Introduction

The year 2006 proved to be a difficult period for the England Deaf Karting Team under Carlo Hunter’s leadership as Chairperson. Despite the momentum built in previous years, the club faced significant challenges in organising the English Open Deaf Championship. Entry numbers were very low, and Carlo, together with the committee, made the decision to cancel the event due to insufficient participation, which was lower than expected. This was largely…

Building on the lessons of the previous year, 2007 marked a significant period of revitalisation for the England Deaf Karting Team. After the major difficulties faced in 2006, Carlo Hunter worked hard to rebuild the organisation and restore confidence within the deaf karting community. During the previous year, Carlo had largely managed the organisation himself, with support from volunteer Jonathan Taylor, overseeing responsibilities such as organising events, booking hotels, coordinating…

The 2008 season represented a major turning point for the England Deaf Karting Team. Following the discussions held towards the end of 2007, founder Carlo Hunter officially stepped down from his role as Chairperson after several years of dedication to building the foundations of deaf karting in England. Christopher Heppenstall had previously been approached by Carlo and asked whether he would be willing to take over the position of Chairperson…

2009 marked an important period of progress for the England Deaf Karting Team, with a strong focus on modernisation and the emergence of a new generation of drivers. Under the continued leadership of Christopher Heppenstall, the organisation began adapting to the rapidly growing influence of digital communication and online communities. Recognising the importance of improving visibility and engagement, Christopher created the official Facebook pages for the England Deaf Karting Team…

Christopher Heppenstall continued in his role as Chairperson of the England Deaf Karting Team. Under his leadership, the organisation continued to build stability and strengthen its presence within the deaf motorsport community. For the third consecutive year, Christopher selected Daytona Milton Keynes as the venue for the English Open Deaf Karting Championship. By this stage, EDKT and Daytona had developed a strong working relationship, helping the organisation provide a more…

Christopher Heppenstall continued in his role as Chairperson of the England Deaf Karting Team committee, with the organisation maintaining a similar structure and approach to the previous year. Together with the committee, it was decided to once again host the English Open Deaf Karting Championship at Daytona Milton Keynes for a fourth time. Social media, particularly Facebook, continued to play an important role in promoting events, sharing updates, and engaging…

Christopher Heppenstall continued in his role as Chairperson of the England Deaf Karting Team committee. During this period, the organisation experienced limited development, with activity significantly reduced compared to earlier years. Only one official event was delivered throughout the year, reflecting a slower operational phase for the organisation. Participation levels and overall engagement remained modest, while event delivery was constrained by limited resources and a small committee structure. This reduced…

Christopher Heppenstall continued in his role as Chairperson of the England Deaf Karting Team committee for a fifth consecutive year since taking leadership in 2008. The organisation experienced slow but steady progress during this period, operating at a similar level to previous years with limited expansion, while continuing to focus on maintaining its core competitive events, organisational stability, and support for deaf drivers across the country. The English Open Deaf…

EDKA changed following the resignation of chairperson Mark Dobson, who stepped down due to personal circumstances. Following this, Carlo Hunter took over as temporary chairperson to ensure continuity within the organisation during a period of transition. Under new leadership, the organisation expanded its domestic calendar with the introduction of two major events. The Winter Open Deaf Karting Championship was hosted indoors at Formula Fast in Milton Keynes for the first…

Mark Dobson officially stepped down from his role as chairperson at the end of the previous year, bringing his tenure to a close. Following his departure, Carlo Hunter took over as temporary chairperson for one year during a transitional period. The leadership change took place at short notice, but Carlo remained determined to ensure the continuation of the England Deaf Karting Team and prevent the organisation from declining during a…

Carlo Hunter stepped down from his position as temporary chairperson. Following this, Christopher Heppenstall returned to the role of chairperson on an interim basis, as the organisation continued its search for a permanent successor. Despite the leadership transition, the organisation continued to operate and delivered two domestic events during the year. The Winter Open was hosted at Formula Fast in Milton Keynes, while the English Open was held at Rye…

