Hope & Hurdles Pack Is a free information resource for women living with secondary breast cancer. The pack contains booklets, brochures, magazines and CD's that offer information, support and hope for women and their families. A Personal Record is also included, where women can record important details such as appointments, treatment and results. Women can order their Hope & Hurdles Pack by visiting the BCNA website www.bcna.org.au or by calling 1800 500 258 My Care Kit Is a free kit containing a specially designed Berlei bra and soft form/s (if required) for women who have recently had breast cancer surgery. The My Care Kit is available via breast care nurses or other related health professionals. The Beacon With over 46,000 readers the free BCNA quarterly magazine includes information of research, treatment, support options, events and personal stories from women affected by breast cancer. The Inside Story Is our four-page supplement to the Beacon, for women living with secondary breast cancer. It features women's stories, new resources, book reviews and issues relevant to women living with secondary breast cancer and their families.

BCNA e-Bulletin Is a monthly email, which provides women, and health professionals with summaries of the latest breast cancer research findings, including electronic links to abstracts and research journals. Visit the BCNA website: www.bcna.org.au or call 1800 500 258 to subscribe to these free publications. BCNA Website - www.bcna.org.au BCNA website is a comprehensive resource for those wanting to learn about activities, initiatives, support groups, programs and services offered by BCNA. It features stories written by women who have experienced breast cancer, with tips on how they coped. It also has links to other trusted websites and resources. Field of Women - a way to pay tribute to those affected by breast cancer For further information Telephone: (03) 9805 2500/ Fax: (03) 9805 2599 Freecall: 1800 500 258 / Email: beacon@bcna.org.au               Photos from 2009 Mini-Field of Women!

This is a short summary of our trip and two day race experience August 2010 at Benaraby Raceway.

It commences Friday the 20^th around 6am; we’re all packed and leaving from our hometown of Ipswich heading up north in Queensland. The trip will be about 570 kilometres and should take roughly seven to seven and a half hours maybe longer depending on how many pit stops we make along the way.

There’s a fair bit of dead wildlife off to the side of the highway these being kangaroos, rabbits, an echidna, a snake and some unidentifiable road kill that could be rats or the like.

We arrive in Benaraby at 2.15pm and check in at the Big 4 caravan park situated near the Boyne River. Warren and I erect our tent, freshen up then have a bite to eat and relax for a while before heading off to the track for the 6pm Test’n’Tune start. On the way the wildlife shows it’s splendour with a kangaroo hopping across the road in front of us near the track and my how it blends into the surroundings.

Our friends Debbie Mackay and Steven Brown (known to many as Fonz) also make the journey and join us at the track. This is the 5^th time racing here and once again we are greeted with friendly, smiling faces.

I have 7 passes on the night with a best elapsed time over the ¼ mile of 11.302@119.68mph. The Rover on one pass lets loose and gives me the wildest ride of my life. I’m wrestling with the car, that now has a mind of its own and viscously throwing itself from side to side down the track. I took back control and was so proud of myself for being able to handle this situation that could have easily ended up destroying the Rover.

Debbie and Fonz also stay at the caravan park and having time up our sleeve, on Saturday, Deb and I decide to wander down to the river. Here we spot a warning sign about  recent crocodile sightings. Throughout north and central Queensland, signs are placed at access points to rivers, creeks, lagoons, swamps and beaches where crocs might live.

After seeing this Deb's a bit uneasy and wants to make a hasty retreat! Most likely a wise decision!

Racing for Saturday is cancelled due to issues with lane one and the decision is made by the officials to run a club test day. The best ET this day is 11.269@120.32mph and I only have three runs after discovering we may have problems with the gearbox.

Overall it's still a great weekend away. We met up with people and racers that we normally only see a couple of times a year and we confirmed our overnight stay when we once again make the trip to Mackay to compete at the Sunstate Nationals.

An added bonus was seeing and chatting with another female racer this being Kellie Tate in her L.J.Torana with its magnificent new paint scheme. We remember sighting this Torana 3 years ago at Palmyra Dragway as she was pitted beside us and at that time the car was maroon in colour. It’s had quite a transformation since then and sports a skeleton on the rear guards and silver in colour with a touch of pink in the design. Kellie told me she wanted to give the car a bit of a girly look.

I also loved catching up with my Facebook friends and thank you so very much to everyone at the track for making us feel so welcome.

www.benarabyraceway.com

Until next time!

It’s the thrill and excitement that keeps us going and the fast, paced action that heads us in the direction of the drag racing tracks.

The Australian 2009/2010 ANDRA PRO SERIES Drag Racing season has come to an end seeing the Mama’s Toy Racing Team claiming the Super Street Australian Championship. 

Our Track Championship has also been finalized seeing us in 3^rd Place, remembering I’m competing against males and females, young and old at the age of 54 and being a wife, mother and grandmother. I have placed in the top 5 in our Super Street bracket for the last three years, and considering it was only 2004 when I seriously began racing at Major Events accumulating points for the Australian Championship, I feel our team has achieved much in this time. I thank my crew and family for all their hard work and support over the years, especially my crew chief and husband Warren for without him I would not be where I am today.

Competing against the young guns with their youthful energy and high levels of concentration (needed for this motorsport) is no easy fete and, as we all come to realize, over time our senses slowly diminish. However I don’t believe in giving up and it’s not so much about winning but how you play the game. I conquered breast cancer in 2003 after going through the ordeal of having chemotherapy and radium treatments and being ill for many months. I’m now facing another body malfunction (that I’ve had for a while) bulging discs in my back (that cause a slight walking problem) and have sciatica in my left leg. Finally after waiting for months I get to see the specialist on Monday. Yahoo... We may get some action now!

But like I say, never give up, stay positive and claim for yourself what you wish for in life. Reach for the sky and you will be rewarded with your hard work and effort.

Back to racing; our task at hand will be to concentrate on testing with another motor in the race car and setting it up correctly before the commencement of the new season in September. The old engine has been used for the past 11years and (although still running strong and getting us to many finals) the time has come for its retirement.

We have attended a couple of test days at Willowbank Raceway in sunny Queensland with the new Chevy 350 running 11.36 seconds over the quarter mile @ 120mph. Changing jets, power valve and squirters has brought the car down to 11.20@121.44mph.

A few more adjustments will be made to get the car off the line with a quicker 60-foot time. At the moment 1.61 is it’s average sixty-foot. We are staying in our Super Street bracket as this then allows us to travel somewhat with our racing and we are only expecting to run low 11 second passes.

The racing calendar is jam-packed with events all throughout the year giving racers in Australia much needed practice time and competitive racing. I’ve been involved in drag racing for 17 years now and still can’t seem to get enough of this motor sport. If I could I’d be at the track every weekend as our home track (this being Willowbank Raceway) has events most Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Drag Racing has given me the highs and lows that come with any form of sport but the pleasure derived unsurpassable. Imagine sitting behind the steering wheel, strapped firmly by a harness into a racing seat, helmet buckled up with a V8 purring in your ears ready for racing. The excitement is building and adrenalin pumping through your veins. The lights are activated and you stomp on the go pedal accelerating at speed down the quarter mile. Puts a smile on my face every time! J

Until next time…stay safe…drive carefully on the roads and treat others, as you would like to be treated yourself.

Terri Sander

Mama’s Toy Racing