TANIA’S TURN

We all know the saying that behind every good man is a good woman — well, Roger Binnema is a good man and his wife Tania is his even better woman. Tania’s been supportive of Roger’s racing antics in various cars over the years, including his low-nine-second 1968 Pontiac Firebird street car. At the final Masterton Motorplex round of the season, the roles were reversed as Tania took the keys and hit the track. While it’s not the first time that she’s raced — far from it — it’s the first time that she’s raced this car, and the first time that she’s raced in 14 years. Her experience showed, though, as her PB of 9.27 seconds at 144.80mph is not a long way off Roger’s PB of 9.09 seconds at 149.98mph in the 540ci naturally aspirated machine.

While clearly a natural racer, Tania has also had experience winning events. She won the Lawrence drags three years in a row — four years total — behind the wheel of the family T-bucket, claiming not just fastest female but fastest overall titles in the process. That consistency behind the wheel was evident at Masterton, with all of Tania’s passes over the weekend being between 9.53 and 9.27 and a lowest trap speed of 139mph.

With the season now at an end, there will no doubt be plenty of banter in the Binnema household about what the next season will bring, and who will be driving what.