Just days ago, Anita Board unwrapped the one birthday present she’d been wishing for: a drag racing helmet.
The young Perth girl had been eagerly awaiting her eighth birthday – an important milestone for her family. At eight-years-old Anita would be old enough to qualify for a Junior Competition Licence so she could compete in the sport’s Junior Dragster Eliminator.
Anita and her family set off on Saturday afternoon for the aspiring drag racer’s trial, however the momentous day ended in tragedy.
During her trial at Perth Motorplex in Kwinana, Anita lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a cement barrier. No other drivers were on the track at the time. Anita suffered severe injuries in the crash and was transported to hospital in a critical condition. She died on Sunday afternoon in hospital, with her family at her bedside.
Anita just days before the tragic accident that ended her life.
“My heart is in a million pieces”
Heartbroken family and friends have left emotional tributes to the young girl on social media. Her father Ian Board wrote on Facebook alongside a picture of the family heading off to Anita’s trial: “Our angel setting [out] on what was meant to be a day to remember for all the right reasons. My heart [is] in a million pieces.”
The Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA) shared news of the tragedy with the drag racing community.
“The Australian National Drag Racing Association is deeply saddened to confirm the passing of junior dragster competitor Anita Board following an on-track incident during an event held at the Perth Motorplex on the 11th of November,” ANDRA said in a statement.
Online outrage
Anita’s accident sparked outrage online with many concerned that children as young as eight can drive drag cars up to a speed of 96km/h.
The Daily Mail reported one social media user saying: “A normal car doing 100km/h is sometimes a little concerning. A child of eight doing 96km/h I can’t get my head around.”
While another wrote, “Who in their right mind would think a child of 8 is OK to drive at 95km/h.”
Under ANDRA rules, racers aged between eight and 10 cannot exceed 96km/h, but it is understood the top speeds of vehicles driven by beginners are much lower.
Police want to speak with anyone who saw or took video of the crash, and are preparing a report for the coroner.
