RACING is in his blood.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Portland native Jaiden Healey was born into the adrenaline-rushing world of speedway racing.
He was just seven years-old when he got behind the wheel of a go-kart and that's when he found his love for all things cars.
The now 15 year-old has been racing in speedway for the last six years and says he's born to be a competitive driver, following in his family's footsteps.
"My dad raced, my mum raced and both sets of grandparents raced so it's just in the family, I was born into it," he said.
Healey said he loved everything to do with speedway racing and although he can't legally drive on the road he knows his way around a motor vehicle.
"It's funny that I race cars but can't legally drive on the road, but I'll be going for my licence on my birthday, I can't wait.
"Cars and racing are just my passion, it's in my blood and I was born to love it."
It's a family affair when it comes to the race car as well with Healey and his dad Ray, building the vehicle.
"We have a Honda Civic its got a D16A8 in it, 1.6 litre, me and my dad built it together it's a family car and we have fun doing it," Healey said.
He said to build the car to a racing standard they had to strip it out and put a roll cage in.
"We had to fix up some electrical stuff and the radiator is in the back so it's not a normal car, its had a bit done to it," he said.
He said the roll cage has come in handy with a few accidents over the years.
"I had a roll at Parramatta and a couple of small ones but it's a race and accidents are part of the game, it happens to everyone," he said.
Healey said he races in a class with other 1.6 motors and front-wheel drives and is a regular competitor at Cullen Bullen Speedway but has also competed in titles at Dubbo and Gilgandra.
"Here [at Cullen Bullen] we do six lap heats and 12 lap features and titles are 10 lap heats and 25 lap features," he said.
"All tracks are different racing and here we get up to around 100km per hour but big tracks like Dubbo I get up to like 110 or 120."
Recently he brought home the Australian RSA Junior Sedan Title from Gilgandra Speedway.
"To win an Australian title in junior sedans is something that I've always wanted to do, so to actually do it is something that is very special for my family and I," Healey said.
He said on race days he didn't notice the crowd too much and was mentally preparing in his own zone.
"I just do my own thing before a competition and get out there and give it a go," he said.
Healey said he planned to continue with his speedway racing in the future and was sure of one thing...
"Speedway racing is going to make me go broke when I'm older," he laughed.
He said he didn't know what his ultimate goal was with racing but he would like the chance to go to America.
"I would like to go over to America and do a bit of racing over there because that's the home of speedway, it's big here but even bigger over there.
"That would be cool but yeah I don't know at the moment, I'm only 15 still pretty young to think of that stuff yet," he said.
Healey has a few more races coming up on his calendar with the NSW Title at Dubbo's Morris Park Speedway on Saturday, May 29, followed by the Queensland Title at Archerfield Speedway in Brisbane on June 5.
He will then make his debut in the senior speedway competition through the SSA Production Sedan class.
Healey wanted to thank his mum Sue and dad Ray, and pit crew Brendon Miles and Shane Duggan for their continued support.
He also wanted to thank his 2020/21 season sponsors.
- Bettergrow Landscape & Rural Supplies
- Portland Automotive
- Annesley Towing
- Tint Me Up - Campbelltown
The next race meet at Cullen Bullen Speedway is on Saturday, May 1 from 2pm. Admission prices for adults is $15, pensioners $5, children 13-16yo $5 and children under 12 free.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: