Motor Racing
9 July, 2024
Luciani still feels the need for speed
Remo Luciani might be approaching 64, but his need for speed is showing no signs of slowing.
"I cannot foresee the day when I will retire from the sport," Luciani, from Horsham, said.
"I have thousands more laps left in me."
Luciani's karting passion began in 1981 and continues just as strongly today.
Along the way, he's gathered award after award in Formula 100, including being an Australian Champion (seven times), New Zealand Champion (once) and State Champion (71 times).
His favourite, he recalled, was in Western Australia in 1993.
"It was one of those weekends and I just wasn't doing very well," Luciani said.
"I was mid-field all weekend.
"Towards the final race, everyone in front of me broke down.
"It taught me a big lesson; never give up no matter the odds."
On winning his last Australian Championship in 2010, Luciani created history by becoming the oldest Australian Kartin Champion in the history of the sport.
He rates this, along with his other National and New Zealand Titles as his biggest wins.
Luciani developed an interest in karting in 1981, when he as 21.
It was at the local show that Luciani fell in love with his first kart.
"I looked at the go kart, and my mouth was just drooling because as a child I never had toys, so as I was working and could afford it, I brought my own kart for $400 and that is where it all started," he recalled.
A friend had joked Luciani wouldn't be any good, but he soon proved him wrong.
"We went off to Hopetoun, a dirt track, and I was a P Plater which means you have to start at the back," Luciani said.
"I started last and went from last to first in my first ever race."
Luciani said it wasn't until his pit return that he realised he had indeed done something special in the first race of his career.
He was involved in the construction of the Horsham Kart Club at which he spent most of his time and raced on a dirt track back then.
As he became more competitive, Luciani began travelling the country, winning many titles, with competitors naming him "The Best Yamaha Driver in Australia" at the time.
At a time where he could have considered giving up, it was his love of the sport that instead extended his time on track.
"In 2014 I was diagnosed with bladder cancer and operated on," Luciani said.
"When I came out of theatre, and I was still alive ... all I wanted to do was get back into a go kart and I had something to strive for.
"Going through this operation when I was just thinking of giving up, I was laying there and all I wanted to do was get back into a go kart and I said to myself: 'I would have hated to be here today and think I didn't race go karts when I could have raced go karts' and I would regret racing when I could have, but didn't.
"While I continue to have my health, I will continue to race."
Today, Luciani opts to race not in the Over 40s masters, but with the youngsters, because he finds it assists in keeping him striving to be competitive.
No doubt, for the youngsters, it's like racing with royalty, but for Luciani the respect goes both ways.
"As I am still the oldest competitive driver in the sport of karting in Australia, it’s hard to look up to anyone, as I have been in it for so long, but there are many young talents coming through," he said.
Away from the track, Luciani enjoys spending time with family every moment possible, and holidaying overseas when he can.
When the day does come for Luciani to pack up his helmet and race suit, he'll take with him a lifetime of memories and one extremely special honour - being a member of the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame.
"That would have to be one of the highest accolades I have achieved in the sport," Luciani said.
"To be recognised for my contribution as I never really thought about it until after I won the award of the contribution I have actually put into Australian Motorsport," he said.