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Celebrating, promoting and supporting female racers and women in motorsports

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You are here: Home / Archives for Featured

Featured

Sara Price – First Female in Stadium SUPER Trucks

July 13, 2016 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Sara Price - First Female in Stadium SUPER Trucks
Sara Price – First Female in Stadium SUPER Trucks

Twenty-three year-old Sara Price, a successful multi-championship Professional Motocross and UTV racer from Southern California will be the first female to compete in the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks Presented by TRAXXAS Series.    Price’s debut is thanks to the support of BitTorrent Inc., who helped with the buildup to this event.

Sara Price – First Female in Stadium SUPER Trucks

Sara Price - First Female in Stadium SUPER TrucksMaking her debut during the upcoming Honda Indy Toronto event, July 15-17 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Price will become the first female to compete in the series.  With speeds hitting upwards of 140 mph, and launching over 20 feet in the air, the identically prepared 650 hp Stadium SUPER Trucks offer Price a unique opportunity to prove herself in a discipline dominated by men.    Determined not only to be the first woman to start, Price is set on contending for a spot on the podium.

“I’m extremely excited to be transitioning into the SST Series. When Robby Gordon called me 2 years ago saying I need to get into one of his Stadium SUPER Trucks, I just put my head down and started getting to work. SST is where I want to be, and I’m very pumped to be competing in the same exact truck as the other competitors, it’s truly a dream come true.”

Sara Price - First Female in Stadium SUPER Trucks Robby Gordon; Series President; Former NASCAR and IndyCar Winner and Off-Road Champion commented on Sara’s involvement in the Stadium SUPER Trucks program:

 “Sure there has been other women whom have competed in motorsports history, but it is not too often you are able find the complete package. Sara has the talent, beauty, and sense of drive, to continue writing Stadium SUPER Trucks history well into the future, including becoming the first female SST winner and push to become a Champion.”

Sara Price - First Female in Stadium SUPER TrucksGordon created the SST series in response to the public’s overwhelming interest in trucks and off-road racing, influenced by the former Mickey Thompson Stadium Off-Road Racing Series. His plan to re-launch the SST has led to exciting racing on both asphalt and dirt, while producing one of the most extreme forms of action sports today.

Setting it apart from other series, all SST trucks are identically prepared and delivered to drivers in race-ready condition. Race winners are decided by driver skill rather than individual team engineering and budgets. Drivers and their personal mechanics are assigned specific SST mechanics who together tune and make minor adjustments to the 650-horsepower trucks.

Sara Price - First Female in Stadium SUPER Trucks

Powered by BitTorrent

Sara Price – First Female in Stadium SUPER Trucks is a vision made possible by the support of BitTorrent Inc., a media company dedicated to empowering radical voices in sports, music, film, and more. Their global consumer media platform gives athletes such as Sara Price and brands outside the mainstream exposure to over 200 million fans.

“BitTorrent is incredibly excited to be supporting Sara,” says Jeremy Johnson, co-CEO of BitTorrent. “We’re dedicated to supporting the individuals in action sports who break the traditional mold and bringing their stories to the world.”

Price has continuously been breaking down barriers in motorsports. She won over 17 national championships in motocross and medaled in the X-Games before making the switch to four wheels, winning several Off-Road and Time Attack racing championships.

Video Teaser | Sara Price’s First day testing a Stadium SUPER Truck

Learn more about Sara Price at www.sarapricemx.com and follow her on Instagram, Facebook@sarapricemx and twitter @sarapricemxcom

Category: Featured, Women in Racing NewsTag: Off Road, Sara Price, Women Racing

Changing the Stereotypes About Female Racers

June 24, 2016 //  by Scott Huntington

STEREOTYPES about female racersStereotypes About Female Racers

Do a Google search for “female race drivers.” Go ahead. See anything… interesting? Of the ten results on the first page, these are some of the headlines you might notice:

  • Top 10 Hottest Female Race Car Drivers Around the World
  • 8 Female Racers Hotter Than Danica Patrick
  • 10 Most Appealing Female Race Car Drivers
  • World’s Top Ten Hottest Female Race Car Drivers
  • The 10 Hottest Female Race Car Drivers

An astounding half of the articles are about looks, and four of five use the word “hottest.”

It’s 2016. Women fight alongside their male counterparts in many of the world’s military forces, run major corporations and hold powerful positions in global politics — yet in many ways the racing world still treats women as second-class citizens.

Why is it that the motorsports community takes this outdated view of its female participants, and what can be done to change it?

A Slow Start

Motorsports started life as a male-dominated institution. People raced cars since the late 1800s, before women’s rights were even brought into question. It took decades for women to gain access to racing venues. Having managed that much, female racers face an image crisis that must be overcome to attract new young drivers.

In recent years, Danica Patrick has become the face of female racers. Patrick has demonstrated her skills in 2013 earning pole position and a top-10 finish at the Daytona 500, but her starring role in sexually charged GoDaddy advertising campaigns has been critiqued as a step backwards by her peers.

Finding a Following

But a new generation of women drivers are earning the respect of young followers by winning without seeking the attention of FHM. British driver Pippa Mann raced the Indianapolis 500 for her 5th time this year. NHRA champion drag racer John Force’s daughters, Courtney and Brittany Force, have risen to stardom in the world of drag racing, with Courtney taking home the 2016 Spring Nationals trophy. The win marked 5-in-a-row for female NHRA drag racers.

We’re competing with the guys and winning races against them,” says Force. “I think that’s making a huge impact on young fans who are watching and tuning in and seeing these girls in 10,000-horsepower cars going rounds and winning.”

Holding the Line

Indeed, wins and not just appearances are what is needed for women to be taken seriously — and for young fans to get excited about the prospect of going racing. However, the boys still hold an unfair advantage in most racing disciplines.

When there are only a handful of competitors representing your gender, the odds are stacked. This dynamic isn’t going away anytime soon, but it’s important that females realize their place in the racing world out of their own desire to compete, rather than be forced into the sport and then misappropriated as eye-candy.

I think it absolutely is possible for women to do well in F1,” says Formula 3.5 racer Beitske Visser. “Of course it would be nice if we had more girls on the grid. But it has to be something they want for themselves.”

What else can you do?

There are a number of ways to get involved, and to help change the stereotypes of female racers. It starts with focusing on gender equality as a whole, and then bringing the same ideas into racing. Both males and female can make a difference.

  • Start paying more attention to female racers. This very website your on is a great place to get started, as it’s filled with tons of great resources and articles.
  • Watch your mouth. Pay attention to the language you’re using, and avoid backhanded compliments like “she’s a pretty awesome driver for a girl” or “I didn’t expect her to win.”
  • Get involved online. Start commenting on forums and blogs. Don’t get overly “social justice warrior” on people, but be kind and spread the word about the great things females are doing.
  • Find unique ways to participate. There are tons of ways you can get involved in racing and car culture. For example, check out this awesome video Shelbie Rassler created to win a college scholarship. She made an entire song just using the sounds of a Mustang:

Source: CJ Pony Parts

Or, become a racer yourself. What better way to show that girls can race than to get out there and prove it?

The world is changing when it comes to stereotypes about female racers. Unfortunately, it still has a long way to go, but a little help can make a big impact.

Category: Featured, Personal DevelopmentTag: Guide to Racing, Women Racing

In the Clutch with Tinzy Aronson

April 20, 2016 //  by Horsepower & Heels

In the Clutch with Tinzy Aronson

From spectator to specialist, Tinzy Aronson has had her head down for over a decade working hard to earn her accolades as one of the brightest and dedicated clutch specialists in drag racing.   One part of an inseparable racing power-couple, her greatest strengths were tested one year ago in the wake of a tragic accident that severely injured her husband – leaving Tinzy to rise up and take on the heavy lifting in his recovery, their business livelihood, and their daily lives.

The Beginning

Tinzy Aronson grew up in Montgomery, Texas, a small town 40 miles north of Houston.   She and her father often attended the races as spectators, checking out the action at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, TX.    It was at one such outing in November of 2005 that Tinzy would meet Cale Aronson: a young, up and coming second generation racer from Missouri.  Cale was there with his Outlaw 10.5 Mustang racing in the Clash of the Titans program, and the pair very quickly hit it off.

They began dating, and naturally, Tinzy would accompany Cale to many races, watching and becoming more familiar with the Outlaw 10.5 racing scene.  The two were inseparable, and as they grew together as a couple, so did Tinzy’s desire to be more involved in the team.

Cale loved that I was interested in racing, but he was very adamant that if I wanted to be involved, that I needed to dig in and learn everything.  There was no half-assing it.”

He would advise Tinzy to look to Shannon Glidden, long time right hand of Bill Glidden and one of the most capable crewmembers in all of motorsports, as inspirational role model.   Watching Shannon and Billy work together as a flawless unit at the races, Shannon’s confidence and grace working on a record-setting and highly competitive car were the benchmarks by which Tinzy modeled her own career aspirations and goals.

Learning the Ropes

Buried in the clutch for Tinzy AronsonTinzy began learning and working on the clutch at the Aronson Motorsport shop in 2006.  Cale and his father, Chuck, would spend hours in preparation for upcoming races, and Tinzy was beside them, taking it all in and tediously learning the ropes behind what the family did in their racing program.

Her first track experience came helping turn the motor over in the Outlaw 10.5 Mustang while Cale made adjustments to the clutch.   Slowly, as she gained experience and confidence in her skills, Tinzy would begin taking on more mechanical responsibilities.   The team sold the Outlaw 10.5 car, purchasing a Pro Stock Escort in 2008 for a jump to the Pro Stock world.

By then, Cale was staying so busy with trying to work on the clutch, reviewing the data, and making tuning calls, that things became really frantic in the pits.   I started taking over the mechanical side of the clutch maintenance and other duties on the car  to help him be able to focus more on tuning and reading the data.”

Setting the wheelie bar heightWhen they debuted Cale’s 2010 Pro Stock Mustang, Tinzy – now Cale’s right hand and fiancée (he popped the question in October 2007) was acting Car Chief on the car.   The two worked well together, while Cale made the tuning calls, Tinzy would handle the clutch and other maintenance, and Cale’s dad would focus on the engine and transmission maintenance.   Soon, people around the pits were really taking notice of Tinzy’s skill in the clutch, earning her the nickname “Clutch Girl” and recognition from track announcers as one of the hardest working, proficient clutch specialists in the business.  She is typically found in the pits covered in clutch dust and buried in the clutch can, stirring up a bit of unexpected attention from fans and fellow racers alike that marveled at the woman working behind the firewall.  The attention has come as a surprise to the very humble car chief, who doesn’t really understand what the fuss is about.

I think, if anything [being a woman car chief] gets you more attention than you deserve.   They see me working out there, and the announcers are making references to me as the “best clutch person on the property”, and I just don’t think I do anything special to deserve that kind of attention.”

The racing community and fans have all been very supportive and encouraging of her career, and really the only negative she has encountered are some comments on message boards based on her looks and photos.  For Tinzy, the most challenging part of her motorsports career has been balancing the constant demands of a close, family team.

When things aren’t going well at the track, it can be very tense in the pit.  I’ve had to learn to walk away and regroup.”

Tinzy Aronson is an international for-hire clutch specialist.But that family dynamic is also one of the most rewarding parts of her career as well.   Cale and Tinzy, who married in 2013, work alongside one another as race partners and soulmates.  They are always on the same page, working toward a common goal that often needs no words or explanation.   

Traveling together overseas, we work so well together.  Cale does the tuning, and I handle the mechanical side of things.  We fully trust in and compliment each other – he makes the calls, and I’m his eyes and ears and everything just goes smoothly.”

The Day Everything Changed

Tinzy Aronson and Cale AronsonFor most all racing couples, there is an acute awareness buried in the back of your mind of the dangers involved seeing your loved one going down the track.   But almost one year ago, on April 25th, 2015 at the IHRA Nationals in West Palm Beach, Florida, Tinzy would realize that sinking fear as she watched Cale’s routine pass in his 2010 Pro Stock Mustang veer out of control, sending him violently into the wall and sliding down the track on its lid.   Her heart sank as panic quickly set in for her soulmate, who had come to rest past the finishline, still on his roof..

On the starting line, I am always video recording the runs, so I don’t get to watch Cale’s passes the way others see them.  My head was focused down on the video camera screen, and I looked up when the car made the turn into the wall.”

Instantly, Tinzy and Chuck ran directly for the golf cart to take off down the track towards the wreck.   But track officials quickly jumped in and blocked them, not allowing them to be near the scene or the rescue efforts underway to get Cale out of the car.

I didn’t know it at the time, but Cale was alert and conscious through the whole crash, and  knew immediately what had happened to him.  He asked the first responders to not allow me or his dad down there until they had him out of the car.   And that is exactly what the track officials were doing by blocking us from going to him.”

Tinzy in the lanesThe waiting was agonizing for Tinzy and Chuck, standing by helplessly to hear word of his condition.   A flurry of medical and track personnel were painstakingly attending to him, but every second passing was an excruciating eternity for Tinzy, who could hear the rescue effort communications on the radio.

It felt like an eternity waiting… I could hear them talking on the radios, but no one was answering me.   Flashbacks of Bert Jackson’s wreck were racing through my mind… I didn’t know if he was dead or alive down there and every second was agonizing.”  

Finally, when they had extracted Cale from the car and immobilized him carefully onto the stretcher, Tinzy was rushed to his side.   

A thousand things were going through my mind, I didn’t know what to expect when I got down there.  He’s on the stretcher, no scratches, not bleeding… I was so relieved to see his face, to hear him.”   Tinzy said when she finally saw him.

She, of course, couldn’t see the extent of his injuries at first glance.  

I vaguely remember someone asking if he could feel his legs.   He said no, but I was still in shock and didn’t realize what was going on.  The track officials are telling me that they had called the life flight helicopter, and I couldn’t comprehend why or understand that his neck was actually broken.”

Cale was flown to St. Mary’s Hospital in Palm Beach.  He had a compression fracture of his C5 vertebrae and had damaged C6, his spinal cord was swollen and bruised slightly.  He underwent surgery 3 days later to repair the fractured vertebrae, but doctors had no answers for his long term prognosis.   He had some very light sensations indicating early connectivity in his toes and feet, but no signal function as he could not move his body below the chest.   

