WEBVTT
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And my dad comes over the radio.
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He was like, Berlin, like the car's on fire.
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You need to get out.
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Like the car's on fire.
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You you gotta get out.
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So I'm like, okay, so I get my window net down, I get my belts unbuckled, and I'm like just sitting there and I have my hose attached to the top of my helmet right here.
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And I'm trying to like pry at it, get it off, and get it off, get it off, and I can't get it off.
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Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to Airdrie Inside.
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I am your host, Chris Glass, and I am here with the fastest girl in Airdrie, Berlin McKay.
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Welcome to the show.
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Thank you.
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I'm excited to be here.
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I'm excited to have you.
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Thank you for getting all dressed up.
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I I was watching you uh put on all of the clothing that you have to put on to travel safely in your car.
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That's a lot of work.
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It is a lot of work, especially in the heat.
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It's bad.
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It's it gets it gets a lot.
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It gets very, very, very hot.
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Well, I want to get to know you a little bit, and I want to get to know what got you into racing and a little bit about your story.
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So, uh Berlin, tell me a little bit about yourself.
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Um, I basically started racing when I was 11 years old because when we moved out here, dad found a racetrack and he was like, Do you guys want to go?
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And I'm like, sure.
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So then we went and we went down into the pits, and I seen a car.
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They were like 10 feet long, a couple inches off the ground.
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And dad was, I looked at dad and I was like, you know what, dad?
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I want to drive one of these.
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And he was like, Okay.
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So he mixed, he made some deals and figured something out, and I got racing at 11 years old.
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Wow.
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And then now I'm almost 17, and I'm racing a bigger car with a bigger engine, a lot more horsepower.
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That goes a lot faster.
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That is a cool story.
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Now, race racing is in your blood.
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Your father uh was racing cars, correct?
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Yes, he was.
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Tell me a little bit about that, that family history there.
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I don't I don't know that family family history.
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All I know that dad's been doing it for 30 years at most.
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Okay.
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Um when I was just a baby, I was at the racetrack watching racing.
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Um, dad's been working on cars since he was 14 years old, so that's where I get it from.
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I am also in, I was just finished last year, last school year.
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I was just in, I skipped grade 10, 11 and went up to 12, the grade 12 level in mechanics at school.
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And I got 100 in that.
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So I aced that completely.
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So but but for somebody who's been growing around, growing up around pits and uh that since 11, you could have probably taught a mechanics class at this point.
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I actually, the boys in the class, um, I'd look at a bolt and they're trying to figure out what size the bolt is, and I'd look at them and I'd say, you guys, it's a 10 mil.
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And they're like, no, it's not.
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And I'm like, yes, it is, go try it.
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So they try a couple different wrenches and everything, and then I'd go and I'm like, you guys, it's a 10 mil, and they're like, if you say so, so they go grab it, and they're like, How do you know?
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And I'm like, I've been around 10 mils all my life doing this growing up, like with 10 mils bolts and everything.
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I know what it looks like, I know the size is, and they're like, Wow, okay.
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So I usually tell them what the size is, and I can tell dad what the size is too.
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Yeah.
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So I usually help dad a lot with that.
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But dad actually got colored wrenches, like different colored wrenches for me.
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So he'll tell me Berlin go get a blue wrench.
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That's good.
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That's a good technique.
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So let's go back to when you were 11.
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You decided that you wanted to get into racing.
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What was the next step?
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I can't imagine it's just you show up at the racetrack on the Monday and start going.
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There has to be some work into it.
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First time I ever got my race car at 11 years old, I cried.
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Okay.
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I cried, I bawled, and I didn't want to get in the car.
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I was like, Dad, I don't want to get hurt.
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I don't want to, like, I don't want to do this.
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I don't want to get hurt.
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I don't wanna like I'm scared.
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And then I got in it, and I think I was doing 25 second laps, and I came in from the track and I was like, Dad, I'm going so fast.
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And he's like, Yeah, Bruin, you're going so fast.
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I was only doing 20-second laps.
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The fastest that those cars ever go at that track was 15 seconds.
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So I was a little bit off the pace, but I picked it up, and after that year, I was a two-time track champion at Medicine Hat.
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Okay.
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And I have rookie of the year for that class in Medicine Hat.
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And I didn't get it in Edmonton, but I almost did.
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So when I was 11 years old, I was nowhere close to being able to drive a car.
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Uh how did you learn?
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How did you learn how to be able to be uh behind a wheel and and and doing this safely?
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Um, well, I first the first time I got behind the wheel was I was two and a half years old.
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Um dad just I was sat on dad's lap and he just like just go.
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He controlled the pedals.
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I steered the car and he's just just go.
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And I was like, okay.
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And then on my fourth birthday, I got a Power Wheels trag or tractor.
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Yeah.
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And then went from there.
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And then ever since then, I've just known how to drive.
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I've always had a love for driving and all that mechanic stuff.
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When I was changing my motor, I was head to toe covered in grease.
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And then I come in and my mom's like, Berlin, you're not, you gotta go have a shower.
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Right.
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I'm like, okay.
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And then went right back to it the next day.
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Okay, and then so now you're 11, you're rookie of the year in that year, that class.
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What goes into training?
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What goes into getting ready for a race?
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Well, honestly, I have severe anxiety.
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I have ADHD.
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So when I put my helmet on, all of it goes away.
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Really?
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But I am very consistent with my lap times, which is probably my ADHD when I'm getting focused on something and it just comes naturally and I just get locked in.
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I just lock in.
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I'm just like, I gotta do this.
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Um, but every every time I put my helmet on and I get to the racetrack and I'm with my friends, everything goes away.
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It's just like it's just another day.
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Right.
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But usually I don't have any other practice.
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The practice is the day of.
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Um we practice day of, race day of.
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There's no like other practicing.
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But during the week, we have to change gears, change oil, get the machine ready.
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Yeah, usually I do that while dad's at work.
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I drain the oil and I change my gears.
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Um, and then dad helps me put the oil back in and then does the gear oil for me because I won't touch the gear oil because it stinks.
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Yeah.
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So I'll change the gears, but I won't put the gear oil back in.
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So, what type of car are you driving now?
