TAKING driving instructions off two primary school children is not normally wise, unless of course they are Harry and Charlie Andrews who regularly zip around Cerrigydrudion at 60mph.
But don’t fret! These two Bala brothers have not been let loose on the streets. Their impressive driving prowess is confined to one of the largest and most exciting go karting parks in North Wales and the North West of England.
Harry, 11, and Charlie, 8, moved to Bala four years ago from the Midlands with dad Nick and mum Michaela and they are certainly making their mark in the region.
In April Charlie was picked to star in a new children’s documentary series for S4C called Y Diwrnod Mawr (My Big Day) which followed the lives of primary school children who had unusual hobbies.
The show followed Charlie taking his go karting licence test at his home track of Glan y Gors Park Karting where he is a member of the junior Dragon Kart Club. He passed with flying colours!
But now the two boys, who attend Ysgol y Parc in Bala, were going to face an even bigger test, taking a nervous journalist around the race track!
I headed down to Glan y Gors on a busy Friday afternoon as the Three Castles Welsh Classic Trial was passing through for the second time as part of their vintage car rally.
The track is an impressive 1,100-metre circuit and is quite unique as it is one of the only tracks that isn't flat so is a great challenge for drivers.
Harry and Charlie take me on a walk around the track before we get ready to race and talk me through how to tackle it.
“Go on the outside and don’t hit too many corners as you might come of the track,” said eight year-old Charlie. “Also keep your elbows away from the engine.”
I was starting to get very sweaty palms, not just from the heat, especially when the boys told me they take most of the track at full throttle up to 60mph and there isn’t much braking involved.
The two are very cool and calm and both said they don't really get nervous.
“I did get when I was little, when I first started when I was six,” said Charlie.
Harry said he has flipped his cart a few times but this hasn’t put him or his parents off the idea of him taking to the track.
Dad Nick said: “Accidents can happen anywhere can’t they, they have all the protective gear on but kids can have accidents on push bikes.”
He added the family spend around £15,000 a year on the sport for the boys, but Charlie is not so fussed about becoming the next Lewis Hamilton.
“I want to be a brain surgeon,” he declares or a career in music could be an option as Charlie also admits he often sings Mamma Mia on the way round the track.
But I certainly wasn't filled with thoughts of musical theatre: a speed demon I am not and the sounds of roaring engines always send a shiver through me.
But surprisingly I felt in good hands with the schoolboys, they seemed wise beyond their years and had a sensible head on them. They are not the 'boy racer' types most people may associate with racing; they respect their karts and understand everything about how thework.
We got kitted up into our race suits and helmets and I got into my kart, instructions were given to me along the lines of, 'do you drive', 'yes', and with that we were off.
Thankfully the boys stayed close by so I could follow their tracks and I thought to myself how absurd it was I was following an eight-year-old around a race track and that I had more faith in his driving than my own.
I was surprised at how hard it was to turn the steering wheel. It takes a lot of arm strength especially when you are shaking at the same time! It reminded me how spoilt we are with power steering nowadays.
I was building up speed, maybe a whopping 30mph, and as we went downhill a little I gained more momentum which in turn created some very girly screams from myself.
I could tell it was hard work for Charlie and Harry to go so slowly around a track they know like the back of their hand, but to me it felt like I was doing a lap at Brands Hatch.
They were able to finally speed off after my first lap, which I think could have been a world record for the slowest time at Glan y Gors, driving past the spectators I felt very ashamed of my performance.
It didn't get much better either. Having the boys whip past me as they go full throttle is quite scary and I was glad there were no more drivers on the track.
It was also quite amazing to see the slight, young brothers weaving and whizzing around; I was astounded at their capabilities and after having a go at racing for the first time ever I was able to appreciate it as a skilful and tough sport that isn't just about putting your foot hard down.
After a few more laps and actually taking a wrong turn I thought it was best to leave it to the professionals.
Charlie summed up my attempt in one word... ‘rubbish’ and I couldn’t argue with that!
It also made me realise about how fearful we become as we get older. Glan y Gors manager Tracey Davies agreed: “The kids have no fear, Charlie came when he was six, the thing is they just get used to it.”
Tracey and husband Eddie opened the track 11 years ago and it is still expanding with a club house being added.
For more information on Glan y Gors contact Tracey on 01490 420770 or email edavies@gygkarting.co.uk