GIMLI – As a toddler, Austin Riley was shy, introverted and barely spoke, but when his dad put him in go-karting at the age of eight, everything changed.
“It’s the best moment of my life,” Austin told Global News Friday. His dad, Jason, still remembers that first ride on the track.
“They waved the checkered flag to come off, and he refused” Jason Riley said. “I noticed the smile on his helmet and I had never seen that smile before.”
Austin was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at a young age. When he was 13 he was re-diagnosed with autism. He is now 16 years old.
“He had just won two championships, and finished second in Canada then we received that diagnosis.”
But Austin, who is from southern Ontario, kept racing and even became a certified go-kart racer. He has won three championships around North America.
When he gets into the driver’s seat, he says all signs of autism fade away.
“I can do what I want, nobody has to give me instructions on how to do this, I can just do what I do,” Austin explained Friday.
“When he’s not in a go-kart he’s anxious , nervous, antsy, he’s awkward, but all that disappears when he sits in this seat,” Jason Riley explained.
Jason said he wanted to know why his son was so successful on the track, ” I asked him, how come this is easier for you, he said the go kart is finally at the speed my mind is, for me that’s normal.”
Last year, during a tournament in Regina, Saskatchewan, Austin was the talk of the event.
“The first time he was on the track, i did not know that was Austin, it was ridiculous, ” fellow racer, Alexis Budel said Friday. ” Everyone was asking, is that the kid that has autism? Its amazing.”
The two sparked a friendship, “He is like a brother to me,” Budel said. Her father and president of the Manitoba Karting Association Guy Budel, asked Austin to be part of the Autism Awareness tour in Gimli this weekend, “We sparked a friendship, and his story, it’s a story of ability, not disability,” Budel explained.
The lingering effect Austin had on competitors in 2014, got Jason thinking what a difference Austin could make for Autism Awareness.
That is what sparked “Racing with Autism.” A 12 week journey, traveling to 12 different cities, starting in Florida, ending this weekend in Gimli, Manitoba.
Between race days, Austin and the “Racing with Autism” team traveled to 20 schools across the U.S. And Canada, educating others about the disorder.
“We’ve been on the road for 12 weeks. At the beginning, we had trouble getting him in the audtiorium 12 weeks ago, now he’s comfortable cracking jokes, signing autographs, it’s a night and day difference,” Jason said.
This weekend Austin is in Gimli to wrap up the 85 day “Racing with Autism” tour.
Over 50 Go-Kart competitors from around the province will hit the track.
Austin says he will continue his career in racing, hoping to one day be a formula one racer, ” I want to race a car.”
For more information on Austin and “Racing with Autism” Click here for more information.
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