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I'm driving a Baby Grand, which has a FJ 1250 Yamaha motorcycle motor in it.
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Um, it is different from my first car because the first one was automatic.
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This one's standard.
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Okay.
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So I gotta use my clutch and I gotta use my gears.
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And I can tell you right now, my clutch is not my best friend.
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Not my best friend yet.
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My wife would tell you that uh I can't drive a standard very well either.
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So uh I at least can relate to uh a race car hero.
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I'm getting there.
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I'm getting there, I'm getting there.
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It's getting coming slowly, but I'm getting there.
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Um it's not the easiest thing, but everyone keeps telling me you're like, they're like, Berlin, you just gotta ease on to the clutch, ease out of it, and give it gas.
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I'm like, okay, so I try it and it doesn't work, and I'm like, well, okay.
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So I figured out other things that work for me to get it going, but other than that, it's it's coming slowly but surely.
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That's great.
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Okay, so and uh what level are you competing at now?
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What what division, what league uh is the governing body?
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Um there's not really like a league.
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It's just like I'm racing against adults.
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Okay, I'm racing against kids that I've been racing with since I started racing.
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Um they went up a class last year while I was still in the little car, and then I followed them in their footsteps and I went up, and I was like said to my dad, I was like, you know what?
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If they can do it, I can do it.
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Right.
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And they're boys, so I'm racing against all boys.
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You're racing against all boys.
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Yeah, I'm the only girl.
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So when you take your helmet off, is there a little bit of shock that they've just been schooled by a girl?
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Well, like that's like the thing is like my car, like people like the name Berlin is not like a girl or boy name.
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It's not very common.
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Yeah, it can be used either or.
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So usually when like I get out of the car, if I get a podium finish and I take my helmet off, and I everyone sees my braids and everything, they're like, Whoa, that's that's a girl.
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I didn't know that.
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So usually when I have my helmet on, I look just like you see the purple helmet, you see the purple suit, you see the purple car.
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You're like, it could be a girl, it could be a boy.
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But usually when I take my helmet off, I'm like, and everyone just goes crazy because they're like, Whoa, it's a girl.
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I'm like, yeah, I'm a girl.
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What's it like uh being a girl in a predominantly male sport?
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What's that experience like?
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It's difficult.
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Yeah I the boys pick on me all the time.
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Every single time they get a chance to pick on me, they pick on me.
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But I pick on them right back.
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I've learned to like joke around with them.
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Um, they've become like my brothers, like family.
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They're just really, really good friends.
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Um in all honesty, it does get annoying with them sometimes.
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Yeah, sometimes I just tell them to go away, right?
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And they don't go away.
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But then I run away from them and then I hide and they find me eventually.
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But other than that, it's like having a whole other family at the racetrack.
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Yeah.
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There is a camaraderie there, isn't there?
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Yeah, there's a lot of competition on the track, but when as like as soon as we get out of our cars and everything's just back to normal and we're all friends again, and we're just I we all talk on Snapchat, like we're all like friends, and they always text me, like, are you coming this weekend?
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I'm like, Yeah, I'm coming this weekend.
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But this weekend, upcoming, like not this upcoming weekend, but next weekend, I won't be there because I don't have an engine, so I can't race, but it's okay because we're gonna get one.
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Yeah, I heard there was one on its way.
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Yeah, we're working on it.
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Dad needs to go get one.
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But we're working on it.
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We just actually we just changed the engine out because we had to get a new one because I blew up my engine in practice, so we have to go get it.
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We had to get a new one, and we changed it out, and then found out it doesn't have any compression, so that was a bummer.
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So I got a phone call and I was like, Dad was like, yeah, you might not be racing the rest of the season.
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I was like, lovely.
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Right.
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I was very bummed about that.
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So how much does it cost?
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Like, how much money goes into a car like the one you're driving?
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I think dad said that the budget this season would have would should be 30 grand.
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30 grand, wow.
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Yeah, because tires are expensive.
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Plus a new motor.
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I think the new motor we dropped three grand on the new motor.
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Yeah.
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And it's very expensive.
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Well, I notice uh on your your suit you have all of your sponsors.
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Uh talk to me how important about the sponsors are for you.
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Sponsors are very important.
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They help getting us to and from the track, they get it help us on the track, they help us around the track, they help us with all the parts we need, and they help us just in general.
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It's just by supporting there, just to be there supporting and considering the fact that I'm a male and a dom male-dominated or I'm a female in a male-dominated sport, they are very intrigued by that.
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Yeah.
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Because of how far I've come and just seeing how much better I get every year.
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Now, uh have you had sponsors with you since the beginning, or who's been with you since the beginning?
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Um, they're not sponsoring me this year, but I've had one since the beginning, and it was Prop Masters and Airdry.
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Um they were a big part of my racing.
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And Resurrected and up in Crossfield, and Rusted Nuts Mechanical.
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They've been a big sponsor since when I first started.
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Um and Fix Network.
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Yeah.
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They're a big sponsor, a very big sponsor.
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And I couldn't be great more grateful for everything my sponsors have given me.
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It's fun to know that there's people that support what I'm doing, yeah, and like enjoy to see what I'm doing.
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So we were having a conversation before we went on camera about a situation with the hose in your helmet.
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Uh, I I would like to know, is there a time where you've ever been scared on the track or or an incident happened where you thought this is as dangerous as it might look to somebody outside?
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Yeah, actually, not that long ago.
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I want to say a few races ago, I was in the car in practice.
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Everything was normal.
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I was ready to go for another race day, just everything like that.
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And all of a sudden, I blew up in turn one.
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My dad had me stopped in turn two, and my dad comes over the radio.
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He was like, Berlin, like the car's on fire.
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Car's on fire.
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Yeah, he's like, You need to get out.
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Like the car's on fire, you gotta get out.
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So I'm like, okay, so I get my window net down, I get my belts unbuckled, and I'm sitting there and I'm like, Dad, and I'm like just sitting there, and I have my hose attached to the top of my helmet right here, and I'm trying to like pry at it, get it off, and get it off, get it off, and I can't get it off, so the track's still hot, which means cars are still going, they haven't called the yellow flag the caution yet.
