Some call them stupidstitions. Silly stuff like black cats.
But lucky numbers? Those are kind of important in racing! A ‘rookie racer‘ may only get one opportunity to choose their racing number. Better think hard on that one, because it’ll stick around for years.
When Daniel Demaras starting racing karts, he selected the No. 12 in honor of Will Power, the most intense IndyCar driver ever. Each year, Daniel would bring the number plate of his go-kart down to the Indy Toronto to get Power to sign, for good luck. In upper categories of kart racing, the prefix 4 was added to the racing number to indicate the division. Hence, the No. 12 became the No. 412.
But in race cars, it was back to the original No. 12 Daniel Demaras. Through three seasons of Formula 1200 racing, Demaras continued to bring the number plate from his race car to track for Power to sign. At the end of each season, the No. 12 plate was removed from the car, framed and hung on the Wall of Fame in Demaras Racing’s headquarters.
Having won championships in go-karts and race cars, Daniel now proudly displays his No. 12 next to photos and die-cast models of Will Power’s No. 12 car. Call it superstitious if you must; that lucky number has worked!