In 2017, Christopher Heppenstall continued in his role as Chairperson of the England Deaf Karting Team, guiding the organisation through a challenging but productive year. Although the season brought several difficulties, it also delivered important progress and several positive developments that helped maintain momentum and strengthen the long-term direction of the team. One of the key highlights of the year was the introduction of the Winter Open Deaf Karting Championship,…

Christopher Heppenstall stepped down as Chairperson and moved into the role of Vice Chairperson. David Salmon was appointed as the new Chairperson, supported by a refreshed committee. This leadership transition marked the beginning of a new chapter for the organisation, with a continued focus on strengthening structure, participation, and long-term development. The season featured three main domestic events: the Winter Open, the English Open Deaf Karting Championship, and the British…

The England Deaf Karting Team was officially renamed the England Deaf Karting Association (EDKA), with David Salmon continuing in his role as Chairperson. Under his leadership, the organisation entered one of its most ambitious and demanding seasons to date, combining major expansion with a strong focus on development across all areas of the sport. A record programme of five events was introduced during the year, including the Winter Open, English…

The year 2020 marked the beginning of one of the most challenging periods in the history of the England Deaf Karting Association, as the global COVID-19 pandemic brought motorsport activity across the country to a complete halt. To protect the safety of the community and comply with national health regulations, almost all competitions, national gatherings, and track activities were suspended. This created an unprecedented gap in the racing calendar and…

The year began under the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with restrictions still affecting travel, gatherings, and organised sport. Although conditions gradually improved later in the year, David Salmon remained as Chairperson, and the England Deaf Karting organisation continued to face significant limitations. Major events, including the English Open Deaf Karting Championship and the European Deaf Karting Championship (EDKC), were cancelled for a second consecutive year due to ongoing…

David Salmon continued in his role as Chairperson of the England Deaf Karting Association. Following improvements after the COVID-19 pandemic and the easing of restrictions, including the end of mask requirements, the organisation was finally able to fully resume its normal racing calendar. After two years without events, the return of karting created strong excitement across the deaf motorsport community. David committed to a full programme for the season, including…

David Salmon continued in his role as Chairperson of the England Deaf Karting Association (EDKA), with the organisation fully returning to regular competition following the post-COVID recovery period and the gradual rebuilding of participation across the sport. The season began with the return of the Winter Open Deaf Karting Championship. The committee elected to host the event indoors in Bristol, attracting approximately 40 participants. The turnout was both strong and…

2024 represented a pivotal year for the England Deaf Karting Association, marked by a significant evolution in its governance and leadership structure. In a move towards greater transparency and organisational maturity, a formal voting system was introduced for the first time. This democratic approach enabled members and committee representatives to play a direct role in shaping the future direction of the organisation. David Salmon served as Chairperson from January to…

2025 marked a defining turning point for the England Deaf Karting Association, as the organisation entered a new era of professional leadership and rapid expansion. Alan Thompson was officially appointed Chairperson, leading a renewed focus on modernisation, safeguarding, and a significantly expanded competitive programme. Breaking all previous records, the EDKA delivered an intensive schedule of eight major events throughout the year. This unprecedented level of activity reflected both the organisation’s…

The year 2026 marked a defining period of growth and progress for the England Deaf Karting Association (EDKA). Under Chairperson Alan Thompson, the organisation continued to expand, with Alan stepping down from his role as Secretary of the European Deaf Karting Championship (EDKC) after five years to focus fully on EDKA’s domestic development. The organisation delivered a total of eight major events throughout 2026, maintaining a highly active and structured…

The foundations of the England Deaf Karting Team (EDKT) date back to a pivotal moment in November 2003, when Carlo Hunter and a group of deaf motorsport enthusiasts travelled to Edinburgh for a social visit and attended the Scottish Open, organised by the Scottish Deaf Karting Club. What they experienced over the course of that weekend would ultimately inspire and provide the blueprint for the future development of deaf karting…

Carlo Hunter made the important decision to leave the Sussex Deaf Karting Club and begin a new chapter by formally establishing the England Deaf Karting Team. As the founder and first Chairperson, Carlo played a central role in leading the organisation during its formative years and helping shape its long-term direction and identity within deaf motorsport. The early stages of development were challenging. Technology and resources were limited at the…