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And so dad sees that I'm struggling, so I start like waving my arms, and dad sees I'm struggling to get out, and he comes running over, which he's not supposed to do.
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Right.
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So he comes running over and he's like, Oh, you can't get your hose off.
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I'm like, No, I can't get my hose off.
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I dig I can't get out.
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So he comes and he reaches in and grabs my hose and takes it off, and I get out and he grabs me from under my arms and pulls me out of the car.
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And I didn't take my anxiety meds that day, so I was a little a little um just like shaked up and I was scared.
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And then the race after that, I was scared to get back in the car.
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See, and that's what I wanted to ask you next is what was the next race like?
00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:47.759
How did you get over that?
00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:51.759
It was uh it was an emotional day, it was an emotional roller coaster.
00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:53.039
I was crying.
00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:55.840
I got in and practiced and I had no brakes.
00:15:56.080 --> 00:16:00.879
So when we were putting the new engine in, I like clamped a brake line.
00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:03.840
So it like I had no front brakes at all.
00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:09.279
So it was kind of scary to go out and practice going that fast and have no brakes to stop me.
00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:13.279
Um, so I come in, I'm like, Dad, I have no brakes, I'm coming in.
00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:17.840
So then I didn't go out for my qualifying, I didn't go out for my heat races.
00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:24.720
I finally, I was actually, I was gonna go out for my second heat race, and then I sat there and just sitting there like just brings a bunch of emotions.
00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:26.960
So I'm like, Of course, I just start breaking down in the car.
00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:28.480
I'm like, Dad, I can't do it.
00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:32.320
And then I go out for the feature, which is a big race.
00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:37.200
I go out for the feature, and I only go out for about nine laps, and dad's like, How like how are you doing?
00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:38.960
I'm like, I think I'm gonna come in.
00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:40.879
He's like, Of course you're gonna come in.
00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:50.320
And then he was mad because I didn't go out all day, so he was mad about it, but then I was like, Dad, the car doesn't sound right.
00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:53.440
So I come in and he's like, Okay, turn over, they start the car.
00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:54.159
I was like, Okay.
00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:56.080
So then he's he hears the car.
00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:57.919
I looked at him, I'm like, Dad, something doesn't sound right.
00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:00.399
He's like, Yeah, you're right, something's not sounding right.
00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:05.920
So then my dad took it to the guy that owns the series, and he's like, Yeah, there's no compression in the motor.
00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:08.079
And um, dad was like, lovely.
00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:14.319
So now we're not racing this up next weekend because we have no engine to race with.
00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:18.400
But my biggest thing was I'm scared it's gonna blow up again.
00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:18.799
Yeah.
00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:21.440
My biggest thing was I'm scared it's gonna blow up again.
00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:23.599
I don't want it to blow up again.
00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:26.000
I'm scared it's gonna blow up.
00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:37.519
Because all I could smell was the residue from like all the oil on everyone's hands that were touching the motor when changing it, and which was burning and smoking, and all I smelt was fire.
00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:38.480
Right.
00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:42.799
So what motivates you to go back then?
00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:45.680
Like I I love the competitiveness, getting over.
00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.279
My love for racing.
00:17:47.680 --> 00:18:03.599
It's I have the day before the race, when we first changed the motor, the day before, I was having a big panic attack because I was like, Am I gonna be able to go racing?
00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:05.200
Um, like, am I gonna be able to get there?
00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:06.480
Am I gonna be able to race the car?
00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:08.480
Like, is everything gonna be okay?
00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:17.519
So I was having a panic attack because I wanted to race and all that stuff, and dad finally called me and told me, go load up the trailer, we're going racing tomorrow.
00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:20.960
I was like, okay, and then all of it just went out the window and I was fine.
00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:26.640
I love the resiliency there, the the ability to overcome that.
00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:30.720
Uh, I know a lot of people struggle with anxiety and ADHD.
00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:37.599
Uh, you seem to have been able to channel it uh and channel what you're going through in a productive fashion.
00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:40.640
What advice do you have to people who are going through that?
00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:46.000
I honestly I've learned how to control it in different situations.
00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:51.920
Like there'll be times where I like get very, very emotional when I'm anxious.
00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:59.920
Um there's not very many times that I get too, too emotional, but usually at the racetracks when I do get very emotional.
00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:00.400
Yeah.
00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:15.440
Um, but my ADHD, it only really hits me when like I'm just sitting, sitting there, doing nothing, or just like sitting there and someone starts talking and I hear something, like a background noise or anything.
00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:15.759
Yeah.
00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:20.240
Like right now, I hear all the background noises and I'm like tempted to like look over and everything.
00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:24.799
Um, but my anxiety, I did have anxiety coming here today.
00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:29.279
Um, mainly because I have really bad social anxiety.
00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:37.039
Like my social anxiety has gotten worse over the years, and I've learned how to just like control it in different ways.
00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:48.799
But my biggest thing is just like your anxiety is gonna tell you all the wrong, all the negative things that can happen and all like the wrong sits like scenarios that can happen, yeah.
00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:58.240
Everything that can go wrong, and I just like kind of brush it aside, I'm like, no, that's not like, yeah, it can happen, but it usually doesn't happen.
00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:00.400
That's really cool.
00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:06.079
You know, uh, when you talk about having anxiety coming here, you wouldn't know it from my point of view.
00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:11.200
You've been extremely articulate and uh extremely fun to interview.
00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:13.039
Uh, what's next for you?
00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:14.559
What's the next step for you?
00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:18.319
The next step is a bigger car.
00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:19.440
A bigger car, okay.
00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:25.839
Well, first graduate high school, but a bigger car, get this season over with.
00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:37.680
Um just like get everything done, get my social media TikTok account more known and all that stuff.
00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:39.920
I do have a TikTok account.
00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:42.720
Um, my dad has one, I have one.
00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:45.680
My dad, my parents have a Facebook page.
00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:50.000
So if somebody wanted to go to your uh Facebook or Instagram, where would they go?
00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:54.559
They would go on my account is bmr.
00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:58.640
Um 6767.
00:20:59.119 --> 00:20:59.440
Okay.
00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:09.200
Um, I did make it the wrong numbers, but but that's usually if you just rate search up BMR racing, bmr.racing, it comes up.
00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:09.680
Okay.
