Racing all in family for Maertenses
Third-generation stock car driver and his daughters take ‘family day’ to next level
Kerry Maertens, a third-generation racer, is now helping guide the fourth generation at Kings Park Speedway.
“The girls were interested and said they wanted a car and I wasn’t going to hold them back,” he says of his daughters, Jade and Tanisha.
Kerry recalls being at the track with his dad and grandpa, and has been behind the wheel at Kings Park Speedway for around 20 years.
For the last five years, he has been racing a 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass — known as Black Evil — in the hobby stock division. He runs street tires with performance parts, which doesn’t make it a cheap endeavour, but insists that it is a passion as much as it as a hobby or a sport.
In those years, he has been near or at the top of the division, and is currently in first place with two races to go.
The thrill of the race is something that keeps him motivated, especially since the top of the standings are tight. He added that the closeness of the racers makes it more exciting for the fans, and can help get more people out to the track.
“It’s the only place you can run side-by-side with someone flat-out and it’s just a blast to be out here,” he says. “A lot of guys stepped it up. They’re all putting a lot of time in their car. It’s a pretty good group of guys this year, which is nice.”
The camaraderie among racers in the pits is a draw for Kerry and his daughters and keeps them motivated to put the time needed into their cars.
“As competitive as it is, if I break or need a part, you walk down the line and someone’s got it and will help you put it on,” Kerry says. “It’s amazing that way. If someone else needs something I’ve got, I don’t have a problem helping them. I don’t care; I’d rather race them. I don’t really care about the championship that much as much as just being out here.”
Getting behind the wheel of a stock car is something that may be in the future for the girls, especially after winning rookie-ofthe-year honours last season in the mini-stock division.
The two make up Team Turbo. Racing a 1992 Honda Civic hatchback, they are second in their division in points.
Jade and Tanisha alternate races, but they try to emulate the success that the previous generations have had on the track.
“Because they do so well with racing and are fairly successful, that gives us drive as well,” Tanisha says. “Obviously we have that pull too. Of course, when they’re winning we want to feel the same way and, of course, you have to follow the name.”
The Maertens family is gearing up for a race Saturday at 7 p.m. They will wrap up the season in September, just like they started it — together.
“It’s literally like our family day,” Tanisha says. “It makes it that much more intriguing and super fun.”