Emma Pritchard
Not even jet lag, a 15-hour time difference, and two overtired younger brothers could distract Grafton’s busiest and most determined eight-year-old from putting her foot down and kick-starting her 2023 racing season with three podium finishes earlier this month.
After returning to the racetrack at Carolina Adventure World in Winnsboro, South Carolina (USA) on March 9, Ruby Howell said she was excited to get behind the wheel of her Stock Polaris RZR 200 again for Round 1 of the Competitive Off-Road Racing Series (CORRS) 2023 National Race Event.
Her proud parents Aaron and Emily Howell even surprised their eldest daughter with her own modified Polaris Off-Road RZR 570 with a top speed of 50mph which they purchased online the day before Ruby’s first race.
After taking her new racing vehicle for a quick spin, Ruby took her place on the start line in the Youth Stock Class Event before heading back onto the track for the Kids Stock Event.
After finishing third in both races in her Stock Polaris RZR 200, Ruby decided to drive her Polaris Off-Road RZR 570 to familiarise herself with her new vehicle under race conditions in the Endurance Race, and was happy to cross the finish line in second place.
And while Ruby admitted to feeling “very tired” after travelling for close to 30 hours from Grafton to Brisbane to Los Angeles, and then onto Charlotte and South Carolina, she said her top tip for beating jet lag is to eat sour lollies, and she was happy to return to the racing circuit again after enjoying a very successful 2022 racing season.
“I love racing, and I love driving fast,” she said.
Born with Persistent Fetal Vasculature (PFV) and a congenital cataract, Ruby has little to no vision in her left eye, but discovered her passion for racing after her parents taught her to ride a quad bike on their property to teach her to be confident and independent.
After returning to Grafton on March 15, Ruby said her focus will now return to her school work as she prepares for her next competition.
Ruby and her family will return to the USA next month where she will compete in Round 2 of the Mid America Outdoors SXS Championship at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, in April.
While she is looking forward to travelling overseas again, Ruby said she hopes her baby brothers Oliver and Noah will be “a lot quieter next time.”
Ruby also her own Facebook page, the Ruby Racing Channel, and said she feels very proud of the number of followers she is quickly accumulating.