That’s when the drag racing community reached out with critical help for Tinzy and Cale.   Jerry Gwynn, whose son, Darrell suffered a spinal cord injury in a Top Fuel crash 25 years before, connected Tinzy to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.  Jackson Memorial is one of the leading spinal cord injury facilities in the country, whose work in research and development on paralysis cases and spinal cord injuries have been ground-breaking, and Tinzy made the decision to have Cale moved to Miami as soon as he was physically able to be transported.   

Spinal cord injuries are a fairly rare, specialized area of medicine.   When I asked about prognosis (at St. Mary’s), no answers were available.   If you are ever in a situation with spinal cord injury, find the best neurologist, and get there.   We were blessed that his accident happened 60 miles from one of the best care centers in the country.   I am so thankful to the Gwynn Family, and the Miami Project for leading the way in research and development for Cale’s care and recovery.  They have been truly amazing.”

Later analysis showed that Cale had struck the wall with 8Gs of force on impact, before the car rotated, slamming onto its roof, and sliding down the track.   Fully conscious during the entire crash, Cale said his HANS and other safety equipment did its job on the initial impact with the wall.  But it was the secondary impact of the car slamming onto its roof that critically injured the veteran racer.

When the car hit the wall, Cale said he was jolted sideways in the seat, and as it rotated, it came down on the roof with another 2.5Gs of force.  That force, combined with Cale’s own body weight, and the angle at which he came down inside the cage’s driver encapsulation exerted over 600 lbs of compression pressure on his neck, leaving a 2” crack in his helmet.  Seat belts are designed to keep you from being thrown forward or out of the car, but they aren’t designed to keep you from going UP.”

The Return Road

Tinzy Aronson never left Cale's sideThe recovery process, aka “The Return Road” –  has been slow and painfully frustrating at times, both for Cale AND Tinzy.   After over a month of care in Miami, the most difficult times came when they returned home and had to adjust to a very different life with the injury.   Rebuilding nerve pathways can be excruciatingly painful, and Cale’s limited mobility made regular day-to-day activities a challenge.

Coming home from the hospital is the hardest part of this entire experience.  With him not being able to move, and how much is affected by the central nervous system working, our first day home was terrible.  I had no idea how we were going to get through this, but we figured it out.  And as he has continued progressing, we were able to learn to manage the daily stuff into a new kind of normal.”

This left Tinzy to care for Cale, helping him to navigate daily activities and assume all the other tasks that Cale was no longer able to attend to on his own.   Household chores, therapy visits, and managing to keep them afloat while Cale was down fell onto Tinzy’s shoulders.

Picking up the added workloadTinzy’s role isn’t limited to just the Aronson Motorsports household/program either.   She is also a driving factor for the couple’s several business ventures:  Hot Rod Power Source, where they sell complete turn-key Ford crate engine programs and kits that convert to them, and Black Magic Clutches where they offer clutch development, setup and tuning all around the world.   While still in the hospital, Tinzy and Cale were still having to operate these businesses via email.  He was lying in the hospital bed, while doctors monitored his condition, and Tinzy was there in the clutch of tragedy around them, still conducting business despite it all.   The stress was extremely trying for Tinzy, who buckled down and bore the weight of the answering emails, fulfilling orders and all of the other tasks that Cale wasn’t able to handle in his injured state.    Doctors were amazed at their determination and dedication to the sport.   Tinzy also has her own line of unique gifts and accessories called Clutch Girl Gear, though it has taken a back seat temporarily after the accident.  

Now that things are starting to settle down some, with Cale making more and more progress in his mobility, the couple’s attention has turned back to the Pro Stock car and really understanding what happened to cause his injuries.  He has carefully climbed back in the car, belted in with his helmet on to see what they could do to prevent his spinal cord injury in the future, and they are now working with DJ Safety on new seat belt design that would secure drivers better in the event of a roll-over impact..   

In the wake of Cale’s accident and Barrett Lyle – I think we ALL need to be taking a look a safety equipment, not just from the standpoint of what is mandated, but sitting in the car and really looking around and evaluating your environment and equipment.  Address potential issues and find ways to help reduce the risks of injury.”

As these cars continue to go faster and faster, safety has to be paramount in the minds of racers and crew. But after seeing your loved one involved and injured in something as serious as Cale’s accident, the worry and fear increases.   Cale, who initially said he wouldn’t be racing again, now is working hard on recovery and plans to return to driving as soon as his doctors will allow it.  Racing friends have even begun donating parts to rebuild the damage to Cale’s Pro Stock.    But for Tinzy, that day will be a tough one filled with mixed emotions.

It makes me incredibly nervous (for Cale to race again), but racing is so very important to him and his love in life, and driving again is a monster that he wants to beat.”

Moving Forward

TTinzy Aronson working on the clutchinzy’s own future goals include learning more about the tuning side of things, to be able to read the total picture and fine tune the car herself.    The Horsepower & Heels 2015 Crew Woman of the Year hopes that someday, she will be able to inspire others much like Shannon served as her role model.   She adds these words of advice:

Take in and learn everything you can. Absorb everything around you.  Ask questions and be open to learning from others.   When you do get some knowledge under your belt, don’t get overly confident and think you know it all.   And don’t develope a chip on your shoulder about being a woman in the sport, work hard and earn respect that way.”

As for Cale and Tinzy, who now have been inseparable for over a decade, the question often arises – will there be a future crew member to carry on the family motorsports legacy?   The couple, known for their affinity for all things “Minion”, have yet to have their own little minion running around the pits.

Tinzy laughed, “John Kaase asks us all the time, he is looking for his 3rd generation customer.”  

We just will have to wait and see….  

Category: Featured, Pit FeaturesTag: Crew, Drag Racing, IHRA, Pro Stock, Tinzy Aronson, Women in Motorsports, Women Racing

LODRS Runner up for Meyer

April 10, 2016 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Megan Meyer Horsepower & Heels

Fresh off a final appearance at the NHRA Gatornationals event, A-Fuel driver Megan Meyer continued her winning momentum with another runner-up finish at the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series (LODRS) Division 4 South Central Region “Nitro on the Bayou” season opening event.   

The event marked the first Top Alcohol Dragster regional race for the South Central Division at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, Louisiana.   Megan Meyer and her Racer’s Evolved sponsored team, led by father and renowned Top Alcohol tuner, Randy Meyer, had never raced at the facility previously.   

“Racing in Belle Rose, LA is a first for myself and my father, so we were both excited to be racing somewhere new,” said Megan of her LODRS debut.

Racer's Evolved Megan MeyerThe weekend started a bit off-paced for Meyer and her Racer’s Evolved team.   Qualifying attempts on both Friday and Saturday resulted in traction problems on the unfamiliar track surface.  But the rookie driver showed poise and control, pedaling her Racer’s Evolved A/Fuel dragster down the track to a No. 7 final qualifying position with a 5.511 second at 270.48 mph effort.

“Two quick pedal jobs for me landed me with a 5.51 at 270, which isn’t that bad of a pass, but definitely not what I was wanting,” the ambitious young driver said.

LODRS Nitro on the Bayou Eliminations

Her first round opponent on Saturday evening would be fellow competitor and friend, No. 2 qualified David Brounkowski.  Without a complete pass in qualifying for data on the new track, Meyer and her team made some small changes between qualifying and the start of eliminations and were optimistic that it would put them back on-target.     

