LAC LA BICHE - Two years ago, Crystal Anderson Crystal Anderson was the first female race car driver to win the innaugural Danita Malo Memorial Ladies Race at the Lac La Biche Winter Festival of Speed.
During this year’s Festival of Speed, Anderson was the only local racer, going up against 14 other female drivers most from the Edmonton area. The women were competing in a race that honours the memory of a local mother and wife who was a long-time festival organizer and local racing enthusiast. Danita Malo passed away in 2022 after a battle with cancer.
Anderson finished this year’s race in ninth place, taking on the course in fellow Lac La Biche racer Ken Staples’ #19 Honda Civic race car. She was pleased to see a large group of women coming to the community to compete fender to fender.
“I would like to acknowledge the 14 lady drivers…they are fast and furious and I have a lot of respect for their love of the race, Anderson told Lakeland This Week, adding that she felt very honoured but nervous to be the only woman driver from the community to represent Malo in the memorial race. “I had only raced twice in previous charity races nearly 10 years ago, but I was up for the challenge.”
After winning her first entry into the Malo memorial in 2022, Anderson was “black-flagged” in the 2023 races for jumping the gun at the start with a false start before the green flag. The ninth place finish this year was OK, but she’d like to do better and bring the trophy back to Lac La Biche. She also admits that no matter where she finishes, she has a little bit of the need for speed.
“I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie, so having the ability to speed without getting a fine is a bonus,” she said with a smile. “The need for speed and adrenaline rush keep me motivated to continue and hopefully, one day, bring back the trophy.”
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While the racing is exciting ... and winning was nice ... Anderson says the important part of the annual race is the tribute paid to a caring woman. She sees the Winter Festival weekend in a similar way.
While Anderson enjoys tearing around the track, there is a bigger picture about the racing family around her and the community support of the overall event.
