It is one thing to face a State title but so much more when the starting line includes your son.
This is what Singleton’s Jacob Herbert experienced when he and son, 14-year-old Lucas, competed at the Quarter Scale Speedway Queensland State Titles at Bundaberg on September 16 and 17.
There was lots of banter and fierce competitiveness at the starting line and plenty of trophies and celebrations at the end which has made this father and son team hit the record books.
They are the first father and son team to compete for the State but when it comes to National titles, they are not alone.
At the Queensland titles, Lucas won the late model division, Jacob won the wingless sprint car division.
Lucas came second in the dirt modified division, a race his father was winning until his front wheel fell off.
Lucas also snapped third in the wingless model.
It is a sport that Jacob has been competing in since he was about five years of age, encouraged by his uncle, Garry Appleton.
His passion as a youngster hasn’t diminished and now Lucas is following in his father’s footsteps.
They travel as a family to about three events a year but it is not cheap, it is a passion that is in their blood and they encourage others to get involved.
Jacob has been president of UHROC (Upper Hunter Offroad Racing and Speedway) for about 10 years. The group meets every second Sunday of the month at the club’s Ravensworth Racetrack.
Members travel from all over New South Wales to practice and compete.
Mum Amanda laughs that Dad Jacob built his son’s first vehicle and now he is getting beaten by Lucas.
Ask Lucas what he thinks about all the fuss and he loves nothing more than beating his Dad.
Lucas won the New South Wales titles in the wingless and sprint car divisions in July and he has plenty of titles in his sights and he acknowledges the support he has received within the sport.
Lucas was only a youngster when he earned the support of the sport’s well respected Bob Jefferson who is now deceased. Lucas said his win at the Bob Jefferson Memorial back in March was one of his most memorable and loved experiences.
The pair are now hoping to compete at the Australian titles in South Australia at Easter next year and are raising money to make the long trip.
Jacob thanks his work colleagues at Expressway Spares for donating towards the cause and puts out the call for anyone wanting to support Team Herbert to contact Amanda on 0432 423 133.
It is a remote controlled sport with both offroad and speedway categories that require enormous concentration.
‘Drivers’ are at the starting line with their vehicles on the track. While speedway is a 30 lap race on a 128 metre track that takes about 10 minutes of full on competition, off road can take up to 30 minutes to finish.
“It is unusual in that the drivers are standing next to each other so there is plenty of banter and conversation,” Amanda said.
Jacob has loved the sport with encouragement from Uncle Garry and now it consumes all his spare time.
“If Lucas didn’t want to do it I’d be fine with that but it is nice that we both love it and can do it together,” Jacob said.
Lucas gives his father a nod and a smile but you can see in his eyes that he knows his Dad will be spending far less time on the podium.
-Di Sneddon
