The fast and the curious: Stock car racing weekly tradition for Gander family

For a family in Gander, racing cars is a tradition. 

Brad Melendy competes in the stock car circuit between Eastbound International Speedway in Avondale and Thunder Valley Speedway near Bishop's Falls. 

He's been driving the Newfoundland circuit since 1999. Amy, his wife, says she been going to the races since then too. 

And nothing changed when the kids came along. 

"I've tried to make it to every race. I haven't missed very many. Maybe when these guys were babies, maybe a few. But we've always done it together as a family,"  Amy Melendy told CBC's Central Morning Show. 

Amy helps organize the races every second weekend at Thunder Valley, making sure there are cars, volunteers, clean bathrooms, and everything else it takes to have the event run smoothly. 

We've always done it together as a family.- Amy Melendy

The three girls — Grace, 12; Kate, 10; and Julie, 6 — say they love the excitement of the fast cars and cheering their dad on. 

But this season, Grace is the one getting all the cheers. She's driving her own car as part of the bandolero series — a circuit for kids nine to 16 with cars that are miniature versions of the stock cars. 

For the family, it was only natural for the girls to want to be a part of the sport. 

"We had discussed this several times, and I said, 'Brad, if we're going to be at this every weekend, we got to involve the kids.' And that's how it started," said Amy Melendy. 

Grace Melendy says she'll never forget her first ride in her multicoloured neon car. 

"It was a little scary at first, I was a little bit nervous. But then when I got the hang of it it was fun!"

Grace wears a full fireproof suit and helmet when driving, just like her dad, as safety is the most important rule on the track.

When I got the hang of it it was fun!- Grace Melendy 

The preteen has had three races so far this summer. 

While her car can go as fast as 90 km/h, she feels great driving at 60 km/h.  

Kate Melendy, the middle child, is old enough to enter the circuit, but says she's happy to stay in the stands. 

"I'm nervous Grace or Dad are going to crash, but they're still doing good"

Mom and Dad aren't nervous, though. They know how stringent the safety measures are for the sport, from the protective gear to the first responders on site. 

And they see the confidence their daughter gets from racing. 

"The bando and the lesser hobby-style class is the best racing we have here because they have respect for each other and it works out well. They could teach everyone else a thing or two," said Brad Melendy.