Sport
26 March, 2025
Back on track
TYLER Walters is not one to shy away from a challenge, nor will he let a serious race crash slow him down on the track.
The talented Timboon teenager has been racing since the age of five, starting in the quarter midgets before progressing to a Junior Formula 500 when he turned 12.
Now 13, Tyler is fast making a name for himself on the track and is keen to finish off the current season with a top 10 finish in the final at Laang next month.
But this season hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the teen.
Less than three weeks prior to Christmas, a crash at Simpson Speedway saw Tyler rushed to hospital where he was treated for three fractured vertebrae.
Recalling the accident that resulted in six weeks rest and a medically-imposed break from racing, Tyler said the healing process was slow and frustrating, but he remained eager to get back behind the wheel.
“I spent a lot of time playing Xbox and really doing very little, which was pretty frustrating,” he said.
“I was really keen to get back racing. I remember riding the right rear wheel of the car in front and getting up and landing pretty hard.
“Dad (Phil) was at the track watching and mum (Ashleigh) and my sister Shayleigh were at home watching the race on Clay Per View.”
Ashleigh recalls seeing the crash on television but thinking “he’ll be right”.
A phone call shortly afterwards from Phil, who encouraged her to get to the track, brought home the reality of Tyler’s injuries.
“The volunteers and medical team at the track were great; they gave him a thorough check before he was transported to hospital,” Ashleigh said.
“Unfortunately accidents are part of motorsport sometimes but we all love it and it’s a great family sport to be involved in; our daughter Shayleigh also races – I guess it’s in their blood.”
Ashleigh also spent her childhood around race tracks, as did Phil, with both racing dirt karts in their early to late teens.
Having healed from his injuries, and given the all-clear from doctors, Tyler returned to the race track earlier this month.
“My first race back (after the crash) was at Premier Speedway a couple of weeks ago,” Tyler said.
“It was really good to get back in the car and go racing again. I finished sixth in heat one, fifth in heat two and 15th in the final.
“I’d lost abit of fitness while I was laid up but that’ll come back.
“I’m keen to finish top 10 at Laang and if I can that’ll be great. “
While Tyler is also a keen footballer, playing with the Timboon Demons, he said racing would remain his favourite sport.
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