00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:16.319
Um, I do have a vlog of me at Medicine Hat during the day and what it's like racing there.
00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:21.039
Um I do have a couple other edits of my car.
00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.440
Okay.
00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:23.759
Um, one of like a big thing.
00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:24.559
Oh yeah.
00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:26.000
Florida's my next step.
00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:28.000
We're going to Florida in February.
00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:31.839
Okay, that's a great time to go to Florida because it usually gets so cold here.
00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:34.079
But we're not going to Florida for vacation.
00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:35.119
You're going to race.
00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:35.839
We're going to race.
00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.960
Okay, what's in Florida?
00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:39.440
Uh, we're going to race for two weeks straight.
00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:44.000
In Florida, we're I'm going to race a legend car.
00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.880
Oh, wow.
00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:48.480
Um, which is basically the same as the car I have now, just different.
00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:51.599
A little bit different, different size, smaller.
00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:55.359
But um basically, it's just like the same thing.
00:21:55.599 --> 00:22:05.279
Going to race for 14 nights straight, and it's gonna give me a national title of a Canadian in what is it the title of?
00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.319
Title.
00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:07.279
National Girl.
00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:10.400
It's like a national title, so it's like gives me a title.
00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:11.440
That's really cool.
00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:15.039
So you're gonna be one of the only Canadian girls to have that title.
00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:15.440
Yeah.
00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:16.079
That's really cool.
00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:25.759
Currently at the moment, I have a title of the last Canadian female to drive on Rockford, Illinois.
00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:26.480
Yes.
00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:32.480
Um, because they closed down that track, so they I'm the last Canadian female to drive on the Middle East.
00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.759
Which ever in the record books.
00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:35.359
That's really exciting.
00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:37.359
As a last female there.
00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:42.319
Um, but I tell you, racing in the Midwest is so much funner than racing here.
00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:44.000
Yeah, it's so much bigger of a deal.
00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.440
It's so much fun.
00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:50.319
Especially the I think the oldest guy I've ever raced in with the little cars was 65 years old.
00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.359
Or 62.
00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:54.079
He was 62 and you was six foot five.
00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:56.000
So the exact opposite of you.
00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:58.960
He was like 5'2, yeah.
00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:01.119
And at the time, probably 16, 15.
00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.240
I was 13.
00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:02.720
13.
00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.160
Racing down in the Midwest.
00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:06.480
Yeah.
00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:11.680
I have a question before we go that I'm dying to ask, and it's the first thing that popped into my head.
00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:13.839
You've been driving since you were 11.
00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:16.400
Uh do you have a driver's license right now?
00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:17.440
I have my learners.
00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.880
You have your learners.
00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:21.039
I don't have my driver's license yet.
00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:24.559
I was just gonna ask if you got your driver's license on the first try.
00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:31.920
I have not gone and got my driver's license yet, but I it actually, believe it or not, it took me four tries to get my learners.
00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:34.160
It took me four tries to get my learners.
00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:37.839
Even though you're probably the best driver out of the two of us right here.
00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:42.160
Well, I mean, I think my dad will beg to differ on that one.
00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:48.000
I actually drove up to Innisfale, and I think that he will never let me drive his truck again.
00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:50.960
Was it because you were going too fast or always turning right?
00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:52.720
Oh, okay.
00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:54.160
And it was a semi-truck.
00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.559
Yeah.
00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:57.759
Don't think dad will ever let me drive his truck again on the highway.
00:23:58.079 --> 00:24:03.839
Berlin, uh I'm gonna be following your progress here, and I can't wait to see what's next for you.
00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:06.480
Uh, thank you so much for coming on the show today.
00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:13.920
Uh do you have any last words for any girls that are looking at you right now, going, hey, I want to get into this, and I look up to Berlin.
00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:15.759
Do you have any advice for them?
00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:16.720
Go for it.
00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:17.119
Yeah.
00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:19.759
So all I can really say is just go for it.
00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:22.480
Don't let anyone stop what you want to do.
00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:27.279
Don't let anyone like tell you what you can and can't do.
00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.640
I love that, Berlin.
00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:30.400
Thank you so much for coming on the show today.
00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:31.119
You're welcome.
00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:33.839
And thank you for being here on Airdrie Inside.
00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:36.799
We're gonna be back with more great episodes coming up shortly.
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.679
And my dad comes over the radio.
00:00:01.760 --> 00:00:03.359
He was like, Berlin, like the car's on fire.
00:00:03.680 --> 00:00:04.160
You need to get out.
00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:05.120
Like the car's on fire.
00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:05.919
You you gotta get out.
00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:13.439
So I'm like, okay, so I get my window net down, I get my belts unbuckled, and I'm like just sitting there and I have my hose attached to the top of my helmet right here.
00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:18.480
And I'm trying to like pry at it, get it off, and get it off, get it off, and I can't get it off.
00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:27.120
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to Airdrie Inside.
00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:33.840
I am your host, Chris Glass, and I am here with the fastest girl in Airdrie, Berlin McKay.
00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:35.119
Welcome to the show.
00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:36.079
Thank you.
00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:37.439
I'm excited to be here.
00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:38.880
I'm excited to have you.
00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:40.960
Thank you for getting all dressed up.
00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:47.600
I I was watching you uh put on all of the clothing that you have to put on to travel safely in your car.
00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:49.119
That's a lot of work.
00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:51.759
It is a lot of work, especially in the heat.
00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:52.560
It's bad.
00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:54.560
It's it gets it gets a lot.
00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:57.200
It gets very, very, very hot.
00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:04.959
Well, I want to get to know you a little bit, and I want to get to know what got you into racing and a little bit about your story.
00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:07.599
So, uh Berlin, tell me a little bit about yourself.
00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:19.439
Um, I basically started racing when I was 11 years old because when we moved out here, dad found a racetrack and he was like, Do you guys want to go?
00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:20.560
And I'm like, sure.
00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:25.599
So then we went and we went down into the pits, and I seen a car.
00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:30.000
They were like 10 feet long, a couple inches off the ground.
00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:33.760
And dad was, I looked at dad and I was like, you know what, dad?
00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:35.040
I want to drive one of these.
00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:36.879
And he was like, Okay.
00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:44.879
So he mixed, he made some deals and figured something out, and I got racing at 11 years old.
00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:45.760
Wow.
00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:57.519
And then now I'm almost 17, and I'm racing a bigger car with a bigger engine, a lot more horsepower.
00:01:57.599 --> 00:01:59.200
That goes a lot faster.
00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:01.040
That is a cool story.
00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:03.120
Now, race racing is in your blood.
00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:06.239
Your father uh was racing cars, correct?
00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:07.200
Yes, he was.
00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:09.919
Tell me a little bit about that, that family history there.
00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:13.039
I don't I don't know that family family history.
00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:17.039
All I know that dad's been doing it for 30 years at most.
00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:17.520
Okay.
00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:23.759
Um when I was just a baby, I was at the racetrack watching racing.
00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:31.360
Um, dad's been working on cars since he was 14 years old, so that's where I get it from.
00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:36.319
I am also in, I was just finished last year, last school year.
00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:43.680
I was just in, I skipped grade 10, 11 and went up to 12, the grade 12 level in mechanics at school.
00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:45.919
And I got 100 in that.
00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:48.879
So I aced that completely.
00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:58.240
So but but for somebody who's been growing around, growing up around pits and uh that since 11, you could have probably taught a mechanics class at this point.
00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:07.039
I actually, the boys in the class, um, I'd look at a bolt and they're trying to figure out what size the bolt is, and I'd look at them and I'd say, you guys, it's a 10 mil.
00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:08.319
And they're like, no, it's not.
00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:10.159
And I'm like, yes, it is, go try it.
00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:19.520
So they try a couple different wrenches and everything, and then I'd go and I'm like, you guys, it's a 10 mil, and they're like, if you say so, so they go grab it, and they're like, How do you know?
00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:27.599
And I'm like, I've been around 10 mils all my life doing this growing up, like with 10 mils bolts and everything.
00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:32.400
I know what it looks like, I know the size is, and they're like, Wow, okay.
00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:36.879
So I usually tell them what the size is, and I can tell dad what the size is too.
00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:37.520
Yeah.
00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:39.919
So I usually help dad a lot with that.
00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:44.879
But dad actually got colored wrenches, like different colored wrenches for me.
00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:47.280
So he'll tell me Berlin go get a blue wrench.
00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:48.000
That's good.
00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:49.199
That's a good technique.
00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:51.520
So let's go back to when you were 11.
00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:54.560
You decided that you wanted to get into racing.
00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:56.800
What was the next step?
00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:01.759
I can't imagine it's just you show up at the racetrack on the Monday and start going.
00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:03.599
There has to be some work into it.
00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:07.120
First time I ever got my race car at 11 years old, I cried.
00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:07.599
Okay.
00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:10.000
I cried, I bawled, and I didn't want to get in the car.
00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:12.000
I was like, Dad, I don't want to get hurt.
00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:14.000
I don't want to, like, I don't want to do this.
00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:14.879
I don't want to get hurt.
00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:16.879
I don't wanna like I'm scared.
00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:24.560
And then I got in it, and I think I was doing 25 second laps, and I came in from the track and I was like, Dad, I'm going so fast.
00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:27.279
And he's like, Yeah, Bruin, you're going so fast.
00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:29.279
I was only doing 20-second laps.
00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:33.519
The fastest that those cars ever go at that track was 15 seconds.
00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:42.959
So I was a little bit off the pace, but I picked it up, and after that year, I was a two-time track champion at Medicine Hat.
00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:43.600
Okay.
00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:48.240
And I have rookie of the year for that class in Medicine Hat.
00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:52.879
And I didn't get it in Edmonton, but I almost did.
00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:59.279
So when I was 11 years old, I was nowhere close to being able to drive a car.
00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:00.959
Uh how did you learn?
00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:08.879
How did you learn how to be able to be uh behind a wheel and and and doing this safely?
00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:14.319
Um, well, I first the first time I got behind the wheel was I was two and a half years old.
00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:20.560
Um dad just I was sat on dad's lap and he just like just go.
00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:21.680
He controlled the pedals.
00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:24.720
I steered the car and he's just just go.
00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:26.079
And I was like, okay.
00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:32.639
And then on my fourth birthday, I got a Power Wheels trag or tractor.
00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:33.199
Yeah.
00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:36.000
And then went from there.
00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:41.279
And then ever since then, I've just known how to drive.
00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:45.920
I've always had a love for driving and all that mechanic stuff.
00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:54.879
When I was changing my motor, I was head to toe covered in grease.
00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:59.439
And then I come in and my mom's like, Berlin, you're not, you gotta go have a shower.
00:05:59.600 --> 00:05:59.839
Right.
00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:01.759
I'm like, okay.
00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:04.800
And then went right back to it the next day.
00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:14.000
Okay, and then so now you're 11, you're rookie of the year in that year, that class.
00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:16.319
What goes into training?
00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:18.560
What goes into getting ready for a race?
00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:23.600
Well, honestly, I have severe anxiety.
00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:25.759
I have ADHD.
00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:30.560
So when I put my helmet on, all of it goes away.
00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:31.360
Really?
00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:42.959
But I am very consistent with my lap times, which is probably my ADHD when I'm getting focused on something and it just comes naturally and I just get locked in.
00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:44.079
I just lock in.
00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:45.920
I'm just like, I gotta do this.
00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:52.480
Um, but every every time I put my helmet on and I get to the racetrack and I'm with my friends, everything goes away.
00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:54.720
It's just like it's just another day.
00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:55.680
Right.
00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:59.600
But usually I don't have any other practice.
00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:01.680
The practice is the day of.
00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:06.000
Um we practice day of, race day of.
00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:07.920
There's no like other practicing.
00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:13.360
But during the week, we have to change gears, change oil, get the machine ready.
00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:15.519
Yeah, usually I do that while dad's at work.
00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:18.000
I drain the oil and I change my gears.
00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:24.800
Um, and then dad helps me put the oil back in and then does the gear oil for me because I won't touch the gear oil because it stinks.
00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:25.439
Yeah.
00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:29.439
So I'll change the gears, but I won't put the gear oil back in.
00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:32.720
So, what type of car are you driving now?
00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:38.959
I'm driving a Baby Grand, which has a FJ 1250 Yamaha motorcycle motor in it.
00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:42.959
Um, it is different from my first car because the first one was automatic.
00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:44.000
This one's standard.
00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:44.399
Okay.
00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:47.279
So I gotta use my clutch and I gotta use my gears.
00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:50.800
And I can tell you right now, my clutch is not my best friend.
00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:52.800
Not my best friend yet.
00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:56.800
My wife would tell you that uh I can't drive a standard very well either.
00:07:56.959 --> 00:08:01.439
So uh I at least can relate to uh a race car hero.
00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:02.480
I'm getting there.
00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:04.079
I'm getting there, I'm getting there.
00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:07.199
It's getting coming slowly, but I'm getting there.
00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:16.639
Um it's not the easiest thing, but everyone keeps telling me you're like, they're like, Berlin, you just gotta ease on to the clutch, ease out of it, and give it gas.
00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:21.360
I'm like, okay, so I try it and it doesn't work, and I'm like, well, okay.
00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:30.480
So I figured out other things that work for me to get it going, but other than that, it's it's coming slowly but surely.
00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:31.759
That's great.
00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:35.679
Okay, so and uh what level are you competing at now?
00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:40.240
What what division, what league uh is the governing body?
00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:44.720
Um there's not really like a league.
00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:49.120
It's just like I'm racing against adults.
00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:54.080
Okay, I'm racing against kids that I've been racing with since I started racing.
00:08:54.480 --> 00:09:05.759
Um they went up a class last year while I was still in the little car, and then I followed them in their footsteps and I went up, and I was like said to my dad, I was like, you know what?
00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:07.039
If they can do it, I can do it.
00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:07.440
Right.
00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:09.519
And they're boys, so I'm racing against all boys.
00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:11.279
You're racing against all boys.
00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:12.399
Yeah, I'm the only girl.
00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:17.519
So when you take your helmet off, is there a little bit of shock that they've just been schooled by a girl?
00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:26.159
Well, like that's like the thing is like my car, like people like the name Berlin is not like a girl or boy name.
00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:27.279
It's not very common.
00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:29.120
Yeah, it can be used either or.
00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:38.879
So usually when like I get out of the car, if I get a podium finish and I take my helmet off, and I everyone sees my braids and everything, they're like, Whoa, that's that's a girl.
00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:40.320
I didn't know that.
00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:47.360
So usually when I have my helmet on, I look just like you see the purple helmet, you see the purple suit, you see the purple car.
00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:50.000
You're like, it could be a girl, it could be a boy.
00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:56.080
But usually when I take my helmet off, I'm like, and everyone just goes crazy because they're like, Whoa, it's a girl.
00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:58.399
I'm like, yeah, I'm a girl.
00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:03.679
What's it like uh being a girl in a predominantly male sport?
00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:05.440
What's that experience like?
00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:06.480
It's difficult.
00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:08.960
Yeah I the boys pick on me all the time.
00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:12.399
Every single time they get a chance to pick on me, they pick on me.
00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:14.240
But I pick on them right back.
00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:18.000
I've learned to like joke around with them.
00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:21.279
Um, they've become like my brothers, like family.
00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:23.919
They're just really, really good friends.
00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:29.919
Um in all honesty, it does get annoying with them sometimes.
00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:33.279
Yeah, sometimes I just tell them to go away, right?
00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:34.879
And they don't go away.
00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:40.960
But then I run away from them and then I hide and they find me eventually.
00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:45.519
But other than that, it's like having a whole other family at the racetrack.
00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:46.399
Yeah.
00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:48.960
There is a camaraderie there, isn't there?
00:10:49.200 --> 00:11:05.759
Yeah, there's a lot of competition on the track, but when as like as soon as we get out of our cars and everything's just back to normal and we're all friends again, and we're just I we all talk on Snapchat, like we're all like friends, and they always text me, like, are you coming this weekend?
00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:08.000
I'm like, Yeah, I'm coming this weekend.
00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:21.039
But this weekend, upcoming, like not this upcoming weekend, but next weekend, I won't be there because I don't have an engine, so I can't race, but it's okay because we're gonna get one.
00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:23.279
Yeah, I heard there was one on its way.
00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:25.440
Yeah, we're working on it.
00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:27.759
Dad needs to go get one.
00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:29.600
But we're working on it.
00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:37.519
We just actually we just changed the engine out because we had to get a new one because I blew up my engine in practice, so we have to go get it.
00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:43.279
We had to get a new one, and we changed it out, and then found out it doesn't have any compression, so that was a bummer.
00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:49.279
So I got a phone call and I was like, Dad was like, yeah, you might not be racing the rest of the season.
00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:50.639
I was like, lovely.
00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:51.759
Right.
00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:54.320
I was very bummed about that.
00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:56.960
So how much does it cost?
00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:00.320
Like, how much money goes into a car like the one you're driving?
00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:07.279
I think dad said that the budget this season would have would should be 30 grand.
00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:08.720
30 grand, wow.
00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:11.679
Yeah, because tires are expensive.
00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:13.360
Plus a new motor.
00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:16.480
I think the new motor we dropped three grand on the new motor.
00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:17.039
Yeah.
00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:19.279
And it's very expensive.
00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:25.679
Well, I notice uh on your your suit you have all of your sponsors.
00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:29.039
Uh talk to me how important about the sponsors are for you.
00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:30.559
Sponsors are very important.
00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:42.720
They help getting us to and from the track, they get it help us on the track, they help us around the track, they help us with all the parts we need, and they help us just in general.
00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:56.320
It's just by supporting there, just to be there supporting and considering the fact that I'm a male and a dom male-dominated or I'm a female in a male-dominated sport, they are very intrigued by that.
00:12:56.559 --> 00:12:56.879
Yeah.
00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:05.440
Because of how far I've come and just seeing how much better I get every year.
00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:11.759
Now, uh have you had sponsors with you since the beginning, or who's been with you since the beginning?
00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:19.440
Um, they're not sponsoring me this year, but I've had one since the beginning, and it was Prop Masters and Airdry.
00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:24.559
Um they were a big part of my racing.
