GRASSMERE teenager Jemma Gale has moved up a gear in Super Rod Association circles.
The 18-year-old jumped aboard her bright pink machine late last year and accelerated up the point rankings in her 15 races of the season.
Finishing on a total of 620 points, Gale was seventh overall on the aggregate tally and was named the association's Rookie of the Year.
It is the first time a female has claimed the debutante trophy.
The Emmanuel College pupil only missed two races of the 2009/2010 calendar.
She tore up the track on debut in Heathmere's Southern 500 - in November - and placed fourth.
The impressive start was a sign of things to come.
After riding a motorbike for about five years, Gale quickly adapted to her new four-wheels.
She pipped rookies Warrnambool drivers Cameron Hardwick, Tom Duynhoven and Amy Duynhoven and Simpson's Tim Rankin for the top honour.
"All new drivers want to win rookie of the year," she said.
"I go out there to try and have a bit of fun but I guess I'm a conscientious driver.
"If I see a better driver come up behind I don't try to hold on, I won't push myself.
"It was really good to get that award."
Gale revved her Gen III LS1 engine - out of a V8 Holden Statesman - for the first four races of the season before swapping to her father Peter's 350-Chevrolet engine.
Her boyfriend - and fellow competitor - Rankin adopted the rare Gen III a few rounds later.
"I was having a bit of trouble with it," she said.
"Because I was a beginner I couldn't communicate to my dad what the car was doing."
After trialling the engine, Gale was proud to have her original engine approved at a specifications meeting on Sunday.
However, she admitted there were some strict conditions connected to the motor.
"It is a big change," she said.
"It's fuel injected and the other's aren't.
"A lot of people aren't sure how to take it.
"If it is beating every car in every race then we will have to bring it back a level."
Father, Peter, also got an award at the association's presentation dinner on the weekend - but perhaps not as illustrious.
He collected the trophy for most unlucky driver, on behalf of Gale Motorsport.
While he did not handle a super rod during the season, his team racked up a high tally of rollovers and crashes.
"Dad does a lot of work," Gale said.
"Every week before a race he's in the shed getting my car ready."
Winchelsea's Geoff Leigh was the best overall driver of the season, finishing with 1455 points.
Cobden's Dale Walsh was most improved.
Gale said she was bursting to hit the track for the 2010/2011 season and was searching for more sponsorship in her time off.
"I love racing," she said.
"I want to keep doing it and see how far it can take me."
mrooth@standard.fairfax .com.au
Email a friend