Latest news with #car meets
ABC News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- ABC News
Thrill of racing entices more women into motorsport breaking down stereotypes
The throbbing sound of a revving V8 engine and the intoxicating smell of diesel and rubber tyres are all part of the appeal of car meets. But it's not only men flocking to car meets across the country — women dig cars too. And now more women are getting involved in the sport on the track and behind the scenes. Car enthusiast Deb Myers never dreamed of racing until she met her husband Ian Crabbe about six years ago. Now she loves the thrill of it. "We recently drag raced at Palmyra Dragway in Mackay and my best time was 10.67 for the quarter mile," Ms Myers said. For the first few years she and her husband would time their trip around the track, also known as a hot lap, taking turns racing in his 2008 Clubsport Holden Commodore. But now they do that in their own identical, supercharged, colour-matched cars, mainly at their local, the Springmount Raceway near Mareeba in Far North Queensland. "And there's quite a lot of ladies that drag race up at Springmount and we always say 'girl power' to them." Mr Crabbe has enjoyed watching his wife blossom in the sport and become increasingly involved in regular car meets. "The car community is very welcoming and more women are embracing it and giving racing a go and I really applaud it," he said. In her 30 years in the industry, self-confessed automotive addict and racing commentator Lara Wilde has seen women become more active, including in racing, behind the scenes as pit crew, attending car meets and in leadership roles. "I'm seeing more women getting a profile in motorsport, not because they are women, but because they are exceptional," Ms Wilde said. She believes it has opened the door for other women to pursue their passion. "It's important for women to be welcomed into the car community and to feel safe and respected," Ms Wilde said. She welcomed a national push to get more women into motorsport. "We're seeing women like Betty Klimenko, who is the first woman to own a V8 Supercar team in Australia. "And Formula One is on a mission to put the first permanent woman driver on the grid of Formula One." Earlier this year, teens Joanne Ciconte and Aiva Anagnostiadis represented Australia in the all-female Formula 1 Academy series for the first time. Motorsport Australia, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)-appointed not-for-profit organisation, said more women were entering the industry nationally, both on and off the track. "Once you're behind the wheel, it's completely gender-free." But Ms Barlow said the initial break into the industry was often a barrier to women, and she believed changing this was an industry-wide responsibility. She said the organisation's Girls on Track program had helped to address the gender imbalance in the male-dominated industry. More than 3,500 girls have completed the program since it launched in 2018, with many pursuing a career in motorsport in varied roles including engineering, team management and coordination. An early introduction to the sport worked for commentator Lara Wilde, who has fostered a love of cars since her youth. Once a hobby, it led to a career that sees her booked 46 out of 52 weekends a year. "I do Summernats, which is the biggest burnout show in Australia, plus Red Nats, Northern Nats, Rocky Nats and all the Nats." Ms Wilde is keen to see even more women challenging stereotypes by pursuing a career in motorsport. Already doing this is Leonie Pollard, a judge at Cairns' NQ Burnouts and Tropical Meltdown and Powerfest in Mackay. "They were looking for a judge for NQ Burnouts about five years ago and my son threw my name in the ring," Ms Pollard said. But she said female judges were still a minority, which she attributed to outdated stereotypes. "I also think social media is partly to blame as men can be quite disgusting with their comments about women on car pages," she said. "They pick on women's looks and their driving and they can be really hurtful." However Ms Pollard, whose children and grandchildren attended races, said many men were supportive of women in the industry, with some even introducing their partners or daughters to the scene. She said women also tended to rally around each other. As the grandmother prepared for her next north Queensland event, she said she had no intention of getting behind the wheel herself. "I worked as pit crew for drag racing many years ago but preferred working in the background because it costs a lot less," she said. "It is an expensive hobby."
BBC News
05-06-2025
- BBC News
Politicians want speed cameras on A6 Barton-le-Clay bypass
A councillor and a police and crime commissioner are calling for speed cameras to be installed on a road after police recorded one vehicle travelling at over 150mph (240km/h).Liz Childs, an Independent Alliance member of Central Bedfordshire Council, representing Barton-le-Clay, said cameras might help deter car meets from taking place on the village's A6 Tizard, Labour Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire, agreed, saying: "I think Central Bedfordshire Council could install cameras on the A6 as there is a danger to road users and there is a huge nuisance for local residents."The council has been asked for comment. Tizard added: "I am confident police are taking this seriously and will act appropriately, and I am sorry it has taken as long as it has done." Bedfordshire Police caught 182 drivers speeding on Saturday, including one travelling at 151mph (243km/h).Childs said car meets had been taking place on the A6 bypass for several months."It is disturbing residents and just needs stopping," she said the meets, which were taking place at weekends and bank holidays, were "really horrendous" and that residents had reported being "terrified by the noise"."The racing activity is highly illegal and clearly the speeding is way beyond illegal - it is dreadful," she said."The road needs cameras on it. That is the biggest thing that can happen to help, because then people will be fined." She said she had "bombarded" police with emails on the matter and had received a positive Alex House, of Bedfordshire Police, said: "After the last car meet-up, we issued a total of 66 Section 59 orders to the owner of every vehicle which attended. "This means that if they come to the area again and partake in the same activity, we can immediately seize their vehicle."He said installing speed cameras on the road would be a council decision. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
