Profile: Katie Meyer

Sport:      Speedway, Rallying, Autocross | Activity:   Driver

Katie just likes to race. She was brought up in the world of speedway, and then started navigating in a rally car in the Victorian Club Rally Championships in 2008 before jumping in the drivers seat of a Datsun 1600 rally car for the Ballarat Light Car Club Autocross Championship Series. But recently she has stepped back into speedway.

While she loves the adrenaline of racing, you would think Katie’s biggest moment would be as a driver, but  she does recall a hairy moment while navigating in the VH Commodore affectionately named Kermit. As they came over a crest the car landed at the wrong angle, bounced off into a culvert and become beached only moments from a 20ft drop. She describes this as being much worse than a roll over.

While Katies still drives in some Autocross and Motorkhana events, her most recent foray is back on the dirt track that she grew up with … speedway racing.

Katie started racing her dads EL Ford Falcon sports sedan (2018/19 season), and while Dad doesn’t drive anymore, he’s still there teaching Katie everything she needs to know to keep the car setup and running perfectly. “It’s not the fastest car in my class, but it’s still competitive,” says Katie. And with a podium win at her favourite track, it just goes to show that you don’t have to be the quickest out there, you just have to be the better driver.

“My biggest achievement so far is finishing 7th in the Mental Stampede Series which started with around of 32 drivers, and being the only female and first season competitor to finish in the top 10.”

I won the Ladies aggregate and equal 2nd Sports aggregate within our Ballarat speedway Club.

Speedway is basically dirt or clay racing in a circle with multiple cars in the same heat, with each competitor running multiple heats. Katie says it can be pretty daunting when you first get started, particularly learning how to drive the car in a race against the other, learning how to pass, and dealing with some of the other racer’s sometimes rough tactics. But it’s a very popular sport with heaps of support, especially for the female drivers. It’s one of those sports where the boys and girls can race against each other without handicaps. In fact the girls more than often prove to be champion drivers.

And if you’re thinking about giving it a go, Katie says, “don’t think because it’s male dominated you can’t do it. Go out try your hardest and above all have fun!”

Katie has a great network of friends and family supporting her passions, even if some of them don’t quite understand the obsession. Dad (who’s car she drives) is also her mentor, and mum who knows a thing or two from her own racing back in the day make up part of the pit crew, with partner Mick and his dad Steve to help out with any broken stuff. Katies kids Jessica and Taylah are there to cheer and help keep her focused on what’s important. (Having fun!)

If you’d like to follow Katie, you can through her Facebook . Please don’t forget to also support everyone who makes it possible for her to enjoy her sport; Highline Racewear, Hush designs, M&W Engine Services, Tinhunters, Southern cross home maintenance, dirty Days Apparel.