While he takes the dangers of go-kart racing seriously, one Bermuda Karting Club (BKC) official believes a racing colleague's death yesterday will be a wake-up call for some drivers.

"I think it will have an effect. Most drivers understand they are taking a risk and there's danger but I know some people don't think you can get as badly hurt as you can.

"That's why I am always telling drivers `You can get hurt or you can hurt somebody else'. I've always taken it seriously because I know karts are not toys," said Jason (Skuzzy) North, the BKC's meet director.

North, who was leading the top-flight 125cc Shifter Class race in which newcomer Jason Matthew crashed and sustained fatal injuries at Clearwater, described the situation as "tragic" and said "everyone's shook up". However, he remained adamant that what had happened would not dull his zest for the speedy sport.

"No, it's not going to change the way I drive or if I drive anymore. I don't think that's what he would want."

Giving a first-hand account of events as they unfolded after Matthew's crash, North said he came upon the accident as he did his lap and came back around to where his colleague had landed after being thrown from his kart.

"I stopped and went to see what was happening. By the time I got there the ambulance was by him and I just stayed back and let the medical personnel do their job. After they tried to do some work on him they put him in the ambulance and left."

Meet director North immediately "called it a day" for the racing and he and others rushed to the hospital where news of Matthew's death broke.

"We were there with his girlfriend and then his family got there. It was - as you would expect - not a good scene. It's a real tragedy. I think it will take time to sink in," concluded the BKC member.