Trophy-winning Northampton teen faces struggle following kart theft
Dan Hemmings is offering a �300 reward for the return of the go-kart he has spent three years building.
A TEENAGE racer from Northampton who placed third in a racing championship has had his racing kart stolen.
Daniel Hemmings’s family is offering a £300 reward for the return of the kart, which Dan, aged 15, has spent three years building.
Thieves also stole tools and a generator from the garage of Dan’s elderly grandparents in Friars Crescent, Delapre, Northampton, between 10.45pm on Thursday, January 19 and 9.30am on Friday morning.
His mother, Christine, said the thieves had forced the garage door open with a crowbar.
She said: “I’m quite upset and gutted for him. He’s gobsmacked.
“His kart has taken many years to build. It is his pride and joy and he lives for karting. He works so hard at school to enable himself to go.”
Dan, a pupil at Caroline Chisholm School, said he had only moved the kart into his grandparent’s garage five days before to free up space at his home in High Street, Wootton.
He said: “It was pretty disappointing really.”
He now has two months to put together a new kart, at a cost of about £1,200, ready for the start of the next season in March.
A member of Stretton Circuit Kart Club in Leicestershire, Dan races once a month and placed third in the championship last season, despite only taking up the hobby three years ago.
He also holds a couple of lap records at the circuit and has amassed 25 trophies in the last two years.
His kart can reach speeds of up to 70mph.
Mrs Hemmings said: “It’s a really seriously fast bit of kit. Anyone who doesn’t know what they’re doing would probably kill themselves.”
She added: “My gut feeling is it will be broken up for scrap metal. Some of the bits we’ve had made for it, so they won’t be easy to replace.
“Luckily we’ve still got some spare engines, but we need a new chassis, steering wheel and seat.”
She added: “We think it must have been taken by someone that saw it going in the garage. The house had been unoccupied for months before my parents moved in before Christmas. They’re really upset.”
People with information can call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
lady muck
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 08:51 PMThatsmyOpinionOfCourse... From memory of my times in the insurance industry, I'm fairly sure your grand piano won't be covered under your motor policy either. As a rule, we didn't expect anybody to read the small print and it was a mark against your career if yo accidentally issued a policy which anybody could understand.
Finker
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 03:16 PMBlimey, I thought my car had been insured on the household contents all these years... thanks for that. Let's however hope the reward works and those that nicked the cart are dealt with suitably.
ThatsMyOpinionOfCourse
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 12:26 PMany motor vehicle is not covered under standard household contents insurance
willi eckaslyke
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 11:56 AMYes...the only risks that insurance companies don't like, are CLAIMS.
poppiesforever
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 11:54 AMWhy can you not insure an off road bike or kart against theft? i've spoken to a friend who works insurance and he'd never heard of that,although he did say it would probably expensive,i suppose even if it was insured as part of a contents policy it wouldnt be covered in this instance as it wasnt being kept at the owners property? Agree with Ladymuck's comment.
lady muck
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 11:24 AMmost risks can be insured if you're prepared to pay the premium and comply with the insurer's requirements...likely to be an alarm at least and a substantial excess.
ThatsMyOpinionOfCourse
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 11:02 AMpoor lad, i know how much time and effort goes into karting. this happened to us with motorcross bikes, someone followed us home, broke into our garage and stole 2, heart breaking, especially as off-road bikes cannot be insured - i am presuming it is the same with go-karts? hope the reward helps, depends whether it was kids after a bit of fun or professionals i suppose
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