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Erica Ortiz is a professional drag racer from the all-female pro modified team Horsepower & Heels and strong advocate of women in motorsports. A veteran both behind the wheel and behind a torque wrench, Erica brings over 10 years of experience navigating the male-dominated motor sports arena from the female perspective.

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Women’s Fire Suit Review

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Women's Fire Suits

If there is one thing that shopping for my next fire suit has taught me, all suits are NOT created equally.   Unfortunately, as the minority in the sport,  suits are not tailored well to the female shape, leaving  Women’s Fire Suits anything but flattering on the female physique.    Even among the custom fitted suits, my experience wasn’t great getting a suit that was presentable and well-functioning.    But as it comes time to order a new suit, I struggled to find any good feedback from women on what suites they had and liked, and which they didn’t.   So, I decided to ask for feedback on Women’s Fire Suits from my network of fellow female racers and share it with all of you.

Women’s Fire Suits Review

To help compare and standardize the review process, I created a few categories that mattered to most all women in shopping for suits.   First off, to be fair in comparing, the type of suit being reviewed:  Custom/Pre-Sized and SFI Rating.   Then, for each, I asked for feedback based on their experiences with form, fit, wear, mobility, and comfort.

DIna Parise, DJ Safety
Dina Parise, DJ Safety

DJ Safety

FIRESUIT:  DJ Safety Custom Fit  SFI3-2A/20  
REVIEWED BY:  Dina Parise  | NHRA/PDRA Pro Modified Racer  

FORM/FIT:   Shoulders:   YES!  Chest:  YES!   Waistline:   YES!

MOBILITY:   Very good. Comfortable sitting, standing etc….

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SUIT?   4 months

Dina’s Comments:      Not only do I have a DJ Firesuit, but I have been outfitted by them from suit to shoes… as well as from Belts to Chutes! They are a pleasure to deal with ! If you call…ask for Ben and feel free to tell him Dina Parise Racing sent ya! We love their safety equipment so much, we will be carrying it at our shop Andi-Con Performance located in New Freedom, Pa.

FORM AND FIT:  starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

 Check out more from Dina Parise on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube

Sunny Hobbs G-Force
Sunny Hobbs, G-FORCE

G-Force

FIRESUIT:  G-Force Custom Fit  SFI3-2A/5  
REVIEWED BY:  Sunny Hobbs  |  NASCAR Sanctioned Modified Racer 

FORM/FIT:   Shoulders:   Fine  Chest:  Snug   Waistline:   Snug

MOBILITY:   It’s always ‘fit like a glove’ which is likely due to the measurements I sent in to have it custom made, which is great standing up, but it’s always been a bit tight in a sitting position. I think perhaps the static measurements should allow more flexibility when sitting in a racing seat. Or perhaps I should have added onto the measurements I took, because like I said, although it looked and fit great in the standing position when I first got it, it’s not as generous or comfortable when sitting.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SUIT?   more than 5 years, It has worn great. I have had no issues with seams or fading AT ALL.

Sunny’s Comments:      The G Force suit has been my best fitting women’s fire suit thus far, likely because it was a custom fit. I’ve had a Simpson suit in the past, and had a horrible time getting it to fit right, because the general sizes are really for men, not for women’s fire suits fit at all, much like racing seats. The Simpson suit had to be altered in the crotch, which was too large and long, and the waist which was way too big, and shoulders which were huge which made the arm length too long.

FORM AND FIT:  starstarstarstar (4 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstar (4 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstarstarstar (4 STAR)

Check out more from Sunny Hobbs on Facebook or Twitter

Jennifer Jo Cobb, Simpson
Jennifer Jo Cobb, Simpson

Simpson

FIRESUIT:  Simpson Custom Fit  SFI3-2A/5  
REVIEWED BY:  Jennifer Jo Cobb  |  NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series

FORM/FIT:   Shoulders:   Usually too big, but they work with me  Chest:  Same   Waistline:   Same

MOBILITY:   By time I have them take it in, the crotch is usually too tight.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SUIT?   I have 3 new ones this year – usually get one or two new each year but use the old ones as well (3 suit changes per weekend between practice, qualifying and race).   It wears great – I wash in washing machine and it gets softer.

Jennifer Jo’s Comments:      I ask for my belt to be lower as it makes for a far more comfortable and flattering fit. This really spins out the makers and messes with the measurements. I usually have to go through at least 2 rounds of fitting after the suit is received but my latest suit came perfect! Still a bit large but much better. Simpson has done all of my suits this year and I appreciate the way they are willing to work with me to get just the fit that I want. They understand that we are photographed so much in these uniforms so fit does matter tremendously. Common mistakes are: shoulders too broad; no “hourglass” shape to contour to the body for a more flattering fit – they aren’t used to a larger chest measurement with such a small waist measurement; baggy bottoms. Trying to be photo ready for sponsors, safe for racing and comfortable all at the same time is challenging!.

