Farmer’s son David Manning, a pupil at Torrington County Secondary School, can be said to have got off to a flying start in the career he hopes to make in engineering.

He has built a 60 mph go-kart as part of his CSE engineering course.

The cost to him was more than £60 although he bought only the engine – it was converted from an invalid carriage – and the wheels.

There was a cheer when, on the instructions of the headmaster, Mr D E Howard, the gleaming go-kart was wheeled into assembly. David’s initiative and tenacity were praised by the metalwork master, Mr D A Giles.

The four-gear kart has undergone trials on the school playing field. In the future it will be restricted to the family Firsdon Farm at Ashreigney – if David can talk his father into allowing the use of one of his fields.

The full Gazette article is dated 22 June 1973