Speedway funeral planned for teen driver

Samantha Mouat's car during a race last month. Photo / Stuart Whittaker

A funeral service for a teenage speedway driver killed at a meet in Northland yesterday will take place at her home track in Mount Maunganui.

Meanwhile friends and family of Samantha Mouat are still coming to terms with the tragedy.

Samantha, 15, was taking part in the ministocks event at the Kaikohe Speedway's Easter Stampede and Demolition Derby when the accident happened about 4pm.

Today, other ministock drivers attached orange ribbons - Samantha's racing colour - to their cars as a sign of respect.

They paid tribute to the teenager with a lap of honour and laid flowers at Cemetery Bend, the spot where she crashed into a wall.

Samantha was dead when ambulance officers arrived at the scene, St John Ambulance communications team manager Keith Hall said.

Willie Kay, promoter for Baypark Speedway in Mt Maunganui said Samantha "was an absolutely lovely girl. She was very capable, bright and vivacious".

"This was an absolute tragedy of the worst kind. We're all absolutely devastated.

"Everyone that I've spoken to has been in tears and doing their very best under the circumstances," Mr Kay said.

Samantha's family has requested the funeral be held at Baypark, and the stadium has been cleared in preparation.

The date had yet to be decided, as her body had not yet been released from hospital.

Mr Kay said Kaikohe Speedway was not a Speedway New Zealand track.

"Speedway New Zealand has certain specifications we have to meet on special occasions for medical attendants, ambulance assistance and there would be stewards on duty who would have to fill out accident reports, and the car would be impounded.

"But because it was not a Speedway New Zealand track I don't know if we will get access to that information at this stage."

Mr Kay said he didn't know the exact circumstances of what happened.

"The car she was driving met Speedway New Zealand specifications."

The sport would wait for a coroner's report to make any determinations about what should be done or if anything was necessary to be done in light of the death, he said.

"Right now, we're not concerned in the very least with those details.

"All we're concerned about is providing support for the family, and making sure everyone gets through this as best as we possibly can," Mr Kay said.

This was Samantha's first season ministock racing, which was primarily for youth drivers. Ministock cars are built to resemble stock cars, but they are a non-contact class.

It is understood her family were watching the race from the track side when she slammed into a wall yesterday.

Kaikohe Car Club secretary Debbie Beadle said Samantha was the only person in the vehicle and the crash seemed to be caused by driver error.

She told One News that Samantha appeared to round a corner on two wheels before correcting and accelerating straight into a wall.

Members of the Whangarei police serious crash unit attended and the Department of Labour is investigating because Ms Mouat died on a private track.

The Kaikohe Speedway is operated by the Circle Track Racing Association, and the Demolition Derby event was continuing today.

- NZPA, NZHERALD STAFF