FORM AND FIT:  starstarstarstar (4 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstarstarstar (4 STAR)

Check out more from Jennifer Jo Cobb on Facebook or Twitter

Kathy Fisher, Simpson
Kathy Fisher, Simpson

FIRESUIT:  Simpson Custom Fit  SFI3-2A/15  
REVIEWED BY:  Kathy Fisher  |  NHRA/IHRA Drag Racing – TD/SC/QR

FORM/FIT:   Shoulders:   Good  Chest:  Good   Waistline:   Good

MOBILITY:   Great…but the arms are a little long/TIGHT!

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SUIT?   One Season.  I have been extremely happy with the quality of the fabric and the embroidery.   Diamond Fabric is 10x better than the last custom SFI 15 suit I had (from another company).  So much lighter! I’m much cooler than I had been and it still seems to be warm enough on the chilly/breezy days.

Kathy’s Comments:     Best overall custom suit I’ve had so far (Out of 4 total).  When getting measured….it’s not a bad idea to have someone do it at say, a bridal shop, a tailor, etc.

FORM AND FIT:  starstarstarstar (4 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstarstarstar (4 STAR)

Check out more from Kathy Fisher on Facebook

Editors Note:  Of the reviewed manufacturers, Simpson was the only company that advertised women’s fire suits sizing available.
ShannonMudro, Hinchman
Shannon Mudro, Hinchman

Hinchman Racewear

FIRESUIT:  Hinchman Racewear Custom Fit  SFI3-2A/5  
REVIEWED BY:  Shannon Mudro  |  UMP Dirt Modified

FORM/FIT:   Shoulders:   Perfect  Chest:  Perfect   Waistline:   Changed my waistline to rest where it should on a woman, fits perfect

MOBILITY:   Have full mobility, the suit is snug in all the right places, but not too snug.  They are cool in the summer and warm in the spring/fall.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SUIT?   I have two suits from Hinchman that I wear, one is 4 years old and another is a year old.  Mild pilling on my older suit, but I wash my suits just about every week.

Shannon’s Comments:      For women it’s hard to find a suit that fits in all the right places. Heck, we can’t even find jeans that fit right! The struggles of finding a suit that fits well in a male dominated sport is challenging, and Hinchman’s custom suits helped me to look more professional and feel more comfortable. Highly recommend them to anyone!

FORM AND FIT:  starstarstarstarstar(5 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR)

Check out more from Shannon Mudro on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter

Nancy Matter, Deist
Nancy Matter, Deist Safety

Deist Safety

FIRESUIT:  Deist Safety Custom Fit  SFI3-2A/20  
REVIEWED BY:  Nancy Matter  |  NHRA – TAFC

FORM/FIT:   Shoulders:   Fine  Chest:  Fine   Waistline:   Fine

MOBILITY:   Comfortable

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SUIT?   Since 2005

Nancy’s Comments:       My suit is a little thicker, but I can control my body heat with my mind so it doesn’t bother me.  The main thing about my suit is that if we have a catastrophic failure and fire, I have the utmost confidence in the craftsmanship of my suit that ensures my protection during the stopping process and quick exit from the hatch.

FORM AND FIT:  starstarstarstar(4 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR)

Check out more from Nancy Matter on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter

Erica Ortiz, Impact
Erica Ortiz, Impact

IMPACT

FIRESUIT:  IMPACT Custom Fit  SFI3-2A/20  
REVIEWED BY:  Erica Ortiz  |  Pro Street/Pro Modified

FORM/FIT:   Shoulders:   Wide  Chest:  Fine   Waistline:   Snug

MOBILITY:   It fits okay standing, but its pretty snug and restrictive getting in and out of the car.   I was fitted for the suit by an Impact employee at the PRI show, and when I initially received it, it bared no resemblance of fitting in any area.  It was oversized in shoulders, arm length, torso length, waistline girth, basically I thought they sent me a 6′ tall male’s suit by accident.   They had me ship it back, and they reworked the suit, which helped some, but never did fully correct the issues.  The resulting suit is still a bit boxy in the shoulders and chest, then narrows down in the male v-shape and is straight cut through the legs from there.   This makes it a little too snug in my hip/rear area.  And the belt line is really high.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SUIT?   8 years, though it only saw about 6 months of use.   The fabric and condition, seams, etc. are holding up well though.

Erica’s Comments:     I really thought that a custom ordered suit would be better fitted to the female body, but if my experience here is any indication, measurements aren’t able to alter the design of the pattern enough to compensate for a feminine figure.  To be fair, that was 8 years ago.   I’m sure they’ve had time to improve this for women.

