At 4 years old Carien started riding a 50cc Yamaha quad, with no idea what her future would hold. Watching the Dakar on the TV was something she would not miss and she never knew where she would be today. As with all of us Carien grew up and between 1982 - 2021 put the thought of Quadbikes behind her to raise her 5 kids and work full time. As a mom she focused on her kids to give them only the best. For her eldest sons BIG birthday she bought him a quad for him to be able to enjoy quads the same way she always did. Little did she know... She went to a track with him and some friends for them to practice and as soon as she got onto that quad it felt like home. Suddenly she was that little girl on a quad again, the girl that felt free and her heart was full, she knew, this is who I am. In 2021 she started racing the GXCC 424 and won 1st place in the Championship for the year. She continued to do this in 2022. Nobody could stop her, but herself? 2023 started like every other year until Carien ended up in hospital. Later she was diagnosed with cancer and a massive operation was done to remove a part of her intestine with doctors saying racing may be a thing of the past. She woke up every day in pain and became depressed. Carien had lost her father and stepfather to cancer so she did not take this diagnosis lightly. This continued for quite sometime.
 
One morning Carien's husband Leon - said enough is enugh. With the bike already out he told her she has to atleast get onto her quad again (In hopes this would help her become HER again) Low and behold she got back on and went to race the Kakamas Rally in the Northern Cape. It was not easy but Carien started feeling alive again.
 
On the way home she told her husband she wants to race in the Dakar, the race that started it all. The memory that shaped her into the strong, brave, fearless, (Slightly Crazy) women she is today. 
 
The race she watched that shaped her into "The Crazy Princess"
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Fresh off her 3rd place in the FIM- World Rally Raid Championship 18th - 24th May 2025 this dream is closer than ever. 
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For more information on Cariens training schedule, race schedule and all her details click on the Racer Details Tab.
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For Sponsorship oppertuneties please click on Sponsorships Tab. 
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