Young driver moving up the ranks at Penticton Speedway

PENTICTON – A young race car driver from Kaleden is quickly building a reputation for himself at the Penticton Speedway after less than two seasons on the track.

Conrad Brightman, 17, is currently second in the standings in the track’s Hornet class after finishing 2015 as Rookie of the Year.

Brightman was in first place for a short period of time this year, slipping in the standings following a crash a few weeks ago.

“I was on the first lap when I tried to go through a gap that was a little too narrow. I got clipped sideways, locked tires with another car and slid into the wall,” he says.

His car, a modified 1997 Acura Integra, suffered some major damage but he and his dad were able to make repairs and he’s now back on the track.

“It was a wake up call for me,” he says, adding the accident was a lesson that taught him to make changes to his driving habits.

Brightman is hoping to develop his interest into a career in racing although not necessarily behind the wheel. He’s also excited about future prospects in the Okanagan once the Area 27 Formula one racetrack in Oliver gets established. He’s already talked to people about possibilities at that track. He works for Top Gear Go-Karting after school, maintaining go-karts and assisting in instruction of go-kart racing.

“It's an expensive sport. He’s always looking for more sponsorship,” says Brightman’s mom Tracy.

Tracy says the family supports Conrad by videotaping all the races in each class. The videos are filmed from an overall perspective as well as from a go-pro camera in Conrad’s car.

She says her son has proven himself to be quite talented even though he’s still relatively new to racing.

“He would like to take it further. He’s interested in becoming a training driver for other drivers,” she says.

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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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