Indigenous car racing couple Brianna Julien and Morgan Meaniss are making inroads on the drag race circuit in northern Ontario. Julien was a semi-finalist in the semi pro class in drag racing recently. She won her title in a 1986 Chevrolet Camaro as one of the top four drivers in semi pro class at the Team Northern Throttle (TNT) Kirkland Lake Drag Racing held July 12-14 at the Kirkland Lake airport. The event attracted its largest spectator turnout yet.
“This was the first time that I was able to compete in the semi pro class. Normally there is an intermediate class that I could have taken part in, but that was not included this year, so I had to join the big boys right away,” explained Julien.
“This was a great achievement for me, and we couldn’t have done it without the help of so many people. I learned a lot of new things with my car and how specific you have to watch, like the temperature gauges.”
A member of Matachewan First Nation, Julien races with spouse Morgan Meaniss, of Beaverhouse First Nation. The two have been part of auto mechanics and racing for many years in the Kirkland Lake area. Meaniss entered his first car in 2016 and Julien in 2020.
Meaniss is also a well-known driver and is the main mechanic for both of their vehicles. Meaniss also competed at the TNT Drag Races, at one point competing against his wife.
“One of the most amazing moments for us this year was racing one another on the track. It was an incredible experience,” said Julien.
They regularly participate in events at the annual Kirkland Lake TNT drag races. Plus, they travel every year to the Bonfield Event Park drag races near North Bay and Circuit au Bosquet drag races near Rouyn-Noranda.
“We’ve been part of auto mechanics and auto racing since we were very young. Morgan has always worked on cars, and I’ve always been around auto shops and cars because my late stepfather Chris Lambert was a mechanic,” explained Julien.
“We love the car events we attend with our friends. For us, nothing matters during race weekends except for how our cars are performing and the fact we enjoy being together with everyone who we consider our racing family.”
The two met during middle school at the annual Wabun Tribal Council Youth Gathering and they have been racing together for years.
“We are not only a couple, but we are best friends, and we share so many wonderful experiences together with drag racing being the most exciting. I love working on cars and the fact that I am building and maintaining Brianna’s race car is a passion beyond words,” explained Meaniss.
Meaniss receives sponsorship from Kirkland Lake Towing and Julien’s car is sponsored by FXR Racing and Canadian Bombshell Beauties. They are both hoping now, as their racing is progressing, to secure additional sponsorship from their communities as well as the Wabun Tribal Council and other Indigenous organizations.
To follow the couple’s racing career, search for their names on Facebook to see their latest racing feats and check out TNT Kirkland Lake Drag Racing for race info and results.