Rapid racer: Ollie Roycroft recently topped the podium in his 120cc restricted class Junior Quarter Midget car at the 12th Annual Kings Royal in Queensland.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The Roycroft name and racing go together like salt and pepper.
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Recently, the high-octane husband-wife pairing of Shane and Felicity Roycroft whizzed around the bends at Queensland’s Kingaroy Speedway at the 12th Annual Kings Royal, partaking in three days of racing across the Australia Day weekend.
But their eight-year-old son Ollie left the rest in the dust.
Ollie topped the podium in the 120-restricted class, beating out a packed field to steer his 120cc Junior Quarter Midget machine across the line in first.
“It was amazing; he was very happy,” Felicity said.
“He’s already started his season down here, he’s doing the Junior Quarter Midget Series – they travel all around Victoria.
“He’s just stepped up a class, he’s now in the 120 restricted, but he’s already finishing first, second and third in his heats.
“He races a lot more cars down here, there’s probably 20 or so, but he’s amazing. He’s a very clean driver and he’s an easy kid to race because he’s just so keen.”
So, what is a Junior Quarter Midget?
The slightly comical name comes from the miniature stature of the cars, roughly a quarter the size of a full-size midget car.
They feature four-wheel independent suspension and a full roll cage with engines ranging from 120-150cc — and Ollie sure knows how to drive them.
Though he’s only half the eligible age to obtain a learner’s permit in Victoria, Ollie has been racing since he was five and, through his parents, has been around the sport all his life.
The Roycrofts loaded up their racing bus for Kingaroy and the youngest of the three drivers did the rest.
Ollie’s win was the best result for the family at the Queensland track, with Felicity finishing seventh out of 20 in the Queens Royal Top Stars, while Shane claimed 40th from 68 in the SSA Modified Sedan class.
One day, it could be Ollie blitzing around the speedway turns in the same model of machines his parents currently race.
That’s if he has it his way.
“We talk about it all the time and ask him what division he wants to go into next and he tells us he wants to do ‘tin tops’ which is what Shane and I do,” Felicity said.
“There’s so many divisions he can race in, he can do street stock, sprint cars or late models, but he wanted to do the same as us which is pretty cool.
“Because Shane and I both race, it’s very hard for us to get extra time on the track for him, so he really just races when it’s his turn.
“But he’s really good at what he does.”
Ollie isn’t the only one who’s really good at what he does.
Perfect pair: Ollie and Felicity Roycroft after she won the VSC Sports Sedan Ladies Victorian State Title. Photo by Speedway Wangaratta.
Earlier this month, Felicity claimed the VSC Sports Sedan Ladies Victorian State Title on her home track, Wangaratta Speedway.
In an emphatic and exhilarating final victory, Felicity shot into first with two laps to go, passing the chequered flag ahead of Zoey Salau by less than half of a second to notch state honours.
She labelled it as “amazing but hard” and isn’t resting on her laurels — nor are Ollie or Shane, as they’ve got more finish lines to cross in the near future.
“We’re all chasing our own series,” Felicity said.
“Ollie’s got his Junior Quarter Midget Series, I’m chasing the DirtX Sports Sedans all around Victoria and Shane’s chasing his modified class, the NPA.
