ITA
17 fastlane
Zara Board took an emotional and
exceptionally popular Summit Racing
Equipment Junior Dragster victory at
South Coast Raceway earlier this month
on the eve of the first anniversary of her
little sister’s passing.
Anita Board sadly passed away
on November 12 of 2017 just days
after her birthday (November 9) in
a tragic accident. Her 13 year old
sister Zara, with the support of her
parents Ian and Sonja, continued
on in her beloved sport of Junior
Dragster.
All season-long Zara and her
family have sported special team
gear which bears the ‘Rainbow
Dash’ My Little Pony character
which Anita loved so much, but
for the South Coast Nationals the
family also had a special helmet
made for Zara as they raced in
Anita’s memory.
The November 11 victory at
Portland was Zara’s first event
victory, and there wasn’t a dry eye
in the house when she crossed
the finish line to take the win
as her father pointed to the sky
from the startline as celebrations
surrounded him.
“We couldn’t be happier. I would
like to dedicate this win to Anita
– I wouldn’t be here without her,
Pony Power Forever!” Zara said
during the trophy presentations.
“I want to thank Tommy Turic
(runner-up) for such a close race
in the final – it went right down
to the extra digits. I also want
to thank all the track staff for
helping us out, the volunteers, and
everyone involved.
“I want to thank my mum and
dad especially for all the effort to
get us here on what was our ‘two
minute noodle’ budget trip, it was
all worth it. Also a special thanks
to Jason Maggs and MPRINT
Industries for my spectacular
helmet, it is truly amazing, and for
the stickers on my car as well.
“From the start I said I would win
this event because this event was
for her, I always knew I was going
to win it. Hopefully this shows the
Minister how dedicated we are
and it can somehow help racing
in WA get back underway sooner, I
am missing racing at home.”
For Ian and Sonja, it was a
truly special and overwhelming
moment.
“I have to say thank you to the
entire drag racing family for
everything, the last year has been
hell, but they have been amazing
with their support,” Ian said after
the result.
“I want to say thank you to
everyone that has helped us along
the way, I am without words at the
moment.
“I think Zara is the strongest 13
year old kid you will ever meet.
She makes us so proud. There
would have been a lot of pressure
on her, not from us, but from
within herself, to make her sister
proud and she did so, so well.”
The South Coast Nationals
found winners for 10 brackets
in what was round four of the
18/19 Summit Racing Equipment
Sportsman Series. For more detail
on how the event unfolded, click
here.
Photos by Automotive Event Images and Outlaw
Images