Featured female automotive and motorsports professionals

Get to know these successful female professionals, working and leading the automotive and motorsports industries.

Featured female automotive and motorsports professionals working in the industry

The Force behind John Force Racing

March 22, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

The old saying ‘behind every great man is a even greater woman‘ rings true even in the male-dominated motorsports world. These women are often the unsung heroines of the sport that silently dedicate just as much of their lives to racing as their successful husbands. During the recent International Drag Racing Hall of Fame banquet, NHRA Drag Racing’s Laurie Force was recognized for her unsung contributions to the sport. She was honored with the Pat Garlits Memorial Award presented by Mopar for being the Force behind John Force Racing.

Laurie Force, the wife of 16-time Funny Car champion John Force and mother to NHRA nitro standouts Ashley Force Hood, Brittany Force and Courtney Force, has been a leading matriarch on the drag racing scene for over four decades. The award recognized Laurie’s presence behind the John Force Racing drag racing dynasty. Her dedication and passion embodies the spirit of Pat Garlits, and she was commended for remaining the ever-patient wife of 16-time champion John Force. A special video tribute video produced by Ashley Force Hood was played during the ceremony that included interviews with Ashley, Brittany Force, Courtney Force and John Force on Laurie’s sacrifice and hard work over the last 40 years.

In the early days, Laurie wrote my first contracts, mixed fuel and backed the race car up. She was with me from the beginning and there is no doubt I would not be where I am today without the support and love of Laurie,” said a proud John Force during the ceremony.

History of the Pat Garlits Memorial Award

Named in honor of NHRA Top Fuel legend Don “Big Daddy” Garlits’s late wife, the Pat Garlits Memorial Award was first presented in 2014 to Barbara Hamilton, the first woman licensed by NHRA to drive supercharged cars in 1964. In 2015, Joan Gwynn was honored for her contributions to the drag racing community as a supportive wife of 57 years to drag racing legend Jerry Gwynn, mother to racer Darrell Gwynn, as well as her charitable work with the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, and especially her involved with the Drag Racing Association of Women (D.R.A.W.) which has helped injured drag racers and their families for more than 30 years.

Pat Garlits passed away in February of 2014. She was beside her husband Don Garlits as he amassed too many awards to count and set more records than any drag racer in history. The legendary racer and innovator claimed that no matter the awards and accolades he received over his career the best day of his life was when he saw Patricia Louise Bieger for the first time in 1952. The couple was married for over 60 years and Garlits was faithfully by her side until the end of her life.

She loved her man with all her heart, body and soul and never thought of anyone else but him. She was at dad’s side through every win, loss, crash, you name it, she was there,” said daughter Donna in Pat’s moving obituary.

The Force Behind John Force Racing [Video]

Behind the scenes: Aerospace Components

March 7, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Kim Kussy, the inspiring President/CMO and Finalist for Professional of the Year, recently gave Horsepower & Heels a behind-the-scenes tour of the Aerospace Components facility. Check out how Kim, husband and co-owner Al Kussy, and their team of amazing employees at Aerospace deliver 100% Made in the USA, top-notch, high quality products and solutions to the drag racing industry.

Located in the beautiful city of St. Petersburg, Florida, the Aerospace Components facility is minutes away from the exquisite beaches of the Gulf coast. Now a state-of -the-art 35,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility, the company that Kim and Al began nearly 30 years ago has evolved from its original roots of government contracting work, where they machined parts that were utilized in defense and aerospace projects such as the international space station. In those early years, Kim and Al worked their full-time day jobs before spending their evenings building the Aerospace business.

Aerospace Components Tour

Take the tour with us by scrolling through the photo gallery below:

Aerospace Components

2625 75 Street North
St Petersburg, FL 33710
Phone: (727) 347-9915
Online: http://www.aerospacecomponents.com

Wide Open with Courtney Lambert

January 3, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Whether you find her traveling the roads avoiding mayhem with Allstate, behind the counter at Kory Souza Originals, or over the airwaves on her very own radio show, Courtney Lambert knows only one pace in life…. Wide Open.

The Early Years

Her passion for motorcycles can be traced back to her childhood. Growing up in Chattanooga, Tenn., Courtney Lambert was the oldest of three and the only girl – a self-proclaimed ‘Daddy’s girl’. An avid dirt bike rider, her father loved to tell the stories of his youth and growing up on dirt bikes, riding the Chattanooga mountain sides with his cousins. It was no surprise that Courtney’s first bike came at age 5 – a small Honda 50 dirt bike, which she says she promptly rode “straight into a brick wall.”