FORM AND FIT:  starstar (2 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstar (4 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstarstar (3 STAR)

 Check out more from Erica Ortiz on Facebook or Twitter

Cassie Gannis, Axcel
Cassie Gannis, Axcel

Axcel Sports

FIRESUIT:  Axcel Sports Custom Fit  SFI3-2A/5  
REVIEWED BY:  Cassie Gannis  |  NASCAR Super Late Model Series/K&N Pro Series West

FORM/FIT:   Shoulders:   HUGE  Chest:  HUGE   Waistline:   HUGE

MOBILITY:   Didn’t allow for much movement

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SUIT?   6 months, wearing good. No fraying tearing, pilling.

Cassie’s Comments:     For a male driver, definitely a great suit! But for a women, no. Even though the suit was custom the first firesuit came in way too big. I had a tailor take the measurements to be sure I made no mistakes. They company was great about sending me a new one. Again I had the measurements done by a seamstress. This time the suit came in way too small. The problem seemed to be that the suit was just not fitted for a woman’s body. The waist and hips of the larger and smaller one were just off. I eventually took both firesuits to a local well known seamstress, Kristen Gilbert, who measured me and literally took both suits apart and pieced them back together along with alterations. She even was able to borrow fire retardant thread from a local company. She went above and beyond to make the firesuit fit! I was so grateful!

FORM AND FIT:  star (1 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstar (2 STAR)

 Check out more from Cassie Gannis on Facebook Instagram or Twitter

Rebecca Starkey, Stroud
Rebecca Starkey, Stroud

Stroud

FIRESUIT:  Stroud Athena Custom Fit  SFI3-2A/5  
REVIEWED BY:  Rebecca Starkey  |  NMRA True Street

FORM/FIT:   Shoulders:   Great    Chest:  Great   Waistline:   Great

MOBILITY:   Great.  I can get in and out of the car easily in the suit.  Full range of motion.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SUIT?   I have only had it a couple of months so I cannot comment as to wear.

Rebecca’s Comments:     Stroud instructs not add to the measurements, as they will make the suit fit appropriately for movement.  I am very happy with it.    I’m very petite and have had 4 babies in the past 7 years, so I’ve experienced lots of size changes.  Finding a women’s fire suit that fits has been a thorn in my side.  Having a suit that fits has made me look more professional and feel more confident.  Additionally, having room to “grow” is nice, as we plan to have more children in the future.

FORM AND FIT:  starstarstarstarstar  (5 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:   starstarstarstarstar  (5 STAR)

 Check out more from Rebecca Starkey on Facebook

Do you have Comments/Notes to add to this discussion?  Make sure you comment below and give us your feedback!

Dealing with Haters

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DRO Agent 1320 Erica Ortiz
Drag Racing Online 11/14

After chatting about my history, struggles and recent desire for a comeback, Eddie Maloney, a west coast friend of mine, decided he wanted to help me out by submitting a post on Drag Racing Online talking about my efforts to secure sponsorship.   The post, which appeared in their Agent 1320 column and on their Facebook page, marks the first time I’ve been in the drag racing press since my hiatus began back in 2007.

Keyboard Jockey-ing: Dealing with Haters

One thing that didn’t take long to come back to me, is how being in the public news like that puts you out there for the masses to pick you apart.   It’s one of the known necessary downfalls to being a woman in racing, the brutal chore of dealing with haters

Eddie, meaning nothing but well, picked a photo from my Latina Magazine photoshoot in 2007.   Latina Magazine is a fashion magazine (think Cosmo, Glamour) for hispanic women with a readership of over 2.5 million women (Latina.com).   The famous  photographer who conceptualized and shot the image, had just shot the likes of Eva Mendez the previous day.

For the photo, a stylist was flown in to prepare my “look” (hair/makeup/wardrobe) and the whole experience was a surreal one for this average drag racer.   (click the image at right to view full size)  I was placed in a fitted black pantsuit outfit, with a checkered tank underneath peaking out from the unbuttoned top.   I wore a set of beautiful stilettos, and was placed in a spectacularly lit trailer with a cool Mustang race car(not mine) behind me, foot atop a helmet.   It was, to me, a beautiful photo in which I not only felt proud to be a racer, but to be a beautiful and glamorous woman as well.  (It also was huge free exposure: like $45,847 worth- the going rate for an equivalent one page advertisement in the magazine.)

But this recent post took a little under 2 hours from when it hit the internet for the first hater to start the bashing.  I underestimated how much more problematic dealing with haters has become with the rise of Facebook (since my departure from the sport).

Shaming Women’s Bodies

The comments had nothing to do with my skill as a driver, my character or experience.   Every comment centered around MY BODY.   Now, those that know me personally, know that I am extremely conservative and shy, which make the claims made online even that much more far-fetched.   Friends and people I had never met were quick to defend me against these horribly sexist remarks, but the most disheartening part to me was the offenders — predominantly other WOMEN.

