b'BornAndRaised You Go, Girl!IN PORT PERRY Jen Gray grew up to be an Ice Racing Champion! Port Perry residents may remem-a major accomplishment. She wasJen is very excited to go into her berlittleJenniferGrayofApplepresentedwiththecovetedLexusfourth ice racing season. The event is Valley,whoattendedImmaculateSport Cup and championship jacket atheld on six consecutive weekends in ConceptionCatholicElementarythe annual banquet. Jen captured theJanuary and February at the Minden School,anddancedcompetitivelytop spot driving her distinctive brightFairgroundstrack.Itiswellmain-with the Port Perry Dance Academy.purpleandgreenFirstGenerationtained, she said, plowed and flooded.Others may recall young Jen assistingLexus 15300. Jenispartofaspecial,unique Ginger Jackson by handing out flyersHerdad,SteveGraycameinclass where everyone drives a Lexus. to fundraise for a new animal shel- Second place. It was his first year ofFifteen to 20 drivers take to the track ter. As a teen, she volunteered withice racing and he competed againstat a time.CommunityCareDurham,alonghis daughter. Allofthecarshavethesame with her mom Corrie, by deliveringIts great that my dad and I cansetups, so it is an equal starting plat-hotmeals.Sheevenparticipatedindo this together, she said. form, she explained. the Walks for Mental Health and cre- While her dad taught her to driveTheracetrackisJenshappy ated a video to promote it. and how to control a vehicle when itplace. I was always happy to help thisgoes into a skid on the ice, in recentWhen you are racing, there are a greatcommunity,commentedJen,history, Jen says she has given him alot of emotions, excitement and some whoreceivedaYouthVolunteeroffew tips. nervesonthefirstweekendback, the Year Award in 2013. In 2023, this father and daughtershe commented.Jen is still a winner! duo will compete against each otherThe race cars go slow, doing an Lastyear,Jenwonthe2022SS1again. Each made a promise not to letaverage speed of 100 km, and 7080 (street stud) Ice Racing Championshipthe other win. km on the corners, but we slide most 34FOCUS - FEBRUARY 2023'