A speedway star in the making

MARTINA Jefferies may only be three years old but her dad Stuart says she is already a “speedway kid through and through”, helping to show off his race car at the Lismore Speedway fan appreciation day on Saturday.

Jefferies, from Brisbane, has been racing for 30 years and was a regular visitor to the Lismore circuit.

“I’ve been coming to Lismore for about 20 years. We love the people down here. We love the atmosphere,” he said.

“What Mick and Kim Suer have done with the Lismore Speedway has taken it to the next level.

“The racing is always amazing down here.”

He said Martina was his biggest supporter and motivator.

“She’s pretty pretty into it. She works in the shed on the car with me, always on the tools. She cleans the car with me, everything she does is with me.

“It’s her car. She tells me if I drive too fast or too slow.”

Jefferies said there is no doubt his daughter will end up behind the wheel.

“She’ll be in a go-kart in another year,” he said.

Martina joined her dad in giving out posters and hats at the fan appreciation day held in the CBD.

“Days like this when we get to meet the public are just awesome. It’s good to connect with the crowd.,” Jefferies said.

“When we’re racing, we’re locked in the pits away from the crowd and they’re on the other side of the fence.”

It wasn’t quite the race Jefferies had hoped for, being involved in a three-car rollover, but he walked away uninjured.

The speedway season kicked off on Saturday night with Jefferies racing in the wingless sprint car category.Lismore Speedway promoter Kim Sauer said it was “an action-packed” season opener and was happy with the turnout to the fan appreciation day.

“It was a great turnout. It just keeps getting bigger and better every year. It’s good for the town.”