Last year, I touched on this subject when Courtney Force posed nude in ESPN and the drag racing world polarized on the issue.  Honestly, I knew it would be a controversial topic, and in my piece, I wrote about the blatantly sexist double standard- that they crucified Courtney but not John, or any other male in the issue for that matter.   But posing nude can be controversial in nature for any person based on belief, so although it was frustrating, it was not unexpected.

But what absolutely baffles me is how far these sexist remarks will go to demean women.   In these photos, I am wearing a pantsuit– the only part of my body exposed is my arms and face.    So naturally, I was a bit taken aback by these comments:

Amanda Pierce If one wants to be taken professionally & sponsored, one should not pose in such way that an easily photoshopped stripper pole might be inserted in such photo.

Interesting.  A stripper?   You see a fully-clothed woman and instantly think stripper?  I’m curious if you mean that in order to appear “professional”, I must look and dress like a male?   Because I don’t see any glitter or pasties or thongs, so apparently looking like a woman means that I am a stripper?

Jessie Mayunga Using your body to get an sponsorship…smh

Using my body.   What?  Am I, for some reason, to be ashamed of my own body all of a sudden?   The one God gave me?  The one I take care of regularly by going to the gym and eating healthy?  Or maybe I should wear a burka instead?  Is that the only appropriate attire for women- something that masks my form and displays no part of my individual self?  I didn’t know that clothes that fit my body would mark me as a harlot.  I am sorry that is so disappointing to you.

Divided, We Fall.

This is exactly the problem, not only in racing but in LIFE and the reason women today are still fighting for equality in the workplace and other areas.   Until we stop apologizing for being women, until we stop shaming ourselves and spewing hate instead of lifting each other up, we will ALWAYS be behind.    Why would I ever think denouncing myself in my female form, downplaying what makes me feminine and unique, would gain me acceptance and equality?   All that does is reenforce the idea that being a woman is somehow WRONG!

That IS the very reason Horsepower & Heels was created– because Who Says Horsepower & Heels don’t mix?!?  Not to mention, from a marketing business standpoint (which, by the way, is my profession by trade) if a company wanted someone who looked, dressed and acted like a man to best sell their product and brand, don’t you think they’d actually get a MAN to do the job?

I refuse to apologize for being a woman.  I’m not going to downplay my femininity.

I am ME: a badass 215mph driving, tire smoking, wrench turning WOMAN and Mom, in a pair of cute size 8 high heels.

Women Racing Groups and Networks

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women racing
Together, women can make a difference.

We all know how important networking is in our daily lives, but many times, we forget that some of the best sources of information comes from groups of our peers.  Who better to ask about the daily struggles, the small wins and the large windfalls, and all the other nuances that being a woman in the male-dominated motorsports world entails?

In an earlier post, I spoke about how important it is to be on the women’s team for our sport.  But maybe you don’t know that many other women racing?  Here’s a few welcoming women racing groups that will help you get started.   Don’t be afraid to join them and share your story.  Ask questions.  Offer your advice.   Don’t be afraid to reach out and to utilize this tool– this women racing groups and network of resources–available to you.  We’re all in this together!

LinkedIn Groups

  • Women’s Racing Network     Private Group
    A place where women involved in motorsports (or those who want to become involved in motorsports) can discuss any topics pertaining to the roles of women in motorsports currently and how these roles can be expanded upon, changed, or evolve. This is a group where women discuss their passion for a great sport and what can be done to help this sport experience continued growth year-after-year with the help of the female demographic.
  • Women of Motorsports    Private Group
    This unique networking group is for the amazing women who work and travel in motor sports. This group will be used to network, welcome new women, connect with those at the track, support, and much more.

Facebook Groups

  • Pink Racecars- Women Auto Racers Only    Closed Group
    This female-only group caters to any auto sport: drag racing, auto cross, rally, etc.
  • Women of Drag Racing   Closed Group
    Group caters to women in the drag racing arena.  From grassroots to professional ranks, any drag racing women are welcome.
  • The Female Racing Driver’s Appreciation Group   Public Group
    This public group is open to men and women who are supportive of female racing adventures.  A great place to share stories with a supportive fan base.
  • Women of Drag Racing Past and Present  Public Group
    A collection of stories of all the women involved currently, or who once donned a helmet and navigated the 1320ft pavement.   This public group is also a great place to share with supporters of the women in racing movement.
  • Women Racers   Closed Group
    Another great group of women competing in motorsports and a great place to share experience, get advice or help advance the women’s racing agenda together.
  • Female Motorcycle and Sidecar Racers  Closed Group
    For the two-wheel variety racers.
  • Women of Quad Racing   Closed Group
    A women’s group of ATV Quad racers

 Have a group you like not mentioned here?  Add it in the comments below!

