Junior drag racing has been banned in Western Australia after an eight-year-old girl died in a crash with a concrete barrier on Sunday.
Anita Board, from Perth, who comes from a family of keen drag racers, was just old enough to get her licence when the tragic accident happened.
While the racing community is reeling, Sport and Recreation Minister Mick Murray has made the executive decision to stop all drag racing at Perth’s Motorplex – the only venue in the state where drag racing is held – until police finish their investigation.
The young girl from Perth, who comes from a family of keen drag racers, was just old enough to get her licence when the tragic accident happened
On Monday shocked parents slammed the national rules, questioning why you have to be older than 16 to drive a car but can begin racing drag vehicles while still a child (Anita Board pictured)
‘The suspension of this category of motorsport activity allows for a full investigation to be carried out into the nature of the accident,’ the statement said.
‘The State Government will wait until the details of the accident are clear following the investigation before taking any further action.’
At a press conference, Anita’s father Ian Board said this was supposed to be the eight-year-old’s ‘best day ever’.
‘We chose drag racing as we knew it was a safe form of motor sport,’ he said.
Acting Premier Roger Cook said that the age restrictions on drag racing may need to be changed.
‘We need to look at the full range of safety measures that are in place,’ Mr Cook told Perth Now.
In Australia, drag racers can begin driving at speeds of up to 96km/h once they turn eight.
On Monday shocked parents slammed the national rules, questioning why you have to be older than 16 to drive a car but can begin racing drag vehicles while still a child.
Anita Board (pictured) died when she lost control of the drag racing car she was driving and crashed into a concrete wall at a speedway in Perth on Sunday afternoon
Shocked parents have slammed the national rules, questioning why you have to be older than 16 to drive a car but can begin racing drag vehicles while still a child
‘A normal car doing 100k/hm is sometimes a little concerning. A child of eight doing 96 km/h I can’t get my head around,’ one social media user said.
‘An eight-year-old is never going to have the maturity to handle a car doing speed and burnouts. RIP little darling,’ another said.
‘Who in their right mind would think a child of 8 is OK to drive at 95km/h,’ one wrote.
Under national rules, racers aged between eight and 10 can not exceed 96km/h, but it is understood the top speeds of vehicles driven by beginners are much lower.
Competitors in junior drag racing can range in age from eight to 17 and are placed in three classes depending on experience.
The beginners drive what are known as ‘tin pots’, reaching top speeds of 40-50km/h.
Other social media users defended the circumstances surrounding her death, saying it was simply an accident and that she was ‘doing something she loved’.
The crumpled wreckage of the car is taken away from the scene on the back of a tow truck
Just days earlier a delighted Anita unwrapped her first ever drag racing helmet on her eighth birthday (pictured)
She was later taken to Princess Margaret Hospital in a critical condition to undergo emergency surgery
‘It is extremely sad, but it is also a sport and she was doing what she loved… is very sad but you can’t stop this sport,’ one user wrote.
‘People say it’s too young. How young do you think Brock, Lowndes, Winterbottom, Whincup, and Daniel Riccardo were when they started racing?’ another commented.
Mike Sprylan of West Coast Junior Dragsters said it wasn’t unusual to see eight-year-olds competing in the sport.
‘They get into all sport at that age,’ he said.
Taking to Facebook to pay tribute to his youngest daughter, Anita’s father Ian said his heart had broken ‘into a million pieces’, urging parents to ‘hug their little ones tight’.
‘Not much to say but hug your little ones tight. Remind them that you love them,’ his post began.
Ian J Board lost his youngest daughter Anita on Sunday afternoon after she lost control of her vehicle
While there was outrage at her death, many commenters also supported her ‘doing something she loved’
He earlier shared a photo of his two daughters, writing: ‘Our angel setting (out) on what was meant to be a day to remember for all the right reasons. My heart in a million pieces atm.’
Days earlier the family celebrated Anita’s birthday by go karting in preparation for her ‘hitting the dragstrip’ on Saturday for her licence.
‘Happy Birthday to our big little girl. Wishing you life long memories and fun. Mum, Dad & Zara xxx,’ the post read.
Anita died at Princess Margaret Hospital having suffered ‘severe injuries’ in the crash.
Pictures of the young girl on her father’s social media account show her standing in front of a 210CC purple dragster called ‘Pony Power’.
Anita is believed to have lost control of her 210cc engine dragster (pictured) before slamming into a wall at the Perth Motorplex at Kwinana Beach
Anita’s car lines up at the start line just moments before she died in the horrific crash (pictured)
Emblazoned with My Little Pony character Rainbow Dash, she stood alongside older sister Zara whose drives a blue-streaked dragster named ‘Night Fury’.
Members of the tight-knit dragster community have changed their Facebook profile pictures to the Rainbow Dash character in honour of the little girl.
The siblings were among 26 entrants for the Goldenstates Junior Dragster event.
Racing was temporarily suspended while police investigated.
Police are preparing a report for the coroner and want to speak with anyone who saw or took video of the crash.
Police are preparing a report for the coroner and want to speak with anyone who saw or took video of the crash