Lifes a drag but its just what Nikki likes

As if having a surname the same as a brand of tyre isn't enough, Nikki Dunlop is so into cars she's named her child after one.
Ryder Xavier is now 2, his initials are RX if you're a Mazda fan the connection is obvious. And if you're not, RX is the prefix for all their rotary-engined models, which occupy a special place in the boy racer hall of fame.
Nikki, 23, is a girl holding her own in drag-racing circles, and she's a rare breed. Of 120 entrants at Masterton Motorplex Xmas Drag Wars on Saturday, she was one of only about three women.
The Paremata speedster is held in high regard and is at the top of the game. "I'm currently the fastest female in imports in the country," she said, an achievement backed up by Masterton Motorplex event co- ordinator Bob Wilton. "She's at the top of her class."
Dad Alan Dunlop was a star drag racer with a host of national records to his name, but don't bother asking which ones "too many and too many years ago".
And that passion has been passed on to his daughter. Nikki admits she was a wee bit "heavy on the foot" when she first got her licence as a 15-year-old, but after finding that the police weren't appreciative of her efforts on the roads she decided "it was time to start racing".
"She's an aggressive driver, which you've got to be. You've really got to have the winning instinct: that you want to win and you're willing to fight for it."
"Now I just absolutely love it," she said, a bubbly, bright, blonde girl who you'd hardly expect to be able to hold her own on the track. "Because I grew up with my dad it was probably always going to happen."
The interesting thing about the two racing Dunlops is that they both put a lot of emphasis on the team aspect of drag racing.
While there's only one driver out on the track, Alan will still say that "we held the national record for quite a few years", even though he was the one driving the car.
"It's a team effort, having the car ready and straight on the line," Nikki said. "Can I also say I've got the best crew in the world?"
It's not a cheap hobby, either, with Nikki estimating an annual outlay of $20,000 purely for maintenance.
"That's not including the car. That's like clutches and tyres and broken bits."
Any prize money she collects is a token amount "just enough to tow it there" offering little towards the outlay costs, but that's not a deterrent to the rising star.
"You don't really do it for that. You do it for the passion. My reward is getting a new PB I'm in the best mood for about a month."
Next year's debut jamboree at the Gold Coast, in her new RX7 triple rotor turbo, is set firmly in her sights, and while Wilton is enthused about her chances "this is the lady that's going to do it, she's going to go to Australia and beat all the boys" it's set to be a tough challenge for the girl.
And does her dad back his daughter's ability on the track? "Oh yeah," he said in a tone that has a do-you-need-to-ask air about it. "I'm her number one sponsor. I think she'll do all right. She's an aggressive driver, which you've got to be. You've really got to have the winning instinct: that you want to win and you're willing to fight for it."