My background, as I’m sure you can tell, is Drag Racing.   But chances are, there is a similar group in your racing genre.   Share it here for others to join you!

Dusting off the Horsepower & Heels Hotrod

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One of the hardest things about dusting off a project that has essentially sat unattended for the past 6 years, is getting a bearing for where you are and what needs to be done next.   I tend to get a little analysis paralysis thinking about where to start back on getting this race car done and back to the track.

horsepower and heels MustangThe Project Currently

So, just to recap, here’s where we left off:

Back when I was still in Alabama, my good friends over at Johnston Body Works had done a ton of work helping me out to get all of the fiberglass body work lined up and the turbo inlets molded.   They did such an awesome job with everything, and it looks fantastic.  But, I still needed to finalize some other elements on the car before it was ready to be painted.  Plus, I ended up moving away, so the car left before I was able to save up to have them finish the rest of the paint job.

Then life happened.   A lot of it, actually.   So much of it, that I wasn’t quite sure where to begin in dusting this project out of the basement and back onto the radar.  Luckily, I have a great partner that can unlock my paralysis with the voice of common sense and reason.   We compliment each other well in that department.

I met Alex in 2010, long after my last drag race, and almost a year removed from anything to do with the race car.   Of course, he knew I raced, but he had never actually SEEN the car, nor had any idea where I was at with it or what needed to be done to kick start motivation from the depths of deep jadedness.  It was actually one of the things I liked about him, that after so much public judgement and interference in my relationships previously, he loved me just for “individual ME” and not “racing me”.    Although he is quite gifted mechanically, and is a Master Technician for Harley Davidson, he had very little exposure to drag racing previously, and didn’t really pry much into my past or my racing program.    Plus, being jaded myself, I didn’t really talk much about it anymore either.  I let it fade away into the background while other priorities in my life took precedence.

But although you can leave racing, the racing never really leaves YOU.   So, after moving back to Florida, I started getting the racing itch again.    I started talking about it more.   Alex and I both enjoy riding together, but as we met the local crowd, we started getting invites to different shows.   My almost 2 year old son has proven to be a chip off both old blocks, and LOVES anything and everything to do with cars.    Being back around this scene really made me remember the great times I had, and it was Alex that reminded me that they are not over, that they don’t have to be just memories.

Next Steps

taillights for MustangSince the car has been stored down here for quite awhile, Alex got to see it for the first time too.  With his own projects (a ’67 Chevy C-10 pickup he’s resto-modding) and multiple bike builds, he quickly saw areas we could get to work on without needing a big sponsorship check to help pay for.    When he quizzed me on what was holding up the paint job, I pointed out that it needed taillights and headlight provisions as well as a rear wing.   Within minutes, he found a set of donor taillights and made some phone calls to local friends he had made that could give some direction with mounting them into the body.      Where I hadn’t known where to begin, he drove right in and got the ball rolling.    Suddenly, this project doesn’t look so daunting, and I’m really excited that he’s shown such an interest and responded with so much support.

I am really thankful for his efforts and looking forward to this adventure!

Women in Motorsports Examiner

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Women In Motorsports Examiner

Editor Update, May 2015:   My writing efforts for women in motorsports have since moved to THIS website.   But I invite you to view the collection of over 400 articles still archived on Examiner.com

Back in August 2010, I took an assignment as the Women in Motorsports Examiner for the news website, Examiner.com.    In the past 4 years, I’ve written over 400 articles promoting women’s racing news, acquiring info as often as possible to educate the public about the wonderful accomplishments and the diversity of women in the racing world.    The collection of articles spans everything from drag racing, IRL, NASCAR and even the junior ranks and karting.

Every woman I find out in the racing world, I’ve offered to cover their news and asked to be added to their press release database so that I can share their news with the world.   Its a labor of love, not a job, and something I’m very passionate about.    For racers, its a source of publicity for yourself, your team and your sponsors.  For women in racing as a whole, its an opportunity to put the cause in the spotlight and show the mainstream just how big an impact we are making in the motorsports world.    Features range from high profile stars like Danica Patrick and the Force girls to young start-ups trying to make a name for themselves.   No matter the news, if its related to women competing, it deserves to be shared.

Subscribe to Women in Motorsports Examiner

Want to stay up to date on the latest news, features and other Women in Racing headlines?   One great way to support women in racing is to subscribe to the column (for free), and get new articles delivered to your inbox!   (And my thanks for supporting the cause!)    I also appreciate the shares and comments on the articles.  That helps get the good word out to the masses!

Send News, Stories, Updates and Features

Know of a racer who needs to be included?  Send me their news information or comment below!   My inbox is always open for press releases and photos, story ideas and any other info related.

