As Justin Davis strains up on the beginning grid, his prosthetic leg is poised to place the pedal to the steel.
Davis is an adrenaline junkie proving age — and the variety of limbs — is not any roadblock to dwelling life within the quick lane.
“Life’s too quick to take a seat round and be depressing,” he mentioned from the driving force’s seat.
Davis has at all times had a love for motorsports and has discovered an outlet on the kart monitor. (ABC Capricornia: Aaron Kelly)
The 41-year-old Yeppoon man misplaced his leg after a traumatic motorbike accident greater than a decade in the past.
The amputation of his decrease proper leg occurred after problems following a number of surgical procedures.
Davis places his race boot on his prosthetic leg earlier than hitting the monitor. (ABC Capricornia: Aaron Kelly)
He mentioned the restoration was lengthy and tough, however after years of overcoming the bodily and psychological challenges, his lifelong love of motorsport by no means pale.
“There have been a number of challenges across the amputation and rehab, however I really feel like I’ve lastly turned the nook the final couple of years,” Davis mentioned.
“I’ve at all times had a love of motorsport, and final yr, a pal of mine stored nagging me to come back right down to the kart membership for a glance.”
Davis says he has been hooked on go-karting ever since his first go to to the monitor. (ABC Capricornia: Aaron Kelly)
Regardless of having a racing simulator at dwelling, Davis had no real-world racing expertise earlier than taking over the game final yr.
However 12 months on after being medically cleared to race, Davis is likely one of the nation’s most passionate and aggressive go-karters — albeit with an amputated leg.
“As soon as I acquired down right here and noticed how aggressive the racing was, I assumed to myself, ‘I’ve gotta have a go at this’ and I began in search of a kart just about instantly,” he mentioned.
Davis competing in a membership race day on the central Queensland monitor. (Equipped: Justin Davis)
‘It is completely unimaginable’
The game has helped Davis overcome the trauma from his near-fatal highway accident, which turns into a distant reminiscence the second he arrives at his dwelling kart monitor on the outskirts of Rockhampton in central Queensland on race weekends.
“It is my dwelling away from dwelling,” he mentioned.
“I dwell right here on the weekends and spend as a lot time as I can.”
Davis says his new ardour for kart racing has had a optimistic influence. (ABC Capricornia: Aaron Kelly)
John Harry has been concerned in kart racing in Australia because the early Nineteen Nineties.
Lately, he is the caretaker of the picturesque, mountainous racetrack hidden off the Bruce Freeway.
He mentioned Davis was the primary racer with a leg amputation he’d seen.
John Harry says Davis may be very captivated with motor racing. (ABC Capricornia: Aaron Kelly)
“I feel it is completely unimaginable what Justin’s doing,” Mr Harry mentioned.
“His ardour for karting and motor racing usually is simply second to none.”
Constructive impacts on his life
Driving a go-kart may be bodily demanding, however Davis would not let that cease him.
His kart is specifically modified to cater for his prosthetic leg, whereas his trailer is a cellular storage.
“It took me fairly a number of DNFs (didn’t finishes) and about two to 3 months earlier than I lastly acquired the kart arrange for myself,” he mentioned.
Davis says his cellular storage and kart transporter is dwelling away from dwelling . (ABC Capricornia: Aaron Kelly)
Davis, who paperwork his karting journey with common movies on YouTube, mentioned getting the accelerator pedal in the suitable place was the primary modification.
“My pedals and my heel relaxation sit in a special spot to most drivers as a result of they will simply use their ankle to come back off the throttle, whereas I am driving from the knee,” he mentioned.
“There have been a number of problems in getting the pedal geometry arrange proper for me in order that I might get each on to full throttle and off the throttle as precisely as potential.”
Davis’ pedal place and heel relaxation is modified to go well with his prosthetic leg. (ABC Capricornia: Aaron Kelly)
They are saying that life begins at 40, and that is definitely the case for Davis, who reaches speeds as much as 100 kilometres per hour in his customized kart.
“The wheel-to-wheel battles are what it is all about,” he mentioned.
Davis says the battles on the race monitor are enjoyable however aggressive. (Equipped: Justin Davis)
Discovering a love for go-karting after his accidents, Davis mentioned the fun of racing had an actual optimistic influence on his life.
“We do not race for sheep stations, and our trophy is a can of degreaser as a result of we really get use out of that — so it is fully concerning the social facet, as aggressive as we’re on the monitor,” he mentioned.
“My perspective has at all times been issues could be a bit awkward they usually may take me a bit longer, however I am going to have a go and determine it out.”
