BY ANDY TAYLOR
He’s only 12 years old, but rural Independence resident Richy Yates is already rubbing elbows with one of professional racing’s top names.
And, because of his friendship with professional racer Dan Wheldon, Yates has made racing more than just a passing interest. It’s a family obsession.
Here is how it all began . . .
Back in 2006, Richy Yates was starting to become interested in professional racing, not the NASCAR ranks that has proven popular for many racing buffs but the Indy Car League, best known for its Indianapolis 500. Among the top names in the Indy Car League is Dan Wheldon, a racer who earned the double-checkered flag at the Indianapolis 500 in 2005.
While searching the internet one day for information about Wheldon, the young Yates found Wheldon’s e-mail address and jotted a note congratulating Wheldon on his success.
Richy didn’t know if the e-mail would even reach Wheldon on his busy travels.
Lo and behold, Wheldon responded — with a personal note back to Yates. The racer encouraged Yates to become interested in racing, perhaps on the go-kart circuit.
And, even though Yates had a go-kart that he rode around his rural Independence farm, he never thought about becoming active in the amateur racing circuit.
That e-mail from Wheldon changed things for Yates.
“After that first response from Dan, Richy was totally hooked,” said Alicia Yates, Richy’s mother.
The Yates family went to Indy Racing League races at the Kansas Speedway, where they got the chance to meet Wheldon in person.
The Yates family then bought a competitive kart at the Tulsa Kart Club and started Richy on his quest for hot laps at area go-kart road courses.
Since then, the entire Yates family has jumped headfirst into a passion for kart racing. In 2008, Richy won first place in the Kart Mid-American Racing Series in the age 8-12 division. And, he’s got the trophy — almost as tall as he — to prove it.
Asked if he has started a trophy room for his recent success on the kart series, Yates laughed and said, “My trophies are on my dresser.”
Yates Racing takes the family to road courses throughout the midwest, and Richy will be tested on his racing skills at a road course race this weekend in Norman, Okla. Richy’s kart is a higher-performing vehicle than conventional go-karts. And, the Yates kart — surrounded with the bold number 4 — has been known to reach speeds of 80 miles per hour.
With such high speeds and such a simple vehicle, the go-kart racing circuit has become a passion for the Yates family.
“It’s a full-time hobby,” said Alicia. “Once you get a taste of it, you’re hooked.
“We leave on Friday mornings, drive all day to get to a road course, practice on Saturday mornings, race on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, and then head back home late Sunday night. We’ll work in the garage all week, getting the kart ready for the next race.”
And, when Richy isn’t bound for a raceway with his large trailer in tow, the youngster is on his home computer, e-mailing Wheldon for his weekly chat with the well-known Indy Racing League celeb.
“We talk about once a week,” said Richy. “He’ll ask about my race, and I’ll talk about his.”
Dick and Alicia Yates both say they are amazed that their son — not yet even old enough to shave — is able to swap war stories with a professional athlete.
“They’ll talk like they are best of friends,” said Dick.
Wheldon himself had a similar situation when he was cutting his teeth into the racing circuit. In an interview on Panther Racing.com, the British-born racer said he cherished memories of being with his family in his early years of racing.
“They are some of the fondest memories that I have had in my life so far,” said Wheldon. “Other than getting married, winning the Indianapolis 500, and the birth of my son Sebastian, those memories traveling every weekend with my father are unbelievable.”
So, why would Wheldon take time out of his busy schedule to chat with a racing fan in Kansas?
“It is great for me to try to be a positive influence on kids like Richy,” continued Wheldon. “Racing is a tough sport, and anything I can do to help somebody coming up, I feel like I owe that to this sport because it has been great to me. If Richy emailing me or my emailing him to offer support or advice helps him achieve his dreams, then that is the least that I can do.”
• Montgomery County Chronicle editor Andy Taylor is a lifelong resident of Montgomery County and also interested in knowing about the unique people and places of the county. If you have an idea for Taylor’s “This Is My Montgomery County” feature, send an e-mail to him at chronicle@taylornews.org, or call (620) 336-2100 or (620) 879-2156.
