Not every teenager has something in common with their parent, but young Maldon local Anthony Hanson shares a passion for speedway racing with his dad, Marc. Now, after 23 years of racing himself, Marc is stepping aside to support 17-year-old Anthony pursue his dream to become a professional racer.
“Anthony is a natural,” says Marc with pride and only a hint of worry. “I gave him the bug, and he’s proving he has the skill. As a parent, I’ll always be a little nervous.”
Marc and Anthony built the car they have both raced in from scratch. This is the fourth car that Marc has built and raced in, and now Anthony is undertaking an apprenticeship to become a motor mechanic.
Anthony first asked to have a go at racing at the age of 15. He had a crash course (no pun intended) in manual driving the night before his first race. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I learned to drive a manual car in one night on the back roads of Maldon,” Anthony says. The next day, he won his first-ever final.
Since that time, Anthony has won more races than he can list. “It’s not winning races that motivates me,” he explains. Rather, he’s most proud of having won the Club Champion title at Bendigo Speedway.
While Anthony admits that the adrenaline rush is part of the pleasure of the sport, he also loves the friends he makes and how much he learns. Now nearing the age of 18, when asked what he looks forward to about moving into the adult divisions, Anthony says, “the opportunity to learn more and move forward in my career.”
With direction and clarity, it’s clear that Anthony knows exactly what he wants.
Last weekend, Anthony competed in the VSC (Victorian Speedway Council) Open Junior Victorian Title. After three successful heats, a $1.50 car part failed during the final, causing excessive smoke and disqualifying him at the last moment. Overall, he was pretty philosophical about it. “That’s racing!” he exclaimed.
With his older brother Matthew in his pit crew and his father as a coach and avid supporter, Anthony is well on his way to winning hearts and many more races as he moves into the next stage of his pursuit. Anthony would love to thank his local sponsors for their support: Robert Cox Motors, Carthew Real Estate, Maldon Newsagents and Gold Exchange Café.
If any businesses are keen to get involved as Anthony steps up into the senior ranks, the [Tarrangower Times] can help get you in touch.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 26 May 2023.
