Ex-iron worker swaps gaskets for go-karts

SHIJIAZHUANG — On a racetrack, a go-kart drifted and accelerated as its engine roared, drawing cheers from the crowd.

The driver, 45-year-old Xie Guangya, is the oldest go-kart instructor at a car racing venue in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province.

Xie worked at a local steel plant until 2018, when it was shut down and transformed into a racing facility with multiple tracks.

Surrounding Beijing, Hebei is a leading producer of iron and steel. However, facing pressure from overcapacity of iron production as well as industrial air pollution, many steel plants have closed and turned to other industries for greener development.

Xie’s job used to involve supplying oxygen for steelmaking at the plant, which once produced nearly 7 million metric tons of iron and steel annually.

While many of Xie’s co-workers left for other steelmaking jobs when their employer decided to transform the plant into a car racing venue, Xie decided to stay.

“I have been here since 2003 when the plant was established. It’s my second home,” he said.

The racing venue built on the former site of the plant has four tracks covering 2.4 square kilometers. Shen Yiping, chairman of the plant, which is a subsidiary of Shougang Group, said the venue includes entertainment facilities such as a stage and sightseeing trains.

To become an instructor, Xie had to learn karting from scratch, no mean feat for a middle-aged man. “Luckily, my family is supportive,” he said.

Zhang Mingyu, a frequent visitor to the venue, said Xie practiced diligently to gain the required skills. “Every weekend I came, he was here practicing,” Zhang said.

Zhang, a local resident, is also impressed by the transformation of the plant into a racing venue. “I like the setting and scale of the tracks, as well as the performance of the karts,” he said.

Xie can complete one lap of the 1.2-km track in just 73 seconds, a speed that is almost at the level of a professional racer. He has learned some simple skills for kart repair, rescue and track maintenance. He also serves as a race official during competitions. To date, the venue has hosted several racing events, including an international Formula 4 race.

Xie is delighted by the transition of the plant into a racing venue as well as the improvement in the environment. However, compared with developed countries, China still has a long way to go in motor racing, Xie said. “Karting is the cradle of development for car racers. I hope with my efforts, China will have a high-level professional car racer someday,” he said.