A dedicated athlete through out her school years, Courtney was a fast-pitch softball star, playing 2 seasons of the sport per year for 14 years. A bit of a rough start on two wheels, a move to the Atlanta area at age 13, and a busy schedule in school meant that bikes took a back seat for awhile as she grew up.

My dad’s company transferred him to Atlanta when I was 13. Sucked at the time, leaving my friends, but kind of allowed me to reinvent myself and make all new friends. And it put me somewhere that offered so much more opportunity and diversity. Best thing that could have ever happened to me.”

Her dad always had a love of classic hotrods, a love that Courtney also shared. After she left school, that interest would expand into custom paint and auto body, and eventually would lead her to re-sparking a love for custom bikes.

Her professional start in the motorcycle industry didn’t come until she was 27 years-old. She was approached by Allstate Insurance to become a spokesperson for their Motorcycle product, traveling across the country doing stage shows and emceeing national motorcycle events and rallies.

…it [Allstate’s Job Offer] didn’t even sound like work to me, so I accepted! Eight years later, the program has grown drastically and I’m still enjoying my time on the road with Allstate Insurance.”

Allstate needed a woman with marketing and public speaking background, one with motorcycle knowledge and who could ride. The job had Courtney Lambert written all over it. She dove into the industry head-first and completely devoted her life to the scene, evolving it from a hobby, career and into a full-on lifestyle she never imagined was possible. She admits, ” I was, and still am, obsessed with it.”

Wide Open onto the Airwaves

In 2010, Courtney began hosting her own talk radio show about motorcycles called Wide Open Radio. She was on FM Radio stations in the Chattanooga, Nashville and Atlanta markets. With no prior training or knowledge about radio, she adopted the ‘Fake it ’til you make it’ mantra, a process she said took a few years. Relocating from Chattanooga to Sarasota, Fla., she moved the show to the Orlando/Tampa market, before finally moving to an internet radio platform.

It wasn’t until 2015 that I finally became intentional with Wide Open Radio and made a growth plan and stuck to it. During this year, our listeners grew from an average of 750-1000 listeners per episode to over 35,000 listeners per episode – and we’re still growing! I still can’t even believe that as I’m saying it! So cool!”

Courtney also launched the Wide Open Radio Show website, which she is building to become a leader for custom motorcycle entertainment and news – including archives of all Wide Open Radio episodes, product releases & reviews, national event coverage, special pricing offers from top manufacturers and blog posts about the latest news, trends and events in the industry.

With Wide Open Radio currently in a growth spurt, Courtney is pushing to keep up with the demands of her growing legion of listeners. They recently lengthened the show time from one hour to two hours, and are planning to add shorter, mini episodes throughout the week.

She also is developing another show platform to add to the Wide Open network this year, involving her love of classic cars. Though she currently does not plan on hosting the show, she will be involved in producing it.

Where Two Roads Merge

Along the busy road of her Allstate travel schedule, and through her radio talk career, she would meet and befriend so many key individuals in the motorcycle industry. But it was one very special custom motorcycle builder that would grab her attention. His name was Kory Souza, and the two would hit it off, sparking a very complementary love between two people who both shared a strong passion for their work and the motorcycle lifestyle.

In addition to Allstate and her work with Wide Open Radio, Courtney also manages the frontend of the Kory Souza Originals business, taking care of all the phone calls, billing, foot traffic, marketing, events, product releases and some of the sales as Kory and his crew take care of the backend business – building beautiful machines that keep the customers lined up at the doors.

I truly found my home here. When I am not at the shop, most of the time I’m wishing I were there. Crazy, I know, but I am seriously passionate about growing this business. Kory is super talented and I’m so proud of this company he has build from the ground up, all by himself.”

The pair have big plans for growth in 2016, with an upcoming release of a new product line being launched in February. The new line of custom parts will feature everything from seat pans, tag brackets, to handlebars, all designed by Kory himself.

Finding Balance

With such an impressive resume, it’s hard to imagine how Courtney manages to keep up with such a frantic pace. She credits her love for the people in the industry as a driving force, whom she says are “some of the kindest, most generous people out there.” She also adds that her ability to multi-task and her habit of writing things down help keep her on track and able to fit everything into her busy schedule.

It helps that I’ve streamlined my career so that everything I do is in some way related to motorcycles. This allows me to use my contacts and connections for whatever I happen to be working on at the moment. All 3 sides of my career feed off the others this way. Things are pretty much always crazy and our schedule is always full, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!”

And when there is free time, Courtney has a stable of her own cool rides to attend to, including a 2005 Harley Davidson Sportster, a customized Honda Ruckus, and a 1963 Impala. Her and Kory also have a rigid board track-style bike project in the works with a leaf spring front end that will feature the trademarked Kory Souza Originals flair.

