Drag race record smashed

Karen Hay, with her children Bree and Troy Matthews, is now the fastest woman drag racer in New Zealand. Photo / Vision Media

New Zealand's fastest woman Karen Hay has just had the best day of her life.

Seven days ago, the business analyst for Westpac thundered into Kiwi drag-racing history.

The Tauranga woman has brought two babies into the world, and loves the teens they have become. But her greatest moment came on Meremere Dragway's strip of black tarmac wedged between State Highway 1 and the Waikato River.

Her quarter-mile at a scorching 6.612 seconds and 206.42mph (332.2km/h) through the finish line made the 39-year-old the fastest woman drag racer in New Zealand.

She has been greeted every day for the past five years by a piece of paper taped to her fridge with 6.61 written on it.

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But her moment of glory still seemed "unreal", Hay said.

It topped the births of son Troy, 15, and daughter, Bree, 13.

"I mean, we'd been trying to do this for five years."

Hay's father, Lindsay, 65, runs his own concreting business in Rotorua and has spent late nights on the twin turbocharged 7.9-litre big-block Chev V8 engined '27 Ford T Roadster-bodied car. He bought it for himself, but stepped away so his daughter could reach her dreams.

Her success was because of, and for, her dad, Hay said. "He works his guts out on that car. it was so emotional [after the race]. As soon as we saw each other, we were just bawling. I wanted to do it for him."

Hay's life as a busy mum, wife and bank worker couldn't be more different from her hobby. And that's just how she likes it.

"I think it's always good to do something that's not the norm. And beating the boys is good fun."

Daughter Bree is a junior dragster, and already has her eye on mum's record, Hay said.

"I think it would be cool. But her grandfather has to live long enough to do the engine."