08/03/2016
Female motorsport champs support charity Billycart Festival
WA motorcycling champions Jessica Boujos, formerly known as Jessica Derrin, and Rhiannon Allison will be attending the Cockburn Central BillyCart Festival on Sunday March 13 to encourage girls to take an interest in motorsport.
The charity event will be held out the front of Cockburn train station and has many attractions including billycart racing, a monster truck, a jet dragster, F1 simulators, remote controlled cars, a market, bouncy castle and live bands.
Jessica Boujos had only be riding for two years when she made history as the first woman to win the overall title in a modern Australian road racing championship class after taking out the Australian 250cc Production Championship. In the same year she was also awarded Motorcycling WA Sportsman of the Year. Jess is hopes more girls follow in her footsteps.
“Fortune favours the brave so don’t be afraid to try new things”.
When she’s not racing, Jessica designs racing leathers, works as a spray paint artist and spends time with her baby daughter. She is also on the Motorcycling WA Women’s Committee and coaches other female racers. “I want to show them it can be done and that we are just as good as the boys, if not better.”
“Women put up emotional and psychological barriers when they see how powerful the machines are, they think it’s too hard and it can be a pretty hairy sport but it’s also really fun so just give it a go”.
“The Billycart Festival is a great opportunity for young women to see how exciting this industry is plus it’s for a good cause.” Jessica will have two stalls on the day displaying her motorbikes and Panik race leathers.
Rhiannon Allison will also be attending the Cockburn Central BillyCart Festival. Known as ‘Australia’s Fastest Female’ Rhiannon Allison has been racing dragsters from the time she was ten years old. She says she learns each and every day that girls have the same ability as men.
“To all young ladies; anything is possible just keep chasing your dreams and remember we are all capable of reaching our goals! Every morning you wake up it’s a day closer to your dream”.
Rhiannon Allison will be displaying her jet dragster on the day.
“We are so happy to have Jessica and Rhiannon at our event” organiser Doug Weir says. “It’s great for the kids to see women excelling in something that’s normally associated with the guys. We want everyone come down and have fun.”
The Cockburn Central BillyCart Festival is the first of its kind in WA. Entry is just a gold coin donation with proceeds going towards the Eating Disorder Program at the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children.