00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:31.519
And Resurrected and up in Crossfield, and Rusted Nuts Mechanical.
00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:35.600
They've been a big sponsor since when I first started.
00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:39.759
Um and Fix Network.
00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:40.320
Yeah.
00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:43.200
They're a big sponsor, a very big sponsor.
00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:47.840
And I couldn't be great more grateful for everything my sponsors have given me.
00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:59.039
It's fun to know that there's people that support what I'm doing, yeah, and like enjoy to see what I'm doing.
00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:06.000
So we were having a conversation before we went on camera about a situation with the hose in your helmet.
00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:17.360
Uh, I I would like to know, is there a time where you've ever been scared on the track or or an incident happened where you thought this is as dangerous as it might look to somebody outside?
00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:20.000
Yeah, actually, not that long ago.
00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:24.879
I want to say a few races ago, I was in the car in practice.
00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:26.159
Everything was normal.
00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:28.960
I was ready to go for another race day, just everything like that.
00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:32.320
And all of a sudden, I blew up in turn one.
00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:36.399
My dad had me stopped in turn two, and my dad comes over the radio.
00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:37.919
He was like, Berlin, like the car's on fire.
00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:39.120
Car's on fire.
00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:40.480
Yeah, he's like, You need to get out.
00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:42.240
Like the car's on fire, you gotta get out.
00:14:42.320 --> 00:15:03.840
So I'm like, okay, so I get my window net down, I get my belts unbuckled, and I'm sitting there and I'm like, Dad, and I'm like just sitting there, and I have my hose attached to the top of my helmet right here, and I'm trying to like pry at it, get it off, and get it off, get it off, and I can't get it off, so the track's still hot, which means cars are still going, they haven't called the yellow flag the caution yet.
00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:13.919
And so dad sees that I'm struggling, so I start like waving my arms, and dad sees I'm struggling to get out, and he comes running over, which he's not supposed to do.
00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:14.399
Right.
00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:17.919
So he comes running over and he's like, Oh, you can't get your hose off.
00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:19.440
I'm like, No, I can't get my hose off.
00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:20.799
I dig I can't get out.
00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:28.559
So he comes and he reaches in and grabs my hose and takes it off, and I get out and he grabs me from under my arms and pulls me out of the car.
00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:37.679
And I didn't take my anxiety meds that day, so I was a little a little um just like shaked up and I was scared.
00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:42.639
And then the race after that, I was scared to get back in the car.
00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:46.480
See, and that's what I wanted to ask you next is what was the next race like?
00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:47.759
How did you get over that?
00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:51.759
It was uh it was an emotional day, it was an emotional roller coaster.
00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:53.039
I was crying.
00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:55.840
I got in and practiced and I had no brakes.
00:15:56.080 --> 00:16:00.879
So when we were putting the new engine in, I like clamped a brake line.
00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:03.840
So it like I had no front brakes at all.
00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:09.279
So it was kind of scary to go out and practice going that fast and have no brakes to stop me.
00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:13.279
Um, so I come in, I'm like, Dad, I have no brakes, I'm coming in.
00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:17.840
So then I didn't go out for my qualifying, I didn't go out for my heat races.
00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:24.720
I finally, I was actually, I was gonna go out for my second heat race, and then I sat there and just sitting there like just brings a bunch of emotions.
00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:26.960
So I'm like, Of course, I just start breaking down in the car.
00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:28.480
I'm like, Dad, I can't do it.
00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:32.320
And then I go out for the feature, which is a big race.
00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:37.200
I go out for the feature, and I only go out for about nine laps, and dad's like, How like how are you doing?
00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:38.960
I'm like, I think I'm gonna come in.
00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:40.879
He's like, Of course you're gonna come in.
00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:50.320
And then he was mad because I didn't go out all day, so he was mad about it, but then I was like, Dad, the car doesn't sound right.
00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:53.440
So I come in and he's like, Okay, turn over, they start the car.
00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:54.159
I was like, Okay.
00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:56.080
So then he's he hears the car.
00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:57.919
I looked at him, I'm like, Dad, something doesn't sound right.
00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:00.399
He's like, Yeah, you're right, something's not sounding right.
00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:05.920
So then my dad took it to the guy that owns the series, and he's like, Yeah, there's no compression in the motor.
00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:08.079
And um, dad was like, lovely.
00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:14.319
So now we're not racing this up next weekend because we have no engine to race with.
00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:18.400
But my biggest thing was I'm scared it's gonna blow up again.
00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:18.799
Yeah.
00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:21.440
My biggest thing was I'm scared it's gonna blow up again.
00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:23.599
I don't want it to blow up again.
00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:26.000
I'm scared it's gonna blow up.
00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:37.519
Because all I could smell was the residue from like all the oil on everyone's hands that were touching the motor when changing it, and which was burning and smoking, and all I smelt was fire.
00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:38.480
Right.
00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:42.799
So what motivates you to go back then?
00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:45.680
Like I I love the competitiveness, getting over.
00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.279
My love for racing.
00:17:47.680 --> 00:18:03.599
It's I have the day before the race, when we first changed the motor, the day before, I was having a big panic attack because I was like, Am I gonna be able to go racing?
00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:05.200
Um, like, am I gonna be able to get there?
00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:06.480
Am I gonna be able to race the car?
00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:08.480
Like, is everything gonna be okay?
00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:17.519
So I was having a panic attack because I wanted to race and all that stuff, and dad finally called me and told me, go load up the trailer, we're going racing tomorrow.
00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:20.960
I was like, okay, and then all of it just went out the window and I was fine.
00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:26.640
I love the resiliency there, the the ability to overcome that.
00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:30.720
Uh, I know a lot of people struggle with anxiety and ADHD.
00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:37.599
Uh, you seem to have been able to channel it uh and channel what you're going through in a productive fashion.
00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:40.640
What advice do you have to people who are going through that?
00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:46.000
I honestly I've learned how to control it in different situations.
00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:51.920
Like there'll be times where I like get very, very emotional when I'm anxious.
00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:59.920
Um there's not very many times that I get too, too emotional, but usually at the racetracks when I do get very emotional.
00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:00.400
Yeah.