But what does her family think of her Wide Open lifestyle?

Two of my family members, my dad’s brother and my dad’s dad, have been in severe motorcycle accidents, so my family, especially on my dad’s side HATES that I ride, but I love it too much to stop.”

Yet Courtney still enjoys riding dirt bikes with her dad in the woods behind his Atlanta home when she visits, adding that “life is too short to live anything but Wide Open.”

Catching up with Aerospace Component’s Kim Kussy

August 3, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

A biology and business degree graduate, pilot and racer who continues excelling to new heights as President and Chief Marketing and Finance Officer of racing industry staple Aerospace Components, the sky is the limit for Kim Kussy.

The daughter of a large family (she has 4 brothers and 2 sisters) raised in the Motor City, Kim Kussy has always loved the automotive industry. The influence of her brothers and Dearborn, Michigan hometown would be evident in all aspects of her life. She met her husband Al there, who himself grew up racing at local Milan Dragway. As the two started their family and moved down to Florida, that love blossomed into a fast-paced life together.

Kim, who graduated from Tampa College with a degree in Biology/Medical Technologist studies and Saint Petersburg College with her degree in Business, had been working in the medical field as a medical technologist for almost 10 years when her and husband Al decided to incorporate Aerospace Components. Initially, the business was centered around the Department of Defense, machining parts and components for defense systems, guidance systems, and the International Space Station.

The two spent several years growing the business part time, while still continuing with their full time employers. Within a few years, the duo found themselves tied-in with the drag racing industry, manufacturing components for racers. This allowed them to be fully involved in the sport, building the first of many racecars to develop components they created. It was this first build that would really inspire in Kim the passion for racing, and as the business grew, that love would involve the entire family.

When Al was building his first car at Aerospace, I caught the racing bug too. Having started himself racing at age 16, he taught me how to drive the race car. It seem like a natural passion since we owned the company that manufacture the racing parts . Just about all of our employees race so we basically lived at the local tracks in the first 15 years of business.”

Taking those years of knowledge and experience, Kim was able to apply them to building a dragster with her daughters Breanna and Bethany, passing on this experience during their high school years as a family project.

I wanted them to know what we made and did for a living. Both girls got in the dragster and did some burn outs.”

Kim has raced the dragster herself at local tracks in the region, adding that the entire Aerospace family has been a staple in the local racing scene for over 15 years. They have owned dozens of racecars, and are now involved in the national racing scene, sponsoring the NHRA Wally program, with the special Aerospace Components Excellence in Engineering Award. The award, voted on by NHRA’s Technical Department, is given at 12 NHRA Nationals events to individuals or teams demonstrating a unique edge in craftsmanship or technology. They are major sponsors for the National Mustang Racing Association (NMRA) and the National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) with the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle sponsorships and contingency programs.

Aerospace Components is approaching nearly 30 years in business, with no signs of slowing. The process has been a rewarding one for Kussy, who loves the people she gets the opportunity to work with in the industry. The road wasn’t always an easy one — the couple started the business at a young age, and have worked hard to build and grow over the years with a group of loyal and hard-working employees that share in the passion. For Kim, the added struggle of proving herself as an intelligent business woman in a male-dominated industry and not just the stereotyped friendly, pretty face were ongoing in the formative years. She credits hard work and tenacity for her success in overcoming these obstacles and mounting a successful career that defies the stereotypes.

Both industries that I am involved in are basically a men’s world — racing and aviation. Many of people don’t believe women can race or fly or run companies as the entrepreneur, sometimes women are still being stereotyped in certain areas. But I believe as a woman, if you are competent at what you do that intelligence and passion shows forth. Now that I have been in the industry for 28 years, I believe men and women respect me for how hard I work, for who I am and what I have contributed to both industries.”

With her duties at Aerospace and at the racetrack taking her all across the country, Kim does a fair amount of traveling. But she doesn’t leave this up to commercial airlines. Kim and Al also own their own aircraft, and Kim earned her private/instrument pilot’s license in 2000. She is one of an elite group of women – only 6% of general aviators in the United States are women, and intends to advance her ratings as time permits.

I am very privileged and honored to be able to be among these women. It takes, a passion for flight, intelligence, courage, time and money to fly and own planes.”

With so many accomplishments to her name, it’s hard to imagine Kim having much downtime. Yet she still finds time to support charity organizations in her community such as Women of Compassion (a non-profit that assists orphans in the state of Florida) and Shepard’s Village, a Christian organization dedicated to supporting single mothers.