 

Fighting the Good Fight: Women in Racing

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She Wins, You WinIn early 2007, I picked up a book that would light a spark within me about what I believe is missing for women in motorsports.

She Wins, You Win: The Most Important Rule Every Businesswoman Needs to Know

The book addresses strategies on how women can achieve success in a boardroom or a corporate environment, but its significance is that much more evident in the male-dominated realm of the racing world.

Gail Evans writes there is one golden rule that all women should adhere to if we are ever to reach an equal success.

“Every woman must always play on the women’s team.”

She Wins, You Win.

It really is as simple as that. Why?

“Because every time any woman succeeds in business, your chances of succeeding in business increase. And every time a woman fails in business, your chances of failure increase.”

Substitute business for motorsports, and there you have it. THE answer to how women can level the playing field in the sport.

Think about it… how many times have you seen the catty comments about another female in motorsports? Why do we consider each other RIVALS instead of ALLIES? We talk so much about how women belong in the sport, yet once we make it, we spend so much time trying to disassociate away from being a “female racer” as though the title somehow diminished or tarnished the achievement instead of punctuating it.

I recognized this tendency in myself early on, and it was the catharsis of this that led me to create Horsepower & Heels and has fueled now 10 years and counting of promoting and supporting women in motorsports. This cause- Women in Racing – has become my passion, and a labor of love that I hope can be shared with the thousands of women involved in the sport today and those who will come to be in the future as a result of all the hard work of their predecessors.

As I thought about my place in life now away from the driver’s seat, and how I could use Horsepower & Heels to make a difference, I wanted to resurrect this blog and use my voice to help women in racing.    So here it goes….

Her loss isn’t your gain.

One of the first things that seems ingrained into women is that there are only a few “spots” open, only a few seats in the game reserved for women. The notion of scarcity was pioneered by the early champions of our cause. Shirley Muldowney, Lyn St.James and others of their era fought hard and fought alone to break down those first barriers and advance themselves into those rare positions.   Those women truly had their work cut out for them.

Somehow, instead of celebrating those successes as a win for the “team”, we’ve come to believe that the only road to success is one paved alone, and that makes other women “the competition” and the enemy in a fight for survival.   This means that not only are we competing as the minority against men, but we also are competing against one another.    Problem is, when we don’t support the common cause: opening the doors for ALL women and thereby creating MORE seats in the game, we are sabotaging ourselves by fighting it out for the rare chairs to survive.

We are NOT all Equal

Its almost become cliche now. The classic response to what it means to be a woman in the sport:

“The race car doesn’t know the difference.”

Somewhere between the stages of starting out all pink “Girl Power” everything and the jaded years spent recalling how “The Good Ole Boy Network” is alive and thriving, there seems to be a trend toward dismissing any and all identification as a woman who just so happens to also be a bad ass race car driver. It’s as though women think that in order to achieve success and a sense of equality in the sport, they must constantly apologize for being who they are, for being a WOMAN.  That by acknowledging this obvious difference, it might make them less of an equal to their male counterparts. I’ve voiced how much this makes me cringe before when some of my favorite drivers have done just that.

Newsflash, ladies. We are NOT equal. Women are still the minority. We regularly have to work HARDER to prove ourselves. We are scrutinized for our errors more critically, unrecognized for accomplishments that should be our own and not attributed to an associated man, subjected to sexist comments and overlooked for deserved opportunities over less-qualified male cohorts.

I had the misfortune of experiencing this first hand. A naive and ambitious young driver, I was driven daily by the dream of breaking into the professional ranks of the sport. When a vacant seat in a very prominent team opened, I quickly reached out asking for consideration. My request was “humored” by someone I had a deep respect for as one of the most influential people in the sport. I say “humored” because that’s precisely what it turned out to be- nothing more than putting on airs for the sake of being politically correct.

I wasn’t prepared to hear someone for whom I had such deep admiration tell me that they were not convinced a woman belonged behind the wheel, that they lacked the strength to “manhandle” the beast, and that he simply was entertaining the interview at the request of the sponsor funding the car. I was speechless. None of the valid reasons, the fire, the tenacity that should have erupted from within me would reach the surface. The glass ceiling came stifling down on my dream, and before I even knew what was happening, I was being shooed out of that pit, thoroughly dejected and disgusted with myself for not taking my stand.

Its easy to think that in this day and age, such rampant sexism doesn’t exist. But even though we are all just people, and the race car doesn’t know the difference— men do, and until we stop accepting the current situation as “equal” and start working towards true equality, the spots open to women will still be limited to the few and not the masses.

