Liam Garrison feels the need for speed
Liam Garrison may be only 12 years old, but he's already got the itch to drive fast.
The Sussex Academy seventh-grader won three BMX state championships before giving up the sport to start a career in go-kart dirt track racing. His winning spirit transferred nicely to his new sport, as he won three points championships throughout the state in 2016.
"I'd like to do this until I'm old enough to do maybe some kind of stock car racing," said Liam, during an interview inside his grandfather's Milton garage. "I love [racing] because it's always changing. Say you were in baseball, once you learn the basic skills, you don't learn that much more. In racing, you're always learning, and it's always challenging and different."
Liam competes locally at Club Milton Speedway on Reynolds Pond Road and at Fairlane Acres Speedway in Dover, often rounding the track at nearly 50 mph. He also races in Delmar.
Last year, Liam won the Junior 1 Outlaw Class five-race points series at Milton. He also took the Junior 3 points series title for 15 races at Fairlane and the six-race Delaware Thunder series for Junior 3, also at Fairlane. In most races, Liam competes against drivers one to three years his senior.
Since he made the switch to go-kart racing, the sport has consumed much of Liam's time. When not playing baseball, hunting or fishing, Liam spends much of his time at his grandfather's garage working on his two karts. In the summer, he's in the garage for hours at a time nearly every day.
His grandfather, Wade Hudson, is a retired mechanic who operated Wade Hudson Truck Repairs for many years in Harbeson. The two work together to clean, maintain and improve Liam's karts.
Even with his extensive experience, Hudson admits there was a learning curve when he started working with Liam.
"Anybody getting into go-karts really needs someone that's done it awhile to get you up to speed," he said.
The go-kart community is very welcoming, and most veterans of the sport are almost always willing to offer a helping hand, he said.
"People help each other," he said. "If they didn't, we wouldn't have been in it. A guy named Bud Steele helps us, and he's been racing go-karts for 40 years. He does a lot for the sport."
With four years of racing under his belt, Liam has gained a lot of useful experience in the maintenance efforts required each week to have his karts ready for races. Liam is taking a bigger role each year, Hudson said.
"Liam is doing more and more all the time," Hudson said. "This summer, he is going to do more than he has before."
Go-kart work isn't as simple as one may think. Each week, Hudson and Liam change the oil and fuel lines, clean the chain and take apart the axles and clutches, among other tasks. The entire process can be time-consuming.
"If we worked hard, we could do everything in two days," Hudson said, but the work is often spread throughout the week.
The go-kart racing community is a family affair. Like Liam, many of the drivers work with their parents, siblings and significant others. On race day, Liam is not only supported by his grandfather, but the entire family, as each contributes to the team in one way or another.
Liam's brother Noah, 17, was also a BMX competitor at one time. While he doesn't race like Liam, he often helps his younger brother at the track. Noah focuses on running, and he recently completed his first half marathon.
"Both my boys are into speed," said their mom Lisa Garrison.
Liam will begin his fifth season in late March, when he is planning to debut a new kart. If he runs all scheduled races in Milton, Dover and Delmar, he could register nearly 40 races from March to October.
If all goes to plan, Liam will add a few more trophies to his collection.
In addition to racing, Liam is a Boy Scout. He should attain the rank of Star soon.