Those changes would pay off, as Megan quickly closed a small starting line gap to power onto the round win, with a 5.294/271.19 mph to Brounkowski’s 5.613/251.91 mph.   She also captured low E.T. for Rd. 1 with this impressive improvement, and would earn lane choice in Rd. 2.

Megan Meyer in the finalOn Sunday, Meyer would take on the No. 6 qualified Monroe Guest in Round 2 of eliminations.   Although Guest would take a slight advantage on the start, Megan would take the semi-final victory,  improving yet again with a 5.280/272.45 mph effort.  Guest ran into traction problems early, sending Megan into her second consecutive final round against the No. 1 qualified Gord Gingles.

Meyer would not have lane choice entering her second consecutive final, and Gingles as the top qualifier, had been the car to beat all weekend.     The pair left with nearly identical reactions, and Meyer posted a 5.358/270.97 mph run.  But it would be Gingles holding onto the win with his 5.319/269.29mph.

LODRS Runner up for Meyer | TAD

This was Megan Meyer’s third career TAD runner-up finish.   In March, she made her way through the field to a runner up finish at the NHRA Gatornationals event.  She had also earned another regional LODRS runner-up finish at her 2015 debut in St. Louis.

The LODRS Nitro on the Bayou event marked the first of six South Central divisional races, where drivers accumulate points towards regional and national championships.

Megan Meyer partners with Horsepower & Heels

Feature_Megan Meyer

This weekend also marked the start of a new partnership between Megan Meyers and Horsepower & Heels, an organization dedicated to celebrating, promoting and supporting women in motorsports.   

We are truly excited to have Megan joining with us at Horsepower & Heels. Her competitive and enthusiastic spirit represents everything that Horsepower & Heels is passionate about, and we look forward to showcasing her career and helping to support and promote her efforts in NHRA Drag Racing,” says Erica Ortiz, Horsepower & Heels founder.

Horsepower & Heels publishes regular news, features and updates on women in a wide variety of motorsports – from drivers, crew personnel, motorsport industry professionals and other women involved in automotive and racing.   In addition to promoting the careers of female motorsport participants, Horsepower & Heels continues to expand offerings to help women in the sport by offering specialized training, public relations and marketing programs, and helps to build a network of trusted partners for and with women in motorsports.   

Readers can follow Megan Meyer and her rookie Top Alcohol Dragster season at www.horsepowerandheels.com.

Category: Featured, Women in Racing NewsTag: Drag Racing, Megan Meyer, NHRA, TAD, Women Racing

26th edition Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc

March 23, 2016 //  by Horsepower & Heels

26th edition Rallye Aïcha des GazellesThe 26th edition of the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc has begun!   [March 18- April 2]

Created in 1990, the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc is an all-woman, off-road rally raid that brings women between the ages of 18 and 65 from more than 30 different countries together in the Moroccan desert.    The competition returns to the roots of adventure by using only old fashioned navigation; no speed, no GPS – completely off-road and unplugged.

Known simply as ‘Gazelles’, the women who take part in this rally come from all social backgrounds, nationalities and levels of off-road experience.   They compete in different classes for the unique competition: 4×4, crossover, quad, truck or motorbike.

Held in the Moroccan desert, the event has received the honor of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI, who has placed the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc under his High Patronage and has granted the Gazelles the honor of bearing his coat of arms on the official Rallye vests worn by competitors.

Stay tuned in as we follow along with the events at the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc!

Meet the Teams – 2016 Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles

Check out the teams participating in the 26th edition Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc.  These brave ladies represent over 30 countries and all different backgrounds.

QUADBIKE/MOTORBIKE/SSV

TEAM NO.  NAME/RALLYE ATTEMPTS COUNTRY
20 Maria Victoria Giraldo – 3rd
Catherine Keramidas – 12th
Columbia
France
21 Corrine Peron – 7th
Valérie Dot –  12th
France
France
22 Sophie Nail – 3rd
Alexandra Chapuis – 2nd
France
France
23 Marie Gousset – 2nd
Sophie Guillaume – 2nd
France
France
24 Nezha Larhrissi – 5th
Pilar Cabellos – 4th
Morocco
France
25 Pascale Dembski – 6th
Marinette Langlais – 6th
France
France
26 Elisa Bouland – 2nd
Lucie Bongard – 4th
France
France
27 Betty Elisabeth Kraft – 11th
Sonia Baudoin-Guerard – 3rd
France
France
28 Géraldine Dutertre – 2nd
Séverine Arnaud – 8th
France
France
29 Natalia Sklenarikova – 5th
Marine Peillon – 1st
Slovakia
France

CROSSOVER

TEAM NO.  NAME/RALLYE ATTEMPTS COUNTRY
318 Viola Hermann – 2nd
Vanessa Wagner – 2nd
Germany
Germany
319 Dr. Eva Holzhäuser – 1st
Nicole Marquardt – 1st
Germany
Germany
320 Bianca Manz – 1st
Alexandra Jansen – 1st
Germany
Germany
321 Catrin Peest – 1st
Madeleine Oster – 1st
Germany
Germany
322 Habbouba Hanan – 1st
Chrystelle Sanchez – 1st
France
France
323 Céline Véga-Roïatti – 8th
Sophie Fabri – 4th
France
France

AUTOMOBILE/TRUCK

TEAM NO.  NAME/RALLYE ATTEMPTS COUNTRY
100 Adeline Benoit – 1st
Julie Maitre – 1st
France
France
101 Stéphanie Lamielle – 1st
Celine Scalisi – 1st
France
France
102 Marie Menozzi – 3rd
Isabelle Auffret – 2nd
France
France
103 Marie Verkest – 1st
Mylene Lecieux – 1st
France
France
104 Cécile Jeanneau – 1st
Sandrine Messéan – 1st
France
France
105 Clotilde Marpeau -1st
Caroline Magaud – 1st
France
France
106 Masako Koyama -1st
Kaori Niihori- 1st
Japan
Japan
107 Jo Hannah Hoehn – 3rd
Susanah Hoehn – 3rd
USA
USA
108 Adeline Drouin – 2nd
Jacqueline Habert – 2nd
France
France
109 Elodie Airault – 1st
Malory Berson – 1st
France
France
110 Julie Lorrain – 1st
Lucie Mongeard – 1st
France
France
111 Aurélie Devaux – 2nd
Christen Gwladys – 1st
France
France
112 Emmanuelle Roubinet – 1st
Emilie Tremblay – 1st
France
France
114 France Simonpieri-Jubert – 1st
Agnès Simonpieri – 1st
France
France
115 Emanuelle Scharff – 1st
Marie Do Michaud – 1st
France
France
116 Céline Monier – 1st
Delphine Delrieu – 1st
France
France
117 Caroline Augustin – 1st
Karen Ravoux – 1st
France
France
118 Emmanuelle Perros – 1st
Cynthia Mela – 1st
Niger
Niger
119 Déborah Gavin – 1st
Johana Beney – 1st
Switzerland
Switzerland
120 Isabelle Ambrosini – 1st
Valérie Olivo – 1st
France
France
121 Stéphanie Portaud – 1st
Florence Gouvernet Querre – 1st
France
France
122 Miriam Dib – 1st
Laure Aliguen – 1st
France
France
123 Laura Sacchiero – 1st
Cécile Bories – 1st
Italy
France
124 Sabine Käppeli – 2nd
Yamina Illien – 2nd
Switzerland
Switzerland
125 Muriel Arnoux – 1st
Sandrine Recouvrot – 1st
France
France
126 Karine Bertherin – 1st
Célia Savary – 1st
Switzerland
Switzerland
127 Cecile Vinson – 1st
Catherine Chiadmi – 2nd
France
USA
128 Dominique Crepin Guerin – 3rd
Elise Leveque – 1st
France
France
129 Isabelle Violette – 1st
Anne- Laurence Gros – 1st
France
France
130 Océane Gornet – 1st
Elodie Webert – 1st
France
France
131 Claire Thuriere – 1st
Sophie Pederencino – 1st
France
France
132 Sophie Galateau-Lepére – 1st
Laurène Dehay – 1st
France
France
133 Stéphanie Regnard – 1st
Vanessa Jobard – 1st
France
France
134 Valérie Turgon – 1st
Carole Labalte – 1st
France
France
135 Sandrine Chevallier – 1st
Angelique Josse – 1st
France
France
136 Nathalie Stephane – 1st
Isabelle Lourioux – 1st
France
France
137 Nathalie Termeulen – 1st
Marie Paule Maury – 1st
France
France
138 Leila Gardnier – 1st
Isabelle Vivet – 1st
France
France
139 Viginie Duedal – 1st
Sandra Micaëla Jelen – 1st
France
France
140 Dominique Laleouse – 3rd
Gisele Silva – 3rd
France
France
141 Andreea Lungu – 1st
Elodie Le Guyader – 1st
France
France
142 Amélie Charpentier – 1st
Kristell Tual – 1st
France
France
143 Laure Lagarde – 1st
Bertille Kohler – 1st
France
France
144 Cécile Ageron – 2nd
Estelle Royet – 2nd
France
France
145 Florence Boichard – 1st
Stéphanie Queyroi – 1st
France
France
146 Laurence Ferdyn – 1st
Astrid Callier – 1st
France
France
147 Elisa Trapani – 2nd
Dorothée Echassoux – 2nd
France
France
148 Linda Benzid – 2nd
Karima Benzid – 2nd
France
France
149 Ghislaine Leroy – 1st
Charlotte Vaslin – 1st
France
France
150 Caroline Chevallier – 3rd
Alice Nicolazo – 2nd
France
France
151 Axelle Kirtsch – 3rd
Maud Blanchard – 3rd
France
France
152 Gaelle Menu – 3rd
Aude Vecchuitti Vernet – 2nd
France
France
153 Sabine Callot – 8th
Fabienne Ferrari – 1st
France
France
154 Cindy Bustos – 1st
Rachel Gandolfi – 1st
Switzerland
Switzerland
155 Nicole Vallet – 1st
Julie Lerale – 1st
France
France
156 Stephanie Cayo – 1st
Christelle Vidal – 1st
France
France
157 Sophie Vachot – 1st
Priscilla Sortais – 1st
France
France
158 Christine Aiach – 1st
Isabelle Lopez – 1st
France
France
159 Sandrine Billot-Noel – 1st
Geraldine Gremeret – 1st
France
France
160 Carol-Anne Bellegou – 1st
Sally-Anne Bellegou – 1st
France
France
161 Nathalie Perrault – 1st
Yasmina Schwentzel – 1st
France
France
162 Lorraine Soulier – 1st
Marilyn Martinez – 1st
France
France
163 Maude Menant – 2nd
Audrey Sasportas – 1st
France
France
164 Eleonore Demozay – 3rd
Bérengère Fauvel-Evain – 1st
France
France
165 Laetitia Berrard – 1st
Soonya Lew-Man-Mew – 1st
France
France
166 Karine Fond – 1st
Annaëlle Laboirie – 1st
France
France
167 Nouara Linda Azzi – 1st
Magalie Pigeau – 1st
France
France
168 Sylvie Forese – 1st
Olivera Lola Salipur – 1st
France
France
169 Véronique De Sybourg-Siffert – 3rd
Emilie Kuhni – 2nd
Switzerland
Switzerland
170 Nathalie Breton – 2nd
Anick Patry – 2nd
Canada
Canada
171 Carole Guillot – 1st
Pauline Grison – 1st
France
France
172 Sonia Ben Ali Berrabah – 1st
Tania Tin – 1st
France
France
173 Geneviève Bécotte – 2nd
Marie-Claude Tanguay – 2nd
Canada
Canada
174 Stéphanie Piere-Chesnais – 1st
Isablele Avis – 1st
France
France
175 Sonia Ben Ali Berrabah – 1st
Tania Tin – 1st
France
France
176 Laetitia Merian – 1st
Diane Dap – 1st
France
France
177 Séverine Noel – 2nd
Sandrine Borot – 3rd
France
France
178 Emme Hall – 3rd
Sabrina Howells – 4th
USA
USA
179 Régine Zbinden – 3rd
Ela Steiner – 3rd
Switzerland
Switzerland
180 Nicole Pitell-Vaughan – 2nd
Christine Beavis – 3rd
USA
USA
181 Karen Hoehn – 1st
Maureen Gibbons – 1st
USA
USA
182 Teresa Stewart – 1st
Tania Tin – 1st
USA
USA
183 Yousra Claustres – 2nd
Anne-Charlotte Dallee Combes – 2nd
France
France
184 Susie Saxten – 2nd
Ivy Cass – 1st
USA
USA
185 Frédérique Fluttaz – 1st
Julie Peyraque – 1st
France
France
186 Béatrice Picard – 1st
Guilène Tabary – 1st
France
France
187 Fabienne Barouillet – 1st
Laurence Palmowski – 1st
France
France
188 Elaine Newkirk – 1st
Keely Sellers – 1st
USA
USA
189 Emilie Tranchant – 1st
Hayfa Chine – 2nd
France
Canada
190 Patricia Garic – 2nd
Armelle Soustiel – 1st
France
France
191 Audrey Chauveau – 1st
Claire Mouret – 1st
France
France
192 Laurence Morault – 1st
Delphine Leroy – 1st
France
France
193 Fanny Thomas – 1st
Elodie Bodin – 1st
France
France
194 Karine Cordier Marcadet – 1st
Alexadrine Bernad – 1st
France
France
195 Isabelle Passalacqua – 1st
Sophie Passalacqua – 1st
France
France
196 Fany Lumiere – 1st
Ambre Pitaud Boulate – 1st
France
France
197 Lena Harmand – 1st
Marion Lemaire – 1st
France
France
198 Pauline Durand – 1st
Marie Levieux – 1st
France
France
199 Ophelie Drouin – 2nd
Adiane Calvo – 2nd
France
France
200 Annette Carcaud – 2nd
Emilie Cazal – 1st
France
France
201 Sylvia Thouvenin – 1st
Karina Thouvenin – 1st
France
France
202 Carole Galivel-Poussier – 1st
Catherine Sabbah –  1st
France
France
203 Sophie Maquet – 2nd
Gisele Pierreux – 1st
Belgium
Belgium
204 Daniela Batista – 1st
Khadra Moumni – 1st
France
France
205 Karine Machado – 1st
Isabelle Duvigneau – 1st
France
France
206 Jasmine Faye – 1st
Teuta Jakaj – 1st
Switzerland
Switzerland
207 Delphine Arnau – 3rd
Dominique Besnier – 2nd
France
France
208 Emilie Besson –  1st
Isabelle Meissirel – 1st
France
France
209 Gihane El Mastouri – 1st
Laure Jamet – 1st
France
France
210 Laura Rozier – 1st
Raja Sali – 1st
France
France
211 Sophie Colombot – 1st
Cécile Soyer – 1st
France
France
212 Valerie Pellet – 2nd
Frédérique Steff – 1st
France
France
213 Patricia Boyette – 1st
Béatrice Berard – 1st
France
France
214 Ségolène Vial – 1st
Ludivine Lavergne – 1st
France
France
215 Clara Magnan – 1st
Stephanie Mattei – 1st
France
France
216 Amal Rakibi – 1st
Sylvie Cinquin – 1st
Morocco
France
217 Souhair Lemrahi – 1st
Hanane Amraoui – 1st
Morocoo
Morocoo
218 Anissia Capet – 1st
Kawther Rahmani – 1st
France
France
219 Josiane Arenales – 1st
Christelle Dagois – 1st
France
France
220 Melanie Puons – 1st
Marie Lamielle – 1st
France
France
221 Fabienne Galidie – 5th
Mathilde Nourry – 2nd
France
France
222 Caroline Baise – 1st
Sophie Normand – 1st
Belgium
France
223 Estelle Stern – 1st
Tiphanie Priami – 1st
France
France
224 Elisabeth Pournier – 1st
Stéphanie Barrault – 1st
France
France
225 Anna Cray – 1st
Solenne Campus – 1st
France
France
226 Camille Chaumette – 1st
Virginie Fratino – 1st
France
France
227 Pia Lupatelli – 1st
Claire Marie Sonnier – 1st
France
France
229 Stéphanie Evrard – 2nd
Emilie Desramé – 1st
France
France
230 Céline Bogdanski – 1st
Jennifer Miens – 1st
France
France
231 Patricia Battesti – 2nd
Nathalie Rives – 1st
France
France
232 Ouidiane Bakiui – 1st
Hind Tangi – 1st
Morocco
Morocco
233 Julia Thiery – 1st
Caroline Martinez – 1st
France
France
234 Tricia Reina – 4th
Laurel Allen – 1st
USA
USA
235 Marine Heidemann – 1st
Claire Jossier Hamri – 1st
France
France
236 Sylvie David-Boulin – 2nd
Céline Guillon – 1st
France
France

EXPERT

TEAM NO.  NAME/RALLYE ATTEMPTS COUNTRY
402 Elisabete Jacinto – 8th
France Cleves – 6th
Portugal
Belgium
403 Jeanette James – 8th
Anne-Marie Borg –  7th
UK
France
404 Mélisa Wiro Fortin – 3rd
Sophie Takenouti – 4th
France
France
405 Karima Laaroussi-Mouhyi – 5th
Florence Deramond – 9th
Morocco
France
406 Sylvie Denninger- 7th
Caroline Guay Maurice – 5th
France
France
407 Sylvie Frenches – 5th
Carole Montillet – 13th
France
France
410 Syndiely Wade – 11th
Claudine Amat – 6th
Senegal
France
412 Nathalie Lussac – 4th
Sadrine Ridet – 8th
France
France
420 Christine Hunka – 10th
Delphine Bichoffe – 9th
France
France
438 Hélène Grand’eury – 6th
Charlotte Zucconi – 5th
France
France
477 Camille Berchon – 4th
Anne-Perrine Balestier – 4th
France
France

 

Category: Featured, Women in Racing NewsTag: Rally, Rallye Aicha des Gazelles

Brittany Force lands first career Top Fuel win

March 21, 2016 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Brittany Force lands first career Top Fuel win
Photo: Gary Nastase

It was a magical day filled with smiles for NHRA Top Fuel driver, Brittany Force at the 47th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.    The third-year driver made it to her eighth career final in Top Fuel against Terry McMillen, the second consecutive final after a narrow defeat against Leah Pritchett in Phoenix.   This time, Brittany Force lands first career Top Fuel win, capturing the lead in the championship points for the first time in her career as well.

Brittany Force round 1 GatornationalsThe Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster was the car to beat all day long.   Brittany posted the quickest passes in every round of eliminations, leading up to the final.

Gatornationals Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations

In the first round, she would face Morgan Lucas, a former 2012 Gatornational champ and an adversary she had not yet scored a victory against in their two prior meetings.   But in round 1, she would leave first and never look back.  Brittany defeated Morgan Lucas with a 3.739 second run at 319.45 mph over his losing 3.770 second, 316.75 mph effort.

Gatornationals Top Fuel Round 2 Eliminations

Brittany Force lands first career Top fuel winBrittany would face rookie Tripp Tatum – the 26th competitor she has faced in Top Fuel, and although the Monster Energy dragster dropped a cylinder at launch, Brittany would keep it in the groove through to the finish, running a 3.808 second, at 311.05 mph.    Tatum would run a clean 3.890 at 320.05 mph, but it wasn’t enough for the win.

Gatornationals Top Fuel Round 3 Eliminations

Brittany Force, Terry McMillen, Dave Connolly and Clay Millican remained in the semi-finals, each vying for their first victory in NHRA Top Fuel competition.  The first pair would see McMillen take the win after Millican smoked the tires at the start.   Brittany proceeded to dispatch Connolly, running her best effort all weekend – a 3.729 second at 323.89 mph.   This would give Force lane choice over McMillen in the final.

 Gatornationals Top Fuel Final Eliminations

Brittany Force lands first career Top Fuel winThe final round would see the addition of a 102nd different winner in the history of Top Fuel to the books.   McMillen was vying for his first at his longtime sponsor, Amalie Oil’s title event, while Brittany hoped to bring home the first Top Fuel win for John Force Racing.    Brittany has appeared in eight previous finals, against six different opponents.  But wait no more, as Brittany Force lands her first career Top Fuel win – running a 3.772 at 318.77 mph against McMillen’s 3.981 second, 266.90 fireball, engine expiring effort.


Brittany is sixth different driver that Alan Johnson has tuned to their first pro win after Blaine Johnson in 1995, Gary Scelzi in 1997, Bruce Sarver in 2000, Shawn Langdon in 2012 and Khalid alBalooshi, also in 2012.   She is the ninth different woman to win in Top Fuel – joining Shirley Muldowney (1976), Lucille Lee (1982), Lori Johns (1990), Shelly Payne (1993), Christen Powell (1997), Melanie Troxel (2006), Hillary Will (2008), and Leah Pritchett (2016) in the record books.  Her win coming after Pritchett’s inaugural wally in Phoenix, not only makes it the first time since 1982 that two different women have won a Top Fuel race in the same season, but also at consecutive races, after Shirley Muldowney won the 1982 Gatornationals and Lucille Lee also won the next race in Atlanta.

Brittany Force embraces her dad after her win
Photo: Gary Nastase

Last weekend was incredible and we almost made it there and I was definitely very bummed but very proud of my entire team because they worked so hard to get here.  Today when we came out here, and driving out to the track and I was feeling good,”  Force said from the winner’s circle.  “As a driver I had that feeling, I had it in my stomach and just felt like we were going to go all the way.  We finally did and I have been chasing this for so many years and this is a proud moment to be standing here today.  I have to thank my entire team, my crew chiefs Brian Husen and Alan Johnson – thank you for getting us here.   I love all my guys.   Thank you to my family, especially my dad, for giving me this opportunity.”

 

Brittany leaves the Gatornationals event with the Top Fuel points lead heading into the next event, the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals, April 1-4 in Las Vegas, NV.

Watch Brittany Force lands first career Top Fuel win

 

The first time is so so SWEET! Brittany Force wins her first Top Fuel Wally in Gainesville. Share to congratulate. #NHRA #AmalieGatornats

Posted by NHRA on Sunday, March 20, 2016

Category: Featured, Women in Racing NewsTag: Brittany Force, Drag Racing, NHRA, Top Fuel, Women Racing

Ireland Karting Driver, Alyx Coby

March 10, 2016 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Alyx CobyAt an age where most of her schoolmates are preoccupied with music, fashion and the average tweenager rites of passage, 11 year-old Alyx Coby is making her presence known in the Ireland Karting scene.

Hailing from Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland, Alyx grew up around the karting world.  Her father, Gary, raced them when he was much younger, and her uncle Aaron still competes.   For her, it was inevitable that she would end up behind the wheel herself, and she took that opportunity by testing shortly after her eighth birthday.   Her father and uncle coached her on mastering one skill at a time, gaining seat time in testing when the opportunities were available.

“My dad and my uncle took me out for some test days after my eighth birthday and it’s just been a case of getting out for as much testing as possible and working on one particular thing at a time to get it right before moving on to the next thing.”

Alyx Coby takes home awards for her seasonIn 2013, she entered her first official race.   She would capture a few top 5 finishes that year, winning two novice finals in her rookie season.   Her second season, she continued to improve, winning her first qualifying heat and appearing on the podium several times.  But her third season in Karting would be a breakout year for Alyx Coby.  She won three finals and set six fastest lap records, finishing the season in 5th place for the championship.

“I had a great start to the year and at the third round of the championship I finished in second place in the two qualifying heats and went on to win both finals on the day. That’s when I knew that I had what it took to be successful in karting. I always enjoyed racing, but this was when I really fell in love with it.”

Alyx Coby KartingAt the end of the year in 2015, Alyx Coby made the jump up to the IAME X30 Junior class, becoming the youngest driver and the first girl to race the class in Ireland.    The class features 125cc engines that produce 28 horsepower and can reach speeds up to 70 miles per hour.    Alyx will be competing in the IAME X30 Junior class for the Motorsport Ireland Karting Championship this season in a new, more powerful FA-Alonso Kart.

“Being the first girl to win a national final at cadet level in Ireland was pretty special and unique. Nobody else will ever be able to say that.  There are not that many girls racing karts in Ireland so a lot of the time when I do something I’m the first to do it. Last year I became the first girl to race the IAME X30 in Ireland.”

Alyx Coby leads the pack in the rainWith the new class and kart comes new challenges.   Alyx works hard away from the track to meet the physical demands of the sport – aiming at increasing her strength and upper body control.

 “My new kart for the 2016 season is bigger and more powerful than the one I used in the Cadet class for the last three years and the tyres have a lot more grip so it requires more effort to get the kart through the corners. After my first few long runs in the kart my arms were really sore so I have had to spend the winter doing extra training to build up the strength in my arms. I recently started doing Karate and train four nights a week for two hours and also on Saturdays. It is really helping me and it is a lot of fun too.”

Alyx Coby learning the setupAt the track, Alyx’s only focus is driving and improving her skills on the track.  Her father handles the business side of the team: loading/unloading the truck, getting them to the races, setting up awnings, setting up kart for competition.    But Alyx is beginning to learn from him on the basic mechanics of the kart and how to set it up, adding that for now, she’ll leave it to the experts.    She focuses on fine tuning her driving skills, adding more race events whenever possible to increase her experience.

“Testing only gets you so far, you still need racing experience to improve. Having somebody else to use as a target or reference on track is so much more valuable that just doing lap after lap in testing on my own so I try to get out as often as I can in local club meetings in between the Championship races and over the winter.”

Alyx Coby testingThe demands and discipline needed to be successful in karting help Alyx at school to focus and concentrate and have helped develop her self-esteem.

“It has made me tougher and more determined and winning my first few races gave me more confidence in myself, that I could do anything if I put my mind to it. Being around older drivers has also helped me to be more mature than a lot of girls my age.”

Alyx Coby in the shopBetween the demands of her race schedules, school and karate, Alyx doesn’t have the typical life of an 11 year-old.   At first, her classmates didn’t understand her passion for racing, and what she was involved with.   But that all changed after her first win received some local news coverage.

“When they first heard I was racing karts they thought it was just like bumping cars or the little rental karts they have at some tracks. It was only after I won my first race and appeared in the local newspaper that they realised what it was I did. Now they all think it is pretty cool and some of them keep up to date with what I’m doing by checking the news on my website or following my Facebook and Instagram accounts!”

 But even with her success, Alyx Coby has faced some obstacles in her path.   Two years ago, the young racer was involved in a big crash at the beginning of the season that led to her kart rolling over several times and ejecting her from the seat.    She was ok, and wasn’t badly injured physically, but the emotional side shook her up considerably.  Through time, experience and motivation from her father and uncle, she works to overcome the lingering obstacles that the crash created.

“I have a fear of crashing,” said Alyx.   “… It took me a while to get used to being in the middle of a big group of karts. I’ll get over that with a bit more experience though.”

Alyx Coby says her hero is her dadFor now, Alyx is excited to take the next step in her racing career.  Her racing role model is her father, who she looks up to in the sport.  His support and guidance have meant everything to the young driver, who is eager to follow in his footsteps and make him proud.

“My dad is my racing hero. People at the track are always telling me they remember him racing when he was younger and tell me stories about when they raced against him so I really want to be as good as he was.    I think my biggest fear is coming in after a bad race and having to face my dad and explain to him what went wrong!”

With a bright future in front of her, Alyx Coby is determined to carve out a career in motorsports.   She is putting in the work to improve as a driver, with ultimate hopes of a future in Formula 1 racing.

“When I’m older I would love to race cars and maybe go all the way to F1 but for now I’m focusing on karting and the main goal is to win the Motorsport Ireland Karting Championship at least once.”

 One thing is certain, we have just seen the start of a bright career for Alyx Coby. 

Best of luck this season!

Video from Alyx Coby Racing

Alyx Coby – On board video. March 5th 2016Some more on board footage from the 360 camera.

Posted by Alyx Coby Racing on Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Category: Driver Features, FeaturedTag: Alyx Coby, Karting, Women Racing

Mid-race class switch for Haley James

March 8, 2016 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Reigning NMRA Coyote Modified champion, Haley James and team showed up in Bradenton for the 22nd Annual Nitto Tire NMRA Spring Break Shootout ready to defend her title for the 2016 season.   The Horsepower & Heels 2015 Female Rookie of the Year winner would begin her sophmore season of drag racing in qualifying for Coyote Modified on Friday.    With a strong 8.438 second  E.T. at 155.60 mph pass, Haley would take the provisional No. 4 position entering Saturday’s qualifying sessions.    The team stayed busy in the pits making a few changes under the car Friday evening, and many presumed that they would return on Saturday to climb the CM qualifying ladder.

Haley James swaps to Renegade
Gone is her hard-earned CM1 decals, replaced with her new Renegade class designation.

Mid-race class switch

But in a surprising move, Saturday morning word began to circulate that the CM class designation and Haley’s No.1 champion decal had been removed from the copper Hellion B-Team coupe, replaced with a new class and number –  a mid-race class switch for Haley James to the Renegade class.    Though they had contemplated a switch during the off season, Haley stated that the decision to move up wasn’t decided until after the opening round of qualifying.

“Knowing that I am wanting to go faster and move up, we just decided that now was the time to do it since it is the first race,” Haley said of the sudden change of class between Friday and Saturday qualifying rounds.

Haley James engine program
Outpowered in Renegade trim, Haley’s CM program will be revised to meet the new Renegade class requirements.

Though not prepared to the Renegade class rules, Haley opted to race her former Coyote Modified entry in the Renegade class for the weekend to pick up the opening event points in the class.   The smaller mandated turbo, heavier base weight, air-to-air intercooler setup and other Coyote Modified restrictions would put James at a significant disadvantage in the faster, 7 second class.   But the Spring Break Shootout in Bradenton is one of six NMRA championship events, and by qualifying and racing in the class with her former CM program, Haley gives herself a chance to contend for the Renegade championship by accumulating some points at the opener.

Starting over in Qualifying

Haley James Bradenton RenegadeAfter a few minor adjustments and her new Renegade class number in place, Haley headed into Saturday qualifying for a shot at the eliminations ladder.    She posted a best of 8.217 seconds at 164.29 mph, good enough for the No. 6 qualified position in the class out of 7 competitors.    Unfortunately, this placed her on the wrong side of the ladder, taking on her Hellion B-Team teammate and reigning Renegade class champion, Frank Varela in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday.

B-Team Showdown

Hellion B Team matchup

First round of eliminations would be a Hellion B-Team showdown, and the teammates decided to have a little fun and put on a show for the fans.

“We knew I didn’t have the power to take on Frank in Coyote Modified trim, so we decided to have a little fun on the starting line and during the burnouts,” Haley said of her first round in Renegade.

Hellion B Team takes the treeBoth cars pulled into the water box and jumped on the throttle, rolling out a pair of crowd-friendly John Force-style smokey burnouts that carried well beyond the starting line.   Haley edged Frank out by rolling hers just a bit further, to the cheers of fans watching on the sidelines.     In staging, the concentration was on for reaction time bragging rights, and BOTH drivers posted identical 0.084 second reaction times.

Haley James Renegade Round 1 Eliminations BradentonBut Frank quickly put some distance between them, posting a 7.730 second, 180.94 mph run across the finish line.   Though she would run her best of the weekend, Haley’s 8.181 second, 166.38 mph pass wasn’t enough to keep up with the Renegade class champion.

The team will return to their Albuquerque, New Mexico base and begin work on getting the car into Renegade trim.   Their next stop will be the 8th Annual NMRA/NMCA All Star Nationals presented by Miller Welders, April 7-10, 2016 at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA.

 

Category: Featured, Women in Racing NewsTag: Drag Racing, Haley James, NMRA, Women Racing

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

 

Category: Featured, Featured ProfessionalTag: In the Shop, Kim Kussy

First win in Top Fuel for Leah Pritchett

February 29, 2016 //  by Horsepower & Heels

First win in Top Fuel for Leah PritchettNHRA racer Leah Pritchett earned her first career win in the Top Fuel class this weekend during the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona.   The emotional win not only marked the first win in Top Fuel for Leah Pritchett, but the all-female final also had historical significance for women as well.   Pritchett had previously campaigned limited schedules in Top Fuel during the 2014 & 2015 seasons with Dote Racing, before becoming a free-agent at the end of 2015.

First win in Top Fuel for Leah Pritchett

After qualifying in the No. 10 position with a 3.859 second, 314.31 mph effort, Leah Pritchett would begin Sunday’s eliminations facing JR Todd in round one.    She would take the lead off the starting line and never look back, running  4.361 at 245.54 mph to Todd’s losing 4.612 at 168.05 mph.

In round two, she would face former NHRA Top Fuel champion, Antron Brown.    However, this match was over before it began, as Brown left before the tree, handing Leah a rare red-light victory.   Undeterred in the other lane, she ran 3.808 at 322.19 mph to earn lane choice entering the next round.

For the semi-finals, Leah would face Clay Millican, a competitor she had yet to beat in Top Fuel competition.   Maintaining stealth-like reactions on the tree, she was able to defeat Millican with a 3.832 at 317.05 mph to his losing 3.878 at 299.86 mph.     A clean pass, but not enough to secure lane choice.    Pritchett would advance to her second career final in Top Fuel, where she would be facing fellow female racer, Brittany Force.    Last season, Pritchett reached the final round in Atlanta, where she took the runner-up against Antron Brown.

Historic All-Female Top Fuel Final

Leah vs. Brittany in the final
Photo: NHRA

Much anticipation built for the all-female final round.   Both racers were vying for their first career Top Fuel victory, and both had made big changes in the off-season that were making quite a difference in their on-track performances:  Leah having joined the Quaker State/BVR team full-time for 2016, and Brittany’s Monster Energy team forming an alliance with reknowned tuning ace Alan Johnson.    Statistically speaking, Leah had the advantage over Brittany in their previous meetings at 3-1, but Brittany had run consistently in the 3.70 range all day Sunday.   It was anyone’s race to win.

When the tree dropped, Leah’s consistency at the tree would pay off, taking the advantage off the line with a 0.046 second reaction over Brittany’s 0.067.   Both thundered down the track side-by-side, but Leah would hang on for the victory with a 3.775 second, 323.12 mph performance to Force’s faster, but losing 3.774 at 321.35 mph pass.     Her quickest run of the weekend, the hole-shot marked the first win in Top Fuel for Leah Pritchett.

It is the happiest day of my life, besides getting married, of course,” said Pritchett. “This is what dreams are made of.”

The win pushes Leah Pritchett and her Quaker State/ BVR team to the No. 5 position in championship points so far this season, after she was eliminated in the first round at the season opener in Pomona.

I feel like I just won the Super Bowl, even though it’s only the second race and it’s not the U.S. Nationals. For me, it’s an incredible personal and Professional victory to be able to compete with the team that I’m with.”

The first win in Top Fuel for Leah Pritchett placed her name in the record books as the eighth female driver to win in the Top Fuel category, and the 16th woman to win a Mello Yello Series race.  Leah and Brittany’s match-up marked the first all-female Top Fuel final since Shirley Muldowney defeated Lucille Lee in Columbus, Ohio back in 1982.   It also marked only the forth all-female professional class final in the Mello-Yello series history, with the last coming when Angelle Sampey and Karen Stoffer battled it out in Pro Stock Motorcycle last season in Norwalk, Ohio.

Category: Featured, Women in Racing NewsTag: Drag Racing, Leah Pritchett, NHRA, Top Fuel, Women Racing

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