Saskatchewan’s go-kart community is slowly increasing in size with a small, but dedicated, group of female drivers embracing the sport.

“There’s been a huge uptick in women in the sport, which is fantastic. There’s never enough,” expressed Alexis Budel, who has been go-kart racing for 20 years.

Travelling from outside of Winnipeg to Regina, Budel is one of seven women representing the South Sask. Kart Club out of its 60 members.

She said it’s the community of motorists that brings her back every year.

“We always tell people that it’s the best part to this sport. I have a family we met two years ago, and I absolutely walk in their house like it’s mine,” she shared. “That’s a second family and everybody here. Everybody looks out for each other.”

The number of female drivers has increased little by little over the years, with women partaking in the sport for various reasons.

“I had to sell my horses. I was moving off a farm and into the city, and that was the comment to ‘trade horsepower for horsepower,’” said go-kart motorist Melissa Nicholauson who commutes from Melville to attend the weekly races.

“I had loads of questions and I came to watch five years or six years ago, and my daughter and I started that next year.”

“When my dad got diagnosed with hemochromatosis, he wanted to find a hobby that me and him could both partake in,” shared Abigail Frost, who has been racing for a decade.

“We sold one of our cars, bought our first go kart, got the suit, got everything. It was just pull the cord and race at that point.”

Haley Gulash, who also joined the racing community because of her family, said she enjoys the high-speed action karting brings.

“I really just enjoy being on the track. I enjoy racing, I enjoy the competitive nature of it,” Gulash expressed.

“There’s no other feeling than being behind a wheel going 120 kilometres an hour. There’s no feeling that matches up.”

Gulash has been racing on the track for 16 years and has noticed how supportive the community is anytime a new member joins.

“We’re all cheering for each other. We’re all trying to make each other better,” she said. “We all want to see each other on the top step or on the podium. It’s a good feeling. It’s a proud feeling. Anything we can do to support each other is fantastic.”

The non-profit club hopes to see the next generation of girls and boys keep the sport alive.

“We really want to keep growing the sport. It’s the quickest, the best way, the most affordable way into motor sport by all means,” Gulash said.

“For the little guys, it’s the best way for them to get into it. It’s the safest way to get into motorsport. For us to keep the club alive, it gives everybody an opportunity to get into motorsport at one time or another.”

Come the September 6 weekend, racers from across Saskatchewan and Manitoba will be participating in the club’s Sask. Series tournament.