MATTHEW 'Magnet' Gore, 2010 Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC) Sprint and Rally Sport Champion, shifted gears at Jamwest Speedway on Sunday.

The ace driver entered the world of go-karting for the first time before spectators at the freshly laid 1.8-mile circuit racing track.

"I never realised the go-karts were so fast. I didn't really know their limit until Sunday. It was a lot of fun and I'm definitely going to try and get into karting. Unfortunately, I'm a bit heavy so I might be at a disadvantage, but I really love the shifter kart. I think it's amazing how such a small thing can go so fast. I think we topped at about 70 miles an hour," he said.

Gore was one of five karters who took their wheels for a spin on the track at the Jambike event. Others were veteran Guy Fraser, newcomer Chantel Davis, 16-year-old Matthew Williams and eight-year-old Lan Gordon. After a blistering run, Gore was convinced this was something he wanted to do more of.

"I've been looking into some local go-karts and I'm trying to get Peter Rae to sell me his shifter kart but he's been playing hard so I think I might have to seek one elsewhere. We'll have to see how I do in an actual meet before investing in one of my own, though," said Gore.

Having only had one track day's worth of experience in a go-kart prior to Sunday's event, Matthew — whose nephew Thomas Gore has been making waves in the sport — admits he has a lot to learn. The Rally Sport Champion revealed to Auto that he plans to compete in the next Jamaica Karting Association (JKA) meet to be held at the Palisadoes International Raceway in September.

"I actually want to rent Peter Rae's kart for the upcoming meet. Myself, my fellow Team MoBay Teammate Guy Fraser and my girlfriend Chantel Davis — who officially strapped on a helmet and put on a suit for the first time on Sunday and loved it — will be competing in September as well," Gore revealed.