Kelowna’s own Justine Boyer earned her first trophy at the 67th annual Knox Mountain Hill Climb, winning first place in the Tuner 5 Class with a personal-best time of 2:18.
Boyer entered her fourth Knox Mountain Hill Climb driving a 1991 Mazda Miata, equipped with a 1.8-litre engine that delivered noticeably stronger torque on the mountain’s steep sections.
“This is my first time taking a trophy from this event or any racing event for that matter,” said Boyer. “To take home a trophy from this event was a pretty surreal feeling.”
The victory over the rest of her class this year held special meaning for Boyer because she won in front of her family. She spend a lot of time with her family growing up, but more as a spectator rather than a competitor.
The local female driver has countless memories of watching her father, Bob Boyer, race the Knox Mountain Hill Climb throughout the event’s 67-year history. Bob also competed in the event this year, driving a 1969 Datsun 510.
“Watching my dad is where the inspiration came from. I feel almost spoiled in the sense that I’m able to share something like that with my parents,” explained Justine.
“I get teary-eyed thinking about it sometimes, just growing up there and spending those weekends there with my family. There’s nothing like it in Kelowna.”
Justine was one of six female drivers to take part in the one-day race, and she beat out three other drivers in her class to win the award. Only two seconds separated her from the driver in second place.
“The guy that was closest to me drove a 2:20 and congratulated me for getting that 2:18. Those two seconds put me first in my class, and it’s amazing how close it was,” she said.
She tells Black Press Media the award came as a pleasant surprise, as she was more focused on recording a new personal best rather than winning her class.
According to organizer Garrett Mealing, this year’s race had a record-setting number of spectators who flocked to the base of Knox Mountain to watch roughly 80 different cars take on the track.
“That was the most spectators we’ve had in a lot of years,” said Mealing. “We had 16 rookie drivers this time too, which is probably the most rookies we’ve had in the last 10-15 years. It speaks to how popular the event has become and how, in 2026, we’re still growing it.”
While Justine is still soaking up her victory, she already has her eyes on next year’s event and is thinking about what changes she can make to her car to score a faster time.
She says it won’t be long until she enters the same class as her father, something she’s really looking forward to.
“I always joke that I will be at the Knox Mountain Hill Climb for the rest of my life. If I can race it until the 100th year, I’ll be stoked.”