Mighty Mikayla Takes On The Boys - And Wins!

press release

At Sunday'sOakleigh Go-Kart Club Presentations, 9 year old Mikayla Harper was presented with the award for Most Improved Midget of 2008 as well as 3rd place in the Oakleigh Club Championships.

She collected her trophies to a rousing cheer from those present as it is not often you see females involved in go-karting and Mikayla (right) has been one of the most consistent racers during the year. When out on the track, Mikayla is a driver like all the others – fast, aggressive and seemingly without fear and you would be hard pressed to set her apart as a girl. It’s only when she comes into the in-grid and removes her helmet that you see the blonde curls come tumbling down and the cheeky grin of a girl who knows she’s put one over on the boys.

Mikayla is currently having a break from racing over Christmas but will continue practicing in the hopes of being on top of her game for her first major race of 2009 – the Ladies Special Go-Kart Championships to be held at Lithgow, NSW on Sunday, 25 January 2009.

This event is being run as a fundraiser for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Mikayla, her sister Madeline (who also races karts) and quite a few other female karters are currently working hard to raise funds for research into Breast Cancer. In just over 2 months Mikayla and Madeline have raised over $300 with plans to raise plenty more.

“I’m so happy to have won. I want to thank all the people who have helped me especially Mum, Dad and Maddy. Wayne and Adam Bourke have been great too – they help coach me with my driving, and Donny from the Club is great too – he gives me heaps of encouragement,” Mikayla said. “Go-karting is so much fun – you can go really fast but you also have to be careful with all the other kids out there. I really think there should be more girls racing because we are just as good as the boys.”

Mikayla, who moves up a category from Midgets to Rookies, in 2009 is one of only a few female karters. Children from as young as seven can race on licensed tracks throughout Victoria. “I didn’t want a party for my 7th birthday – all I wanted to do was race, and I did at Bairnsdale. It was so much fun and I really enjoyed it – way better than a party,” Mikayla said. “Mum and Dad bought Maddy and me new suits and cool pink helmets so that we stand out from the boys on the track.”

Mikalya, and her parents, would like to thank her sponsors, Motorola, Leopard Systems, and DP Karts for all their help and encouragement.

Above: Oakleigh Club Championns in Midgets - Jake(2nd), Jordan (1st) and Mikayla (3rd)

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