00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:15.440
Um, but my ADHD, it only really hits me when like I'm just sitting, sitting there, doing nothing, or just like sitting there and someone starts talking and I hear something, like a background noise or anything.
00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:15.759
Yeah.
00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:20.240
Like right now, I hear all the background noises and I'm like tempted to like look over and everything.
00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:24.799
Um, but my anxiety, I did have anxiety coming here today.
00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:29.279
Um, mainly because I have really bad social anxiety.
00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:37.039
Like my social anxiety has gotten worse over the years, and I've learned how to just like control it in different ways.
00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:48.799
But my biggest thing is just like your anxiety is gonna tell you all the wrong, all the negative things that can happen and all like the wrong sits like scenarios that can happen, yeah.
00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:58.240
Everything that can go wrong, and I just like kind of brush it aside, I'm like, no, that's not like, yeah, it can happen, but it usually doesn't happen.
00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:00.400
That's really cool.
00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:06.079
You know, uh, when you talk about having anxiety coming here, you wouldn't know it from my point of view.
00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:11.200
You've been extremely articulate and uh extremely fun to interview.
00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:13.039
Uh, what's next for you?
00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:14.559
What's the next step for you?
00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:18.319
The next step is a bigger car.
00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:19.440
A bigger car, okay.
00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:25.839
Well, first graduate high school, but a bigger car, get this season over with.
00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:37.680
Um just like get everything done, get my social media TikTok account more known and all that stuff.
00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:39.920
I do have a TikTok account.
00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:42.720
Um, my dad has one, I have one.
00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:45.680
My dad, my parents have a Facebook page.
00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:50.000
So if somebody wanted to go to your uh Facebook or Instagram, where would they go?
00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:54.559
They would go on my account is bmr.
00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:58.640
Um 6767.
00:20:59.119 --> 00:20:59.440
Okay.
00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:09.200
Um, I did make it the wrong numbers, but but that's usually if you just rate search up BMR racing, bmr.racing, it comes up.
00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:09.680
Okay.
00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:16.319
Um, I do have a vlog of me at Medicine Hat during the day and what it's like racing there.
00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:21.039
Um I do have a couple other edits of my car.
00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.440
Okay.
00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:23.759
Um, one of like a big thing.
00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:24.559
Oh yeah.
00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:26.000
Florida's my next step.
00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:28.000
We're going to Florida in February.
00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:31.839
Okay, that's a great time to go to Florida because it usually gets so cold here.
00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:34.079
But we're not going to Florida for vacation.
00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:35.119
You're going to race.
00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:35.839
We're going to race.
00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.960
Okay, what's in Florida?
00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:39.440
Uh, we're going to race for two weeks straight.
00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:44.000
In Florida, we're I'm going to race a legend car.
00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.880
Oh, wow.
00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:48.480
Um, which is basically the same as the car I have now, just different.
00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:51.599
A little bit different, different size, smaller.
00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:55.359
But um basically, it's just like the same thing.
00:21:55.599 --> 00:22:05.279
Going to race for 14 nights straight, and it's gonna give me a national title of a Canadian in what is it the title of?
00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.319
Title.
00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:07.279
National Girl.
00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:10.400
It's like a national title, so it's like gives me a title.
00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:11.440
That's really cool.
00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:15.039
So you're gonna be one of the only Canadian girls to have that title.
00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:15.440
Yeah.
00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:16.079
That's really cool.
00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:25.759
Currently at the moment, I have a title of the last Canadian female to drive on Rockford, Illinois.
00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:26.480
Yes.
00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:32.480
Um, because they closed down that track, so they I'm the last Canadian female to drive on the Middle East.
00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.759
Which ever in the record books.
00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:35.359
That's really exciting.
00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:37.359
As a last female there.
00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:42.319
Um, but I tell you, racing in the Midwest is so much funner than racing here.
00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:44.000
Yeah, it's so much bigger of a deal.
00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.440
It's so much fun.
00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:50.319
Especially the I think the oldest guy I've ever raced in with the little cars was 65 years old.
00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.359
Or 62.
00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:54.079
He was 62 and you was six foot five.
00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:56.000
So the exact opposite of you.
00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:58.960
He was like 5'2, yeah.
00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:01.119
And at the time, probably 16, 15.
00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.240
I was 13.
00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:02.720
13.
00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.160
Racing down in the Midwest.
00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:06.480
Yeah.
00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:11.680
I have a question before we go that I'm dying to ask, and it's the first thing that popped into my head.
00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:13.839
You've been driving since you were 11.
00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:16.400
Uh do you have a driver's license right now?
00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:17.440
I have my learners.
00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.880
You have your learners.
00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:21.039
I don't have my driver's license yet.
00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:24.559
I was just gonna ask if you got your driver's license on the first try.
00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:31.920
I have not gone and got my driver's license yet, but I it actually, believe it or not, it took me four tries to get my learners.
00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:34.160
It took me four tries to get my learners.
00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:37.839
Even though you're probably the best driver out of the two of us right here.
00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:42.160
Well, I mean, I think my dad will beg to differ on that one.
00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:48.000
I actually drove up to Innisfale, and I think that he will never let me drive his truck again.
00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:50.960
Was it because you were going too fast or always turning right?
00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:52.720
Oh, okay.
00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:54.160
And it was a semi-truck.
00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.559
Yeah.
00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:57.759
Don't think dad will ever let me drive his truck again on the highway.
00:23:58.079 --> 00:24:03.839
Berlin, uh I'm gonna be following your progress here, and I can't wait to see what's next for you.
00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:06.480
Uh, thank you so much for coming on the show today.
00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:13.920
Uh do you have any last words for any girls that are looking at you right now, going, hey, I want to get into this, and I look up to Berlin.
00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:15.759
Do you have any advice for them?
00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:16.720
Go for it.
00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:17.119
Yeah.
00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:19.759
So all I can really say is just go for it.
00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:22.480
Don't let anyone stop what you want to do.
00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:27.279
Don't let anyone like tell you what you can and can't do.
00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.640
I love that, Berlin.
00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:30.400
Thank you so much for coming on the show today.
00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:31.119
You're welcome.
00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:33.839
And thank you for being here on Airdrie Inside.
00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:36.799
We're gonna be back with more great episodes coming up shortly.
