.' Amanda credits her slim physique with having a balanced diet and a varied exercise routine which includes yoga and running. She has also praised the benefits of getting enough water, previously telling the MailOnline: 'It's good for my body and soul'. But while Amanda is clearly proud of her incredible body, she stressed that she does not restrict her diet and enjoys treats in moderation.
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Daily Mail
British father, 62, dies 'while go-karting with his children in Spain'
A British father has died while reportedly go-karting with his children in Spain. The 62-year-old is said to have gone into cardiac arrest while he was with his two children at a track near the town of Ciutadella in Menorca. He and his children had been visiting the outdoors go-kart track, Castillo Menorca, on Sunday, which describes itself as the holiday island's largest of its kind. But at around 3pm, the man is believed to have gone into cardiac arrest while his wife remined in the villa the family were staying in, located in Cala En Porter in the south of the island. Paramedics scrambled to the scene of the incident and attempted to revive him for over an hour. But tragically, they were unable to save him. It was not immediately clear if the British man lived on the island or if he was holidaying there, and police are yet to make any comment. A post-mortem is expected to take place tomorrow. It comes after a British father-of-one died in front of his father and friends while celebrating his stag do in Benidorm after he collapsed at a bar in March. The groom-to-be, 29, from Halifax, was enjoying drinks at the Funky Flamingo bar when tragedy struck, sparking a major response from emergency services. Bar manager Gaston Luciano told MailOnline in April how the Briton fell backwards off a bar stool and hit his head. And last month, CCTV footage emerged showing the final moments of a British father-of-four who plunged to his death from a Benidorm cliff in 2023. The video showed devoted father Nathan Osman, 30 - who was holidaying in Benidorm with friends - walking steadily along the Spanish resort's famed seafront just hours before he was found dead at the bottom of a 500ft cliff. Spanish authorities ruled Nathan's death was an accident or that he had possibly taken his own life - but his family immediately suspected foul play. His brother and sister turned detective to trawl through CCTV evidence, gather witness statements and access phone and bank records in a bid to force police to reopen the probe. In their search, they managed to find footage of Nathan at 4.08am walking alone along the party resort's promenade 'looking fine' before he was found hours later at the bottom of a cliff.