By not declaring ourselves as “women” who can drive the wheels off a race car, we are dismissing the idea that women CAN and DESERVE the attention of the sport. In her book, Evans asks a former member of Congress to recall just how women were granted the right to vote. His answer “Men eventually decided it was the right course of action.” To men, its because they decided to give permission, because THEY hold the ultimate power. In reality, without the suffrage, the protests, the hard fight and pressure of the women’s demands, the passing of the Women’s Right to vote would have never occurred.

That right wasn’t gifted, it was demanded. So why would we think that by saying that we don’t want to be viewed as a “female racer” would lead to us being viewed as equals? Instead, we should be wanting to be viewed and respected as exactly who we are: successful female racers. (And proud of it!) Stop apologizing for being a woman, you only reinforce the idea that somehow being a female is wrong!

Because who says Horsepower & Heels don’t mix?!?

Share YOUR story! Please comment below!

What have your experiences been in the racing world and how could they benefit by rallying together onto one team- with one common goal?

 

 

 

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Brothers Performance Car Show

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brothers performance fall showIt’s been awhile since I’ve ventured out to some good enthusiast car shows, so when my gal pal, Elisa Coon invited me out to the Brothers Performance Car Show and Dyno Challenge, I was excited to make the drive over to Deland, FL with my little guy to check things out.   Having just returned from Vegas for a week-long tradeshow, I didn’t have a chance to get the Bullitt show-ready, but I did clean her up some and popped-in the carseat for Zane.   We made good time on the drive through Orlando, and arrived with the show in full-swing.

There are some beautiful cars out there, and it seems almost all were far from stock in form.   The 2015 Mustang was on-site, as well as some really beautiful show cars.    Being so close to my old stomping grounds, I was curious if I would see any familiar faces, but its been so long, the chances were slim.   I did get to catch up with Evan Smith and Steve Turner, two of my favorite editors in the Mustang world, as well as say hello to Rebecca Starkey, another Orlando-based female racer who remembered me from way-back when.

It was a great afternoon, and a great change of pace to share with my son.   His excitement about cars gives me a whole different perspective at this stage of my life, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to share this experience with him.   Far removed from my hay-days, but not so far to have lost the love for these events.

It felt really good to be back in an element that has been absent in my life for some time.   Steve Fox said it best when he commented on one of my previous posts,  all of the other elements of my life resolved, the only unfinished business I have is in the racing.   Its time to return and take care of business.  I’m looking forward to getting back to these event more often.

2015 Mustangs at car show 2015 mustang dyno shootout brothers performance carshow

 

Justin Bieber Street Racing and NHRA

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bieber drag racing mug shot
Justin Bieber’s now infamous drag racing mug shot

A child celebrity grows up and rebels into a hard-partying, wild mess just a few stumbles away from court-ordered rehab?  Its seems its the current tried-and-true formula for the current day child entertainment star.

Justin Bieber Street Racing Arrest

Justin Bieber’s latest shenanigans have roped my favorite sport, NHRA Drag Racing into the mix with his arrest in Miami Beach on January 23rd that the media has once again referred to as “Drag Racing”.

First of all, let me get on my soap box for a minute.   He was doing 60 in a 35.   I’d hardly call that break-neck racing speeds.   Illegal though it may be, a vast majority of soccer mom’s have done just that or worse running late to soccer practice, maybe after a mimosa or two.   He’s an idiot to be driving drunk.  And he’s an idiot for speeding in a residential area, but is this really worth a week full of headlines about *gasp* drag racing on a public street?   There are so many better things we could be talking about like,  I dunno, more important topics of healthcare and the economy?  <end soapbox>

Like every other illegal street racing activity that results in trouble, the media loves to title every headline with the term DRAG RACING as this dark, evil act of complete mayhem.    The problem is, what Justin and all of these other people were doing isn’t Drag Racing, its street racing.   This isn’t a new problem either.  Same thing happened when Nick Hogan (Bollea) was responsible for severely and permanently disabling his passenger during an illegal race in Pinellas, FL  back in 2007.

Besides the fact that the term is used incorrectly, by continuing to allow its use, people are associating drag racing with criminal activities instead of the sport NHRA has cultivated.    To the point that when you tell the average person that you are a drag racer, they respond with “Isn’t that illegal?”   That kind of reputation will pretty much kill any hope of corporate sponsorships wanting to get involved.

Why then, if you are NHRA, would you allow your image and your brand to be continually attacked and tarnished in this manner, instead of using it as the perfect opportunity to educate the mass media and become guardian of the sport and its roots as the safe alternative to illegal activities.

Competition Plus, posted a similar editorial on the issue, but also received a response from Graham Light of NHRA.   (Graham Light addresses NHRA’s actions after Bieber arrest- Competition Plus).   Basically, after a canned letter to the Miami and AP media outlets asking that they refer to the incident correctly as an illegal street race instead of a drag racing event, they were essentially told that “drag racing” was the terms used specifically in the police report, and that it was reported as such.    Graham goes on to tell Comp Plus that  “It is another challenge and a bigger challenge to try and communicate with all law enforcement agencies around the country. It’s an on-going process.”    So, does the effort stop there?

