Cape Town - Almost five decades ago, Armien Levy started a career that would see him become Killarney race track’s first champion of colour.
On Saturday, his eight-year-old grandson, Reza Levy, emulated Armien to win his first ever kart race at the cirtcuit.
I stumbled on to this passing of the baton purely by accident. I don’t go to Killarney at all, but was at the track to celebrate a 40th birthday at the clubhouse. I was early so I decided to walk across the bridge to the 'K' circuit and arrived just in time to witness young Reza take his first chequered flag.
For Reza, it’s a very different Killarney to what Armien experienced at the height of apartheid. Back then, Armien required a permit to race. He couldn’t use the bathrooms and toilets or the cafeteria.
I met the shy boy of few words in 2015 with his father Ebrahim, also an accomplished racing driver, when his karting career started. After listening to his story, the Cape Argus sponsored Reza’s race suit, helmet, boots and gloves.
So it was most satisfying to see the Grade 2 Bishops Prep schoolboy win the cadet class race in our gear.
10-second penalty
Watching Reza race was a treat. He took the lead with two laps to go and held his nerve and his racing line as his nearest competitor pushed him to the finish.
Saturday would prove to be Reza’s big day because a few minutes later he also won the Micro Maps race - a new event that sees the racers tackle the full Killarney circuit.
But Reza had to settle for third after incurring a 10-second penalty; his bumper became dislodged when he collided with another kart on the warm-up lap, and wasn’t intact when he crossed the finish line.
Saturday’s win was a relief for Ebrahim.
“It was seeing the fruits of our efforts - the days spent practising and all the time we put in - finally coming together,” he said.
“He was always coming second and missing out on the flag. The feeling I got was more of a relief for him because what he always wanted was that victory.
“He’s been working hard. He loves it and asks every day when he comes from school if we’re going to practice. He’s hungry for the sport.”
Future Star
Ebrahim has taken Reza to race at Swartkops near Ptretoria, as well as circuits in Kwazulu-Natal, to help him improve. At the end of the 2015 season, Reza won Killarney’s Future Star trophy which recognises the most promising performer.
“The goal is to race overseas because that is where it’s happening. I would like Reza to be racing in Europe by the time he is 15.
“Karting is expensive and he has already moved to the bigger class. It’s tyres, engines - it all adds up. And because he is a growing boy we’re going to need race suits, helmets, boots and gloves.”
Reza also has his uncle Anwar, Ebrahim’s brother and also a successful racer, by his side in the pits. The Levy brothers punched the air as Reza crossed the finish line.
“Anwar has always been by my side in my racing career. He’s good with the technical side and the car set-up. He was always prepping me and he had a big influence in my victories. Now Anwar is there to give Reza the coaching and advice,” said Ebrahim.
“The two of them relate to each other and he listens to Anwar and looks forward to seeing Anwar on the side of the track.”
Proud grandfather Armien said on Sunday: “Reza has a lot of potential and takes his racing very seriously. I watch him when comes into pits after each race and if he did not do well he actually cries. That means a lot to me and that’s why I let Anwar coach him. But he is a fighter like his dad Ebrahim.
“Motor racing is a tough sport and expensive, but Ebrahim and his wife Camila are both behind him and that is very good. You sometimes get one of the parents against motor sport, but not with Reza. Watch out for him in the future.”
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