After three years of “bad luck” on the streets of Hamilton, go-kart driver Scott Barnes savoured not one or two but three chequered flags yesterday as he raced to victory in as many categories at the 2002 Hamilton Grand Prix.

Showcasing sizzling speed and superb tactics, the 17-year-old outclassed some top-rated opposition, including defending champions, to win the 100cc Yamaha Light, the 100cc Yamaha Medium and the premier event, the 125cc Shifter. It was the first time Barnes had ever won a race in the annual go-kart extravaganza held in the capital.

“Today was awesome. I've had nothing but bad luck in the last three years in the Grand Prix. This year I had something to prove - that I can drive - and I just drove ‘em home in every race,” said the Mount St. Agnes student, thanking his sponsors.

Not surprisingly, the star of the day picked the Shifter final as his most memorable event. Go-karts in this class can run in excess of 80 kph and Barnes, who led all his finals from start to finish and who had earlier won all his heats, topped that mark despite the fact that his floor pan broke and was scraping the ground for most of that race.

In the 100cc Yamaha Light, the champion was followed to the finish by Patrick Ingham and Gregory White, in that order, while Justin Morley and Sean Wheatley notched second and third respectively in the 100cc Yamaha Medium. Delton White and Alvin McIntosh captured second and third-place honours in the Shifter class respectively.

Though Barnes was the name on the lips of those who thronged Front Street's environs to take in the speedy spectacle by members of the Bermuda Karting Club, some other drivers advanced their driving credentials too.

A popular Luis Martins romped home ahead of the pack in the 100cc Open class, beating Michael DeSilva into second and Norman Dawson Jr into third respectively. In the 100cc Yamaha Junior Can, Blake Camara snatched victory from Ryan DeSilva and Carlos Cardosa Jr and, in the 80cc Junior Comer, for the nine to 15-year-olds, it was Adam Correia followed by Zane DeSilva and then the lone young lady on the track, Natasha Camara, Blake's cousin.

“I've been racing two years and it's fun. I like being on the track and helping get things ready so I can race. I enjoyed today because they made the track longer,” said 11-year-old Camara after her second third-place finish in two years on the Hamilton circuit.

One notable personality at the wheel was the veteran, David (Pops) Chisnall, now more than 65 years-old. He finished fifth in the 100cc Open.

President of the Karting Club, Delano Telford, was pleased with the fourth running of the Grand Prix and he thanked all who contributed to its success.

“It was fantastic. All the individuals who had specific jobs worked exceptionally. It was an excellent day and we had a very good turn-out. From what I saw the crowd thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Certainly it was a day for the entire family with mums and dads bringing out their young ones for an afternoon of gripping racing. A variety of food stalls kept the appetites of spectators satisfied while, on the track, drivers endeavoured to do likewise with fans' expectations. Thrilling overtaking, spin-outs and collisions with buffers of hay all featured in the tussle for karting supremacy.

Given the pace and the pressure, one could not help but wonder if the drivers were trying to live up to - or maybe exceed - the charge on one woman's shirt: “Drive Like You Stole It!”