Go-getting girls fire up

Calleja is just one of 80 or so young women who hit the go-kart tracks each month around NSW. But her chosen form of go-karting is a little different to the traditional one.

Calleja races with the NSW Speedway Kart Club, members of which compete at Nepean Motorsports Complex at Agnes Banks. This means she gets pretty messy when racing, because it's on a dirt track.

"Once your helmet goes on, everybody's the same, there's no male and female. Everybody's here to do the same thing," she says.

Calleja took up the sport four years ago, after being around racing all her life. With a father who has been involved in speedway, and who bought her the go kart, she also had someone to be her experienced pit crew.

Outside of the go-karting world, Calleja says people often find it hard to believe her chosen pastime.

"No one ever believes it when I tell them, `You drive it or someone else drives it?' they say. People assume you must race only ladies, when you say `No, I race males', they say, `Really?," she says.

Calleja has worn holes in the top of her gloves with her nails and has to buy a bigger size to accommodate her fashion.

But racing is more than just a hobby for this girl. Calleja hopes to eventually compete on the speedway scene in sprint cars, but says she's still got a bit to learn from the go-karting world first.

And she's not the only one who's looking to enter the big league.

Lindsay Jones has high hopes for her chosen sport, and at just 11-years-old, she also knows what it's like to go up against the boys.

Jones has been karting for two years, after taking an interest in the sport when her male cousin started racing.

"I think it's really cool ... lots of other girls should try it as well. It's not what they think it is," she says. "When you're racing they just act like I'm just one of them. So just race like you're a guy as well, not a girl. It gives you confidence ... it's a really good sport."

And the youngster can also count on the male members of her life as her trusty crew, with her dad and uncle helping out and supporting her during her races.

But go-karting isn't just for the young.

Not only do the older males compete, but the young-at-heart females also take to the track.

Mother-of-two Alana Baines is a regular on the dirt, often competing against and beating her younger brother and husband.

The 41-year-old has been competing since 2000. And with her family's racing history, it was only time before she took the big leap into the world of motorsport.

Her father was involved with building Parramatta Speedway and also competed.

Baines has also been a crew member for her brothers during their racing, but seven years ago, she decided to give go-karting a go herself.

"There's definitely nothing to stop girls from having a decent run," she says.

"It's good to get out there with the guys and run wheels with them ... there are a couple you may have problems with and you've really got to stand your ground with them.

"I believe in clean racing. It helps you to earn a lot of respect if you're always clean."

But Baines has discovered go-karting isn't all fun and games, especially when you break your ankle in an accident.

"It took a while for me to get my confidence back on the track," she says.

"It is dangerous, any kind of motorsport is, but it's fun and I love it. It's the adrenalin rush you get when you're out there."

Both her kids have also been involved in the sport. And while fun is a given, especially for youngsters, Baines says it also gives kids skills they can use when learning to drive.