I’ve been so blessed by God with my life with all that I am able to accomplish that I want to give back and help encourage the children and single moms that they can make it. I did it with God’s help and love of other who invested in my life! …I was raised in a single parent home after 11 years old. My father died of cancer when I was in 6th grade. so my mom raised the 3 youngest by herself. I know how these kids feel in single parent homes, love and support of family and friends really matters.”

Kim shared that mastering the balance between her full plate of duties for Aerospace, home life with family and raising her children, along with all of the other ventures she has pursued has been the most instrumental to her success.

DREAM BIG and don’t give up! The beginning years are some of the hardest, especially if you are married and or raising children. Work hard and Play Hard! Take time to rest and enjoy family and friends. Surround yourself with others you can trust, those who love you and who will encourage you during the hard times. Set goals, short term for your racing career as well as long term. Don’t be afraid to seek wise counsel from a few key leaders you trust in your industry who have walked the path you’ve walked. Attend conferences, read alot and never stop learning on how to grow stronger in your racing career.”

Kim continues to set new goals for herself and the business, whether its researching new product development, learning new marketing strategies to reach, connect and communicate with customers, or hitting the dragstrip for some racing competition. Her latest project, Kimmy’s Garage, features educational videos on Aerospace products and installations.

Whether in the skies, at a race track near you, or in the office growing Aerospace Components, one thing is sure, the sky is hardly the limit for Kim Kussy.

Jessica Kennedy aims high with Shotgun Shock

June 24, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

On the main firing line for industry-leading motorcycle air suspension manufacturer, Shotgun Shock, Jessica Kennedy blows away customers with her hands-on technical skill and knowledgeable customer service.

Ready.

Growing up, Jessica Kennedy wasn’t afraid to dig into the family business and get dirty. The Riverside, California native spent her childhood around the family’s machine shop, where they crafted bullets and ammunition.

Aim.

Motorcycles have always been a part of her life, and Jessica has always enjoyed the Harley scene. Her first experience in the industry was working with JD over 15 years ago in a custom build shop they worked. She handled mostly the office side of the business, but loved the industry and riding culture. Though the two would move on to other ventures, they remained friends.

It wasn’t until their paths would cross again in 2010, that Jessica and JD would team up and solidify their bond. JD had been working on the development of Shotgun Shocks for a number of years, but with Jessica’s support, the duo have turned the family business into the premiere air suspension manufacturer for Harley Davidson Softtail and Bagger motorcycles.

Jessica didn’t start with the firm understanding of the products. She took it upon herself to familiarize herself with the technology and really learning the ropes behind all aspects of the business.

When I first started going to shows (with Shotgun Shock), I would just talk to people and show them the buttons and demo unit. For technical stuff, I would hand them over to JD, because I didn’t know all the other things that made up the shock, much less installation. But, I got in there and learned every little detail about them, and before long I could answer any of the questions.”

Fire.

Jessica now handles all aspects of the South El Monte, California business. She regularly attends shows, handles material procurement, installations, customer support and warranty administration as the ‘Go-To’ gal for Shotgun. The family business is her passion, and something that she is happy to involve her children and other family in, adding that they intend to always keep Shotgun family-owned, despite opportunities to go corporate with their rapid success.

It has been great to share with the kids and all of our family. My nephew is the CnC programmer, the kids are always around in all that we do- we fully intend to keep Shotgun a family owned and operated business, we never want to sell out.”

Customers have grown accustomed to interacting with Jessica at shows and in Shotgun’s social outreach, being the leading voice that offers support to customers worldwide. Yet still, when installation time comes around, Jessica enjoys seeing the look of surprise on customer faces when she rolls up on the garage creeper.

I love seeing the shock on their faces when I pull a jack out and start lifting their motorcycles for the install. The look of disbelief that I am the one completing the install really catches them off-guard. By the end though, they are all expressing how impressed and happy they are with the results.”

On average, installs can take about 3 hours to complete, ranging in complexity by the model and year of the bike. Jessica has performed hundreds of installs to date, and takes great pride in her work, adding that her record install was completed in under 45 minutes.

I’ve done hundreds of these, and have the process down. Some take longer than others, but my record is 41 minutes on a softtail. That turns some heads.”

The self-taught entrepreneur is proud of the success she shares with JD and Shotgun Shock. The experience has been especially meaningful personally to Jessica, given the hardships she endured early in life. Overcoming great adversity and instances of personal abuse, her story is a more personal one of perseverance and victory over her struggles. Her dedication to the company and her customers has been instrumental in the booming success, and she has no intention of slowing down.

We can’t wait to see what the future holds for hard-working Jessica Kennedy and Shotgun Shocks!