News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By LeRae Haynes 

Paige Lennox is a fresh face behind the wheel at Thunder Mountain Speedway this season. The 14-year-old Grade 9 student is following in her father’s tire tracks and also setting a fresh course of her own. 

She competes in the ‘Bone Stock Mini’ class, where racers drive 4-cycle cars with very small modifications. There are 8 cars in her class, but she is the only female driver in any class in Williams Lake. 

Her father, Darren Lennox, has been a race car drive for several years, and Paige was on his pit crew as soon as she was old enough to join the team. When she was old enough to race, he asked her if she wanted to drive and she said yes. 

She agreed that it was a little unusual to have a dad on the sidelines when a teen is behind the wheel for the first time, yelling ‘Faster, faster!’

“Some of the things I’ve learned are ‘go low’ in the corners, don’t ride the brakes and don’t be scared to push the throttle all the way on the straight stretch.” she said.

Darren said that at this stage for Paige, it’s not about winning: it’s about time on the track. 

He also said that getting your kids into racing is inexpensive, fun and a good way to spend time together. “It’s also a great way to meet new friends, learn new skills and improve your confidence and self-esteem,” he added. 

“It’s more than racing---it’s entertainment for the fans and we do our best to provide that. It’s also a lot of fun for families to participate in and also to watch. It’s live, local, high-speed action and adrenalin.” 

Paige’s sponsors are Jew-Lye Trucking Ltd, James Western Star, Cariboo Interior Crane Services, Lake Enterprises Ltd and Eldorado Enterprises. 

Another thing that sets Paige apart in racing is her willingness to miss two big races this season in order to travel to Mexico for two weeks to build houses for families without homes. “Every year this group comes to our school, there is a concert and they give out information about building houses in other countries: they call it ‘Hero Holiday,’” she explained. “You have to raise $500 to go on the trip, and for the 15 kids from Williams Lake, it’s a 30-hour bus trip.”

 Paige can be seen on the racetrack for the Points Final on September 19 at the race track.

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