A two-minute Google search turns up all of the Florida Statues in relation or infractions that citizens can be charged with.  The one I could come up with was FS 316.191 RACING ON HIGHWAYS.    I was very quick to judge that the term “street race” would be a closer identifier than “drag race” in the illegal context, so naturally, the keyboard jockey in me wanted to say that it would be fairly easy to ask Miami to use racing on highways as the media reference instead of drag racing.

Except that when I actually read the full statue http://archive.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.191.html, it DOES indeed call it Drag Racing.   There is lengthy talk about a race, whether premeditated or spontaneous, and the spectators and participants.   The very bottom of the statue states in what is the equivalent to the fine print, that it doesn’t apply to  licensed or duly authorized racetracks, drag strips, or other designated areas set aside by proper authorities for such purposes.

“Drag race” means the operation of two or more motor vehicles from a point side by side at accelerating speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other, or the operation of one or more motor vehicles over a common selected course, from the same point to the same point, for the purpose of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of such motor vehicle or motor vehicles within a certain distance or time limit.    FS 316.191

So it is us racers who are wrong.   It IS called Drag Racing as a legal definition.   So what can we do to protect the sport from the black eye that is illegal street racing?

NHRA needs to really push the community service angle here.   Yes, a drag racing event illegally was held on the street.   So NHRA can respond accordingly:

Okay major media covering Justin Bieber Street Racing, here’s the nearest facility in YOURTOWN, USA.   They offer open time trials or “street” style racing on X, Y, Z days.     These are the safety precautions that make legal racing safer, etc.   B.R.A.K.E.S. is a program that was designed to teach and educate youth about this.      LEGITIMIZE the sport to the media.   SHOW them that NHRA cares and is fighting the good fight to make sure that we have a safe and legitimate sport.   Its your brand, you have to control the image.

There is no such thing as bad press…. if you can spin the coverage to your favor.    The best example I could come up with is UFC Fighting.   Fighting in the ring as a sport?  Legal.   Fighting in the street?   Criminal Battery/Violence.

What other ideas could help put the sport NHRA Drag Racing in the spotlight for the RIGHT reasons?

Vote a female racer for sponsorship

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One of the biggest reasons I created this site is to actively support women competing in motorsports.   Its something I’m very passionate about, because I feel that if you don’t stand together and help one another, we’ll never see our full potential as a group.

One way to do this, is to help bring more attention to the ladies out there competing, talk about their successes, and help them seek the resources they need to be competitive.

Vote a Female Racer for Sponsorship

Pink Checkered Racing Flags

Champion is holding their annual sponsorship contest, where they give away $150,000 in sponsorship to several lucky racers.   Racers each created and submitted a video, and now fans are voting a selected few into the next round.

Of the 394 videos submitted, there are 25 ladies vying for the sponsorship dollars.     Helping these ladies get the votes needed to make the next round, get them all one step closer to better funding for their program, one of the toughest challenges that women involved in racing face compared to their male counterparts.

When its time to vote, give one of these fine ladies a nod, and help support women in motorsports.

 

New beginnings in Tampa: Bill Currie Ford

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Bill CurrieFord

A lot has happened since I last regularly updated this blog.    I touched on some of the gaps in my recent post, If the suit fits, but I wanted to expand on that a bit in effort to get back to regular updates on this site.
Back in 2011, I made the move back in the automotive industry by becoming a service advisor at Woody Anderson Ford in Huntsville, AL.  I enjoy being back in the industry tremendously, and have really grown in that role in the past few years.   It isn’t marketing or PR, which I also love, but it comes very natural to me.    I have a passion for helping others, and try to make the automotive service experience a more pleasant, painless, and less scary world.   (because let’s face it, who really WANTS to have car issues or worry about upkeep and maintenance all the time)

Bill Currie Ford Service

My family and I (Alex and my son Benicio Zane, who was born in January) moved back to Florida in August, and I’ve recently joined the Bill Currie Ford team as an Assistant Service Manager.   Bill Currie is another family-owned dealership with a long-legacy in the area that dates back over 50 years.  I’m excited to join the team, and looking forward to making it my home.

I’m still writing my regular Women in Motorsports column for Examiner, but have also just begun a general automotive column that will help explain common service issues and maintenance visits.   Check them out, subscribe and share whenever you can, please!     If you are a good writer, have a subject you’d like to cover passionately, I’m also helping to recruit writers for the team.   Click this link for more info and to submit a writing sample.

We have a  lot of exciting opportunities ahead, and I’m optimistic that I’ll have more to report soon.

In the mean time, if you need any service in the Tampa area, you know where to find me!