Page 32 - 2019 April-May IWMA Magazine

Tegan Roach Feels Blessed For Racing Opportunity
Tegan Roach was born in Can- berra, Australia, where her parents ran a hill climb track, so she grew up around motorsports. When she was 7 years old, her family moved to Adelaide. Her dad purchased a drag bike, and she went to the races with him, and helped him out as part of the crew. That is when she found her love for drag racing.
“I was watching other kids race junior dragsters and I fell in love with junior dragster. I eagerly asked my dad on the spot if I
could get one, after
sitting in one. The
following year my
family and I went
on a vacation to
Queensland. My
dad and I attended
the Winter Nation-
als in Queensland
as spectators.
When I sat in one
of the competitors
junior dragsters,
was when my dad
told me that he had
bought one and it
would be at home
waiting upon my
arrival! The junior
dragster needed a little bit of work done to it, which meant afternoons turned into late nights in the shed getting it ready for me to race. I was eleven when I received my junior dragster license.”
Tegan’s most memorable mo- ment was her second race. There were only three junior dragster competitors. She was the only girl. She was talking to one of the other racers when he asked her to beat the other racer, due to the two of them having the same points. This was the last round of the club championships. She replied nervous- ly, “OK, I’ll try but it’s only my second race.”
“It came round to eliminations I was up against the racer who had asked 32
me to beat the other competitor earlier in the day. However with luck on my side not his. I beat him, which resulted in the competitor that I was asked to beat was in the finals up against me. I lost in the finals, however it was a massive accom- plishment for me considering it was my second race.”
Tegan was inspired to start rac- ing from watching her dad and other racers. Her dad helps her with her car.
censing, she was also the first person I went up against.
She hopes to one day race pro- fessionally. Her favorite part of being a race car driver is the race track family and atmosphere, and being able to see people look up to you for inspiration. “To be a successful race car driver is to enjoy yourself and to always try your best. You’re not always going to win ev- ery race. You’re more likely to lose more races than you win, and hey that’s just
She races mostly at small country tracks in South Australia and Victoria, and sometimes races at big events.
She races a junior dragster. An interesting story she shared with us is:
“One time I was entering the breaking area and I forgot about the turn off. My head was in another place. I took the sharp turn which landed me and my car on its side. I was fine, howev- er I was more concerned about the paint on my junior dragster because my dad and I had only just repainted it plum cra- zy (purple). I was devastated about the paint!”
Dani Armistead was my first racetrack friend, we met when I was li-
racing.” Tegan’s car number is 5753 and even though she didn’t get a choice, she loves the number.
On race day she always wears leggings or denim shorts and has her hair in braids or a ponytail.
Tegan was born in Canberra, AU. She has a younger sister who enjoys riding horses. Her hobbies include drag racing, wake-boarding and experiment- ing with makeup. Her favorite food is tacos and butter chicken and her favor- ite restaurant is Zambreos, which serves mostly Mexican food. Her favorite va- cation destination would be anywhere near an ocean, lake, or river, mostly because it is an escape from reality and being around water calms her.