While born in Brisbane, Australia, according to Stuff, Scott Dixon spent most of his youth in Manurewa, South Auckland, in New Zealand (per Snap Lap). He was quick to catch the racing bug, though like any child so afflicted, he had to start small. Go-karts gave him his fix at age seven. Six years later, Dixon felt ready to step behind the wheel of a proper car. The only problem was that, even for competition, the minimum age for a road license in New Zealand was 15.
The 13-year-old's prowess in kart races had won him some admirers, however. For a one-weekend event at New Zealand's noted Pukekohe Raceway, Dixon was granted a special disposition to get behind the wheel of a Nissan Sentra (per the NZ Herald). It was the sort of opportunity many kids only dream of, but it nearly became a nightmare. Too short to reach the pedals unaided, Dixon worked the car with a pillow strapped to his back. He flipped over on a turn and was caught on New Zealand television scrambling out of the car, pillow still on.
As hairy as the accident was, it did Dixon no harm. In fact, it helped bring him to the attention of motorsport enthusiasts. Within the same year, Dixon competed in his first Formula Vee event, according to Motorsport.com – and won the very next season, still too young for a license.
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