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Karting: Toyota Canada to support young drivers

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Khatir Soltani
Russ Bond Agency’s (RBA) announced that the Toyota Canada Inc. supported kartSTART (www.kartSTART.ca) program will kick off this summer at Innisfil, Ontario.

kartSTART is an innovative young driver program that puts Canadian youth as young as 12 years-old behind the wheel of a go-kart for their first driving experience.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled about this announcement,” Bond said. “It wouldn’t have happened without the support of Toyota. They gave us an opportunity to educate even more young drivers on the physics of a motorized vehicle.”

"With a relentless focus on safety that is built into every vehicle, Toyota also extends its commitment to driver's safety education,” said Sandy Di Felice, Director, Toyota Canada. “As a proud supporter of kartSTART, Toyota values the innovative and fun approach to teaching youth safe driving skills."

RBA’s kartSTART program is a one-day driving course aimed at the entire family. Kids as young as 12 are given their first driving experience behind the wheel of a motorized vehicle that fits them, conducted within a safe, controlled program.

“Karts are ideal for kids to get their first driving experience,” Mike Goodyear, Chief Instructor for the kartSTART program said. “We take the kids through the same ASN Canada FIA approved initial training program that we have put hundreds of kids through in our youth orientated program, the Canadian Karting League (www.canadiankartingleague.com).”

Goodyear, who is the brother of former Canadian Indycar star Scott Goodyear also commented on the need for this type of program for kids.

“Driving is basically a two part operation,” Goodyear said. “The first part is learning about how a car acts when you turn, when you brake and when you accelerate. At kartSTART we teach kids the physics of how a car works and reacts to your inputs. We want them to learn to control a motorized vehicle, and that is easier to do in a kart, that is their ‘size’ instead of a full sized car.”

The kartSTART program involves the whole family. “After the kids have spent the morning in the karts, we introduce the entire family to the safety systems of today’s cars. We use Toyota products and we not only teach them about the safety systems of the Toyota Star Safety system, we also demonstrate the systems for them – it is something the whole family benefits from,” Goodyear said.

Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
As a car enthusiast, he tests and compares vehicles from different categories through the eyes of the consumer, ensuring relevant and objective reviews.
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada