Featured

First Lady of F1 Maria Filippis

February 22, 2016 // by Taylor Hyatt

Formula 1 recently released the unfortunate news that Maria Teresa de Filippis had passed away on January 8^th, at 89 years of age. The Italian driver was the first woman to start a Formula 1 race which happened in the late 1950’s.

This got me thinking about how little we acknowledge the early generation of female, auto racing pioneers. We are always taking about the girls currently in the news making headlines about what a great season they’re having or what a great year it was for women in the sport which is great, but what about the ladies that made it possible for those articles to be written? Let’s talk about them!

Maria Filippis | The First Lady of F1

Maria Filippis is only one of two women to ever have the opportunity to race in Formula 1 and it’s been over 40 years since Lella Lombardi, the second female to start an F1 race, last start in 1976. When asked about being the minority in the sport by Red Bulletin Filippis had a typical answer for the time.

Of course there was prejudice, along the lines of what’s that woman doing here?”

Maria Filippis wasn’t a stranger to auto racing or competition, especially in Italy. Having driven sports cars previously, with many class wins, and participating in prestigious races such as the Mille Miglia, an endurance road race, dating back to 1927.

Maria took the green flag in three Grand Prix races, driving a Maserati 250F, a very popular car at the time. She managed to place 10^th in her first race in Belgium, but in Portugal and Monza she had to pull the car in early due to engine failure.

Unfortunately, after having an awful accident herself, colliding with a light pole, and seeing her Porsche team boss, and friend, Jean Behra, lose his life in a fatal on-course crash Maria decided the risks of racing were too high. She retired in 1959 and never looked back. She was very emotional about the experience in her interview with the Observer in 2006.

That, for me, was the most tragic because it was in a race that I should have been taking part in.”

After many years of marriage and raising children, Maria Fillipis became secretary general of the Club International des Anciens Pilotes de Grand Prix in 1984. In 1997 she became Vice President for retired drivers and most recently, honorary president in 2011.

In the U.S. we had Janet Guthrie and Lynn St. James. In Italy, they had Maria Teresa de Fillipis. Think of the possibilities and how the sport could have changed for women if she would have continued her racing career. Still, we wouldn’t be where we are without her.

Girl Trouble – Courtney Mageau

February 17, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Edmonton, Alberta native Courtney Mageau grew up immersed in Drag Racing. The youngest in a family of four girls, her father and grandfather had raced alcohol altereds and funny cars while she was growing up. The elder girls often would accompany dad to the track, while Courtney and her other sister stayed home with their mom. At bigger events, when the entire family would attend the race, Courtney remembers sitting in the stands to cheer on her dad.

…Although I didn’t know much about cars and engines, I loved sitting in the stands when my dad went up to race.”

Each of her older sisters were given shots in the junior dragster ranks, but none really took to the sport. That was until, at age 12, Courtney raised her hand… “Hey, do I get a turn?” and a new legacy was born.

I don’t know if I’ll ever truly understand my motivation to start racing in the first place. I think part of it was wanting to do something that was unique, that none of my friends did. Another part of it was getting to spend quality time with my dad. The other piece of it was having grown up a pretty shy, un-athletic, kind of scared kid, I was just grasping at straws trying to find something to be passionate about! Whatever the reason, I started racing when I was 13 and haven’t looked back.”

Starting with the junior dragster she raced at 13 years-old, Courtney Mageau felt she had a bit of a late start to the sport.

People are often surprised to hear I started racing so young, but drag racers know that is almost a late start for kids, with many starting to run the class at 7 or 8 years old.”

Still, she traveled with her father and grandfather to different tracks, racing in different conditions and facing new competitors she wasn’t familiar with. Though she was gaining experience, she didn’t have many breakthrough moments in the class, finishing 2^nd only once during her three-year stint in the Junior Dragster ranks.

I had a lot of fun, but I wouldn’t exactly say my car was competitive.”

Moving Up – Crewing and Brackets

When she turned 16, Courtney sold her Junior Dragster and focused her energy on becoming a crewmember on her father’s team for the next two years. In 2009, she would climb back behind the wheel to earn her competition license in an ET Bracket Dragster, running twice that season.

But her big breakthrough moment came during the 2010 season, when Courtney would take home the championship at the IHRA Rocky Mountain Nationals in the Top ET category. 19-year-old Mageau fought through a full, tough field to land herself the victory in the class.

It felt like I had to win more rounds in that event than I had won in my cumulative years of racing in the junior program! The whole weekend, I kept waiting for the spell to break, but it didn’t. To experience my first career win at such a high profile event is indescribable. After going home that weekend, I approached racing with higher confidence and higher stakes! There have been many more rounds and events won since then, but nothing compares to that first-time feeling.”

She spent 6 years in the class, while working on and receiving her Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Alberta in 2013. In addition to her driving duties, Courtney handles sponsor relations, and social media marketing for the team, also working in the shop 2-3 times per week as crew, doing maintenance on the car, while balancing workload at an engineering firm in Human Resources/Recruiting.

My Bachelor’s degree in commerce has helped quite a bit to build my confidence speaking to people. If someone had told me 5 years ago that I would be primarily responsible for talking to sponsors, I would have freaked out. As it is, the transition has come pretty naturally.

I don’t think it matters what you take in school- but I’m a firm believer that those who stay in school and who go that step further to pursue post-secondary show a certain level of determination and commitment to get things done that will help them to be successful in motorsports.”

Girl-Trouble Funny Car

Now, 25-year-old Courtney Mageau will be following in the legacy of her father for a run at the Pro-Nostaglia Funny Car division, the Blown Alcohol Funny Car class that he competed in when she was a child, running 6.90- 7.50 seconds in the quarter mile.

After acquiring a 1955 Thunderbird Funny Car in October 2014, they spent the off-season preparing the car for competition. A used car that had sat untouched for nearly a decade, the team had their work cut out for them, making repairs and improving the engine combination.

Last year, Courtney earned her competition license in the class, and plans a full season of competition in 2016 “Girl Trouble” T-Bird.

I’m very excited because this is the class my dad was racing in when I first got into Junior Dragster driving, and many of the people he raced against are still driving in the class (as are some of their sons). I’m the first female to license in this class in Alberta. I get the privilege to pave the way for other female drivers in Western Canada, along with Sherri Bodnarchuk who hails from Saskatchewan, Canada. I plan to stick to this class for a couple of years and see where things take me from there!”

Courtney leans on the nearly 50 years of racing experience behind her family name, crediting her father as her main coach since day one, adding “His advice is gold. I trust him and know that together we have what it takes to win.”

Their biggest road block, like many racers, is in finding resources and finances to be competitive. Growing up in a big family, the team came from humble beginnings, and work hard to make their efforts and resources last in such an expensive sport.

Every car I have raced has been purchased used and repaired by our family and skilled crew. Some racers have the luxury of pushing their cars to the limits- and if something breaks, they replace it. We don’t have that option, and are always fighting to put together the best racecars we can with limited resources. Our sponsors help keep things affordable, but we have to be creative and slowly build things as we move to the next level. That’s been the biggest challenge.”

With the Drag Racing community being one of the most supportive of women, she has always felt very welcomed by her racing counterparts.

If people are critical, they are careful not to say it to my face! If anyone scoffs when they see me (or any other girls) driving up in the other lane, I would be pleased. Only half of the sport of drag racing takes place on the track- the other half takes place in your head. The amount of focus it takes to react and to make decisions when you’re running at 170 mph+… I like to think that if someone’s not taking me seriously just because I’m a female, then they aren’t entirely bringing their A-game, and they’re probably going to make mistakes for it. The best way to dispel any nay-sayers is to kick their butts.”

But outside the sport, many people are shocked to learn that Courtney is a drag racer.

The overall mix of being young, female, and working in an office environment doesn’t fit the “Race Car Driver” stereotype. No one ever believes that I drive these cars until I show them pictures or videos or the oil under my fingernails! I am fortunate that when people get over the initial surprise, they are supportive and excited. “

Things get pretty chaotic at the track between driving the racecar and handling all of the crew responsibilities of doing the maintenance between runs, but Courtney is very dedicated to remaining available to the fans. She knows how important their support is to the sport and the tracks, especially loves talking to the kids, and the young ladies in particular, about what she does at the racetrack. She takes photos with them in the car, answering questions and hoping to inspire them to achieve their dreams. Having been on her own career-journey, she offers this advice:

Don’t be afraid to ask for (or offer) help. If you’re looking to get your start on a team, spend some time wandering around the pits getting to know the teams and seeing if any are willing to train new crew. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. If your school offers a trades or automotives option, take it! Even if you don’t become involved in racing, the skills you learn in these classes will benefit you for your whole life. Don’t feel afraid to break the stereotype of “male hobbies” or “female hobbies.” And don’t be afraid to be well-rounded or to try new things. When I was in highschool, I was on my school’s cheerleading team. If you want to see someone raise their eyebrows, tell them you’re a cheerleading dragracer. But who’s to say you can’t be both?”

We couldn’t agree more. We can’t wait to see Courtney Mageau and her Girl Trouble Funny Car in 2016 and beyond. We wish you all the best!

Rachel Kullman: Shifting gears in SCCA Racing

February 9, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Most high school graduates are just venturing out to explore the possibilities of what the future can hold for them, but eighteen year-old Rachel Kullman has just shifted gears to a high-speed life on the fast- track of SCCA racing.

Rachel Kullman – the early years

Growing up, Rachel Kullman was no stranger to a track surface. Her father, Paul Kullman, owner of No Mo’ Money Race Engineering, began a career in sports car racing over 15 years ago. Rachel, her mom and sister would all accompany him to his racing events, cheering him on from the sidelines. When Rachel turned 11, her father treated her to a trip to DeSoto Speedway, a go-karting track in Bradenton, FL – an hour south of their Seminole, Florida home. Rachel was immediately hooked, and the family brought home her first kart that very same day.

Rachel was an active young lady, participating in soccer, karate, and dance throughout her elementary and middle school years. She balanced 7 years of karate, 4 years of soccer, 3 years of karting, and a year of dance with a busy academic workload. In high school, Rachel was dual-enrolled in both her regular curriculum and college coursework, getting a jump start on her college education. She now is enrolled at St. Petersburg Community College and plans to transfer to the University of Florida to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian. She also works at Vernon Photography during her time away from classes.

But despite her busy schedule, one thing has never left Rachel – a deep love for racing that fuels her passion to follow in her father’s footsteps. She competed in karts from 2009-2011, and says of the experience; “From there on, I was hooked on this addicting sport and have loved it ever since.”

Moving up: Rachel Kullman in SCCA

While racing in karts sparked her love for the sport, it was the time she spent in the team’s No Mo Money Racing shop that she began to learn more about the world of SCCA racing. Spending time at her father’s side, she was gaining valuable experience and knowledge about what it takes to compete in sports car racing. This hands-on experience would help her when it was time to get behind the wheel herself.

When we are at the track, my job is to grab whatever tool,equipment, etc. that he may need and run any errands that he may need to do like get fuel or go to the store to get more water or parts for the car. If we are doing an enduro race my duty is to be the fire bottle girl on pit stops. I also hand him any tools he needs on pit lane and help out with anything that I can. When we are not at the track, I try to come whenever I can to the shop and help him work on the cars.”

At 16 years-old, when many are just getting their driver’s license to drive for the first time, Rachel was attending her first SCCA driver schools: at Daytona International Speedway and Sebring International Speedway. These schools assign a teacher through SCCA to monitor students’ driving line and observe safety of new drivers. They test knowledge and reaction to flags (yellow, red, mechanical or “meatball”, black) and judge students’ understanding and response. Graduates of the school earn certificates, giving them the green light to compete in regional races. Once students complete two regional race weekends successfully, they are granted an official SCCA license. Rachel attended the schools in May and June 2014. She learned to improve her lines and cornering,and entered her first SCCA Majors race at Homestead Miami Speedway in January 2015 in her very own 1990 Mazda Miata prepped for the track. She moved on that month to the second race at Sebring, and the third event in February at NOLA Speedway in New Orleans.

In May 2015, she returned to the Daytona driver’s school to test a new transmission in her STU prepped Miata. All of the experience she had been gaining and her testing earned her a second place finish in a 90-minute enduro race at Daytona International Speedway that month, her first-ever enduro attempt. She would move on to compete at the 2015 SCCA Runoffs at Daytona International Speedway in September 2015, finishing 14^th overall. Rachel would finish out the 2015 season with a third place finish in the SCCA regional race, second place in the SCCA Regional Championship October race, and landing in the No. 3 position overall for the championship points trophy in the SCCA Regional Series.

Shifting gears – Rachel Kullman overcomes

In just her short year and a half in sports car racing, Rachel Kullman has exceeded all expectations, growing as a promising young driver in the STU ranks. She has been surprised at the attention and support she has received from her peers.

Being a girl doing a “guy sport”, people are actually very interested in what I do. I race with SCCA, and the people there are just absolutely amazing. They are always cheering for me and helping us with anything we may need, were just one big giant family.”

One memorable experience for Rachel came while at the Daytona school testing her new transmission.

I had only been racing for a year at this point and at the very end of the school there is a “mini race”. Being that this was a school there was a small number of experienced drivers like myself there. I believe there was four of us, and at the start of the race, us four pulled the rest of the pack by at least three seconds or so. There was one faster car, then there was me and this other Miata. Since we both have the same car the battle between us was pretty great. I was leading for most of it then I messed up in a corner and he passed me, but on the very last lap in the first horseshoe at Daytona International Speedway, I late braked him and passed him on the inside in front of all the instructors, workers and fans. When I came off the track I had a parade of people coming up to my car and clapping for me and telling me how awesome of a move that was. I had instructors come up to me that had seen me just a year before at my first driver school and tell me how impressed they were with how much my driving had improved. It definitely is a day I will never forget.”

Even with great support and encouragement, the learning curve of racing isn’t without its difficulties. Rachel said an early mistake on track hurt her confidence and created a roadblock she works hard to overcome.

One of the biggest roadblocks that I have had to overcome and still am over coming is to trust my car will do what it is supposed to do. When I first began racing, I was learning how to take the corners and when to enter and exit them. Due to entering the corner wrong I spun out on exit and someone who didn’t see me hit me. Ever since then I’ve had doubts in the car, thinking that it won’t stick even though it will.”

Rachel works to overcome this fear by studying her corners using iRacing, an online simulator software, where she is able to familiarize herself with the tracks and practice before she straps into the car to go out and race them. She also leans on her best friend, another more experienced racer, who helps her to analyze the corners, correcting them when they are wrong and offering solid advice that Rachel relates well to. With his assistance, Rachel has seen much improvement on the track, a fantastic boost to her confidence.

Miata’s are known for how they handle in corners, they don’t have very much speed but they handle corners so well that I have passed BMW’s and Mustangs going through corners. I am slowly but surely over coming this fear, and one day soon I will drive the car to its full potential and have 100% faith that it will hold out.”

With such a strong support system behind her, Rachel hasn’t ever felt any different being one of the few women racing. In fact, the only time her gender has ever been addressed was from one astonished man at the SCCA races.

While I was away helping the crew pack somethings into the trailer, a guy who knew me thru SCCA walked up to some of our crew mates and asked them, “does she really drive that good or is it just her car”. Our crew members replied that it really is my driving and not the car, and just walked away from the situation. When I found out about it, at first I took it as an insult because I knew he was just saying that because I’m a girl, but then I re-thought about what the guy said and realized that it actually was a compliment! Him asking that question, basically stated that he thought I was a good driver, and that’s all that matters to me.”

Rachel Kullman’s Plans for the Future

Rachel and her team are currently preparing a new racecar for the 2016 season, a 1999 Mazda Miata that will allow Kullman to be more competitive in the STU class. While she continues her studies and works towards her goal of becoming a veterinarian, she remains very dedicated to her racing program. Rachel plans to race in the Southeastern conference of the SCCA Majors this season, with aim at the SCCA Runoffs at Indianapolis Speedway. She is confident her team has what it takes, but needs sponsor support to make it happen. When not racing herself, she often works the corners at races, staying involved with the sport by waving the flags and making calls on the radio, something she takes great joy in doing.

To other young ladies entering the sport, she offers this advice:

Somethings that I have learned are to never give up on yourself. I personally had a hard time at first learning stick shift, but I practiced every day and now it’s like second nature to me. There is going to be lots of bumps in the road when it comes to racing and achieving your dreams, but don’t ever give up and don’t let anyone tell you that you won’t be able to do it.”

One thing is certain: she’s just taken off in what promises to be an exciting journey in sports car racing. We can’t wait to see where Rachel Kullman will take her SCCA career to next.

Best of luck this season, Rachel Kullman!

Enjoyed this article? You can keep up with Rachel’s career and hundreds of other women in racing by subscribing to receive free Horsepower & Heels news updates.

Teryx Girls ready for ‘The Hammer’

January 27, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

UTV off-road racers Sara Price and Erica Sacks are ready to take on their next big challenge to showcase their off-road endurance skills in their factory-sponsored Kawasaki Teryx. The pair have taken on some of the most extreme off-road sporting events, with Sara coming from a professional career in motocross racing, and Sacks from an accomplished gymnastics career and off-road racing and navigation experience to her credit. Together, they have formed one of the most well-known UTV off-road teams, nicknamed the “Teryx Girls”.

Rallye Aïche des Gazelles 2015

Teryx Girls at 2015 Rallye Aiche des Gazelle — Photo: http://www.utvunderground.com/

Last March, the Teryx Girls became the first U.S. team to compete in the side-by-side class of the world’s toughest all-female off-road event, The Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles. The event is a 9 day navigation challenge, where competitors are limited to manual compasses and hand-drawn maps to cross the Sahara desert. After a rough start in which the two tenacious girls slept alone in the middle of the Sahara, they were able to recover and finish 7th in the class. They also were the best finishers in the rookie category, finishing before all other first-time participants.

Heading to ‘Hammertown USA’

With the experience they gained over the variety of African terrains in their cross across the Sahara, the Teryx Girls have decided to set a new goal in 2016 of tackling the King of the Hammers event. Held in Johnson Valley, Calif., the one day off-road race course is a rough and rugged 120-mile stretch considered by many as one of the most extreme off-road races in the world. The Mean’s Dry Lake bed location is referred to as “Hammer Town U.S.A.” and the week-long events surrounding the race are a major pilgrimage for the off-road racing community. Terrain challenges for the Teryx Girls will include the sandy dry lake beds, rough open desert landscapes and very difficult rock canyons that will challenge their technical rock climbing experiences with obstacles significantly larger than their Kawasaki UTV.

New Teryx Girls 2016 Kawasaki UTV

For 2016, Kawasaki and a host of other sponsors have come on board to equip the Teryx Girls with a brand new race-outfitted 2016 Kawasaki Teryx UTV, one of the only factory-sponsored UTV race teams in the world. Taking valuable lessons learned at the Gazelle rally, the Teryx Girls were ready for the huge undertaking of outfitting a new race-ready UTV.

Both Sara and Erica are very hands-on in the preparation and build process. They brought on IMG Motorsports from Lake Elsinore, Calif. to help with fabrications and set-up; crafting the roll-cage, front bumpers, and the customized fabrication needed for mounts and other modifications.

For the cage we decided to go with a bolt-on build that offered plenty of room for the girls to access anything they might need. We wanted the Teryx to have a menacing look with extra bracing to protect them in case of a roll-over.In a sea of RZRs, its cool to see a Teryx out there competing.” stated James Hill, co-owner of IMG Motorsports.

Next up, they outfitted the UTV with a 4500 lb. Super ATV winch and skid plate system to assist in the rock crawling portion of the course. For wheel and tire selection, the Teryx Girls chose a 14″ Raceline Mamba beadlock wheel and 30″ Arisun tire combo, with Coyote ENT inner wheel/tire liners to provide maximum traction and reliability. Long travel suspension from HCR Racing was installed for added height, stability and maneuverability on the technical parts of the course. Custom axles were made by Summers Brothers to match the new wider rear differential design of the 2016 Teryx model.

Full navigation is on-board courtesy of Lowrance GPS, and the girls will communicate via Bluetooth intercom provided by PCI Race Radios. The Teryx also received some performance upgrades via an ECU flash by Benchmark Performance to remove speed governors, allowing the girls to push the limits of their UTV. The girls will sit snug and safe in PRP GT/S.E. suspension seats, 5.3 harnesses, and even added a pair of hand restraints.

Training for King of the Hammers

The Teryx Girls have been hard at work training for the event and getting acclimated with their new UTV. Preliminary tests left the Teryx Girls confident and pleased with how the Kawasaki performed in the ruthless canyon rock terrain. Neither of the Teryx Girls had much previous experience in rock crawling, so the experience was new and educational for them both.

I usually try to avoid rocks, but in this case you aim for the rocks for better clearance,” said Sara.

For navigator Erica Sacks, the event will provide even more of a physical challenge, as she will be climbing in-and-out of the UTV to set up for obstacles in addition to her navigating duties. Running ahead of the UTV, moving heavy rocks, and climbing around to set the winch will all be extremely demanding tasks physically and mentally, and Erica wants to be sure she’s ready for the challenge.

The last thing I want to do is puke in my helmet or slow the team down because I wasn’t prepared,” said Erica.

Their training to date has introduced them to various portions of the Hammer trails: Chocolate Thunder, Wrecking Ball, Sludge Hammer, and Claw Hammer. The Teryx Girls are ready for the challenge, and can’t wait to hit the King of the Hammers course!

King of the Hammers Event Info

10th Annual King of the Hammers
January 29 – February 6, 2016
Hammertown (Boone Rd)
Johnson Valley, CA 92285

King of the Hammers Race begins Friday February 5th, 2016 at 8:00AM and concludes at 10:00PM. For more details, please see the Full Week Hammertown Official Schedule

Tickets: $20 per person for the week/cash only. Tickets can be purchased at all hours from the front gate starting noon, Jan 29 thru Feb. 6. First-time attendees should consult Spectactor Rules and other important information.

Leave your comments below to support the Teryx Girls at the King of the Hammers!

Burning Out Burning Rubber: Stress Relief Strategies for Women in Motorsports

January 15, 2016 // by Paula Davis-Laack

Guest Blogger, Paula Davis-Laack Internationally published stress relief and resiliency expert.

I need to start this article with a confession. When I was asked to start blogging for Horsepower and Heels, only two names came to mind when I thought of women and motorsports: Danica Patrick and Lyn St. James. Watching the Indy 500 each year was religion in my family, and my dad is a diehard car nut (muscle cars from the 1960’s to be exact). His enthusiasm for cars spilled over to me, and I often joined him at car shows. When my dad took me drag racing for the first time at Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove, WI, I pulled my first holeshot and was hooked. Competition in any form is part of my DNA.

Fast forward a few years, and I’m now so excited to learn more about how many women are involved in motorsports at all levels. I burned out toward the end of my law practice, so I am keenly aware of the toll stress can take in a high pressure, high- stakes environment.

Motorsports is both high pressure and high-stakes, so here are five strategies to help you manage the stress:

Job craft. Job crafting is like Spanx for the workplace. It’s simply a way for you to re-shape your job to better suit your strengths, values and interests. Once you identify your values, strengths, and interests, you can think of new ways to expand or alter the tasks you perform, how you relate to your colleagues, and/or how you think about your job as a whole. For example, are you just a member of the pit crew or are you a trailblazer in a tough profession? That simple shift in how you think about your work can have ripple effects in terms of energy and engagement. Most people don’t land the perfect job – they have to mold it into something that is perfect for them.

Give yourself some credit – you’re “building the plane as you fly it.” When I started working for the Army teaching and training resilience skills to soldiers, launching the program was more important to the Army than making sure every single skill was perfectly designed. Army officials said of the program, “We are building the plane as we fly it.” When my mom was a teenager, her high school didn’t offer sports programs for girls because Title IX didn’t exist. Both of my grandmothers did factory work because getting an education beyond high school wasn’t emphasized, and even if they had gone to college, their professional options were limited. That’s not the case today. Women have many opportunities to pursue their educational and professional goals, but the problem is that we often don’t have a model to follow – we’re “building the plane as we fly it.” This is especially true of women in motorsports – you are true pioneers. Media messages, societal expectations, and the pressure we put on ourselves (and each other) have resulted in an impossible standard – “do it all and do it perfectly.” As a result, most high-achieving women I know are exhausted and burned out.

Determine your “Giver Type.” In his book Give and Take, Dr. Adam Grant offers a unique perspective on success and classifies people as givers, takers, or matchers based on their styles of social interaction. Takers like to get more than they give, givers are other-focused and prefer to pay attention to what other people need from them, and matchers are a blend, wanting an equal balance between giving and taking. Dr. Grant has identified different sub-sets of givers, two of which are “selfless” givers and “otherish” givers. Selfless givers give their time and energy without regard to their own needs (hey – it’s 3pm and I haven’t eaten yet today!). Selfless giving, in the absence of recovery, becomes overwhelming and can drive burnout. Otherish givers, however, find a way to balance giving with their own self-interest and self-care. As you probably guessed, selfless givers are more likely to burn out. You can determine your giving style at www.giveandtake.com.

Increase your diet of positive emotions. In the past two decades, positive emotions have emerged as a key element in building stress resilience. Positive emotions promote pro-social behavior (causing you to seek out help from others), spark health coping strategies (like becoming more solution-focused when under pressure), and reverse the negative physiological impact of stress. Studies show that high-performing individuals tend to experience positive to negative emotions at a ratio of about 3:1; for high-performing teams, that ratio is closer to 6:1. You can get your positivity ratio at www.positivityratio.com.

Turn your inner critic into your inner coach. This version of a Mark Twain quote so accurately captures how your inner critic can get in the way: “I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” Whether you drag race, are part of a pit crew, or are behind the scenes, being a flexible, accurate, and thorough thinker under stress and pressure is a foundational skill set for resilience; however, thinking traps, your core beliefs about your life experiences, and runaway thinking, or catastrophizing, can sabotage even the best intentions. The good news is that with some simple techniques, you can retrain your brain so that your inner critic either shows up less frequently or with less intensity. I have a free worksheet to get you started.

Beyoncé calls her alter ego Sasha Fierce. If I had an alter ego, it would be some version of all of you. Motorsports needs more badass women like yourselves involved in all facets of the business. My mission is to help you continue to kick butt in this tough profession because your time, energy and talents are so needed.

Women of the Dakar Rally 2016

January 5, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

Women of the Dakar Rally Raid

The Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid that began in 1978 from Paris, France to Dakar, Senegal. Security issues resulted in the race being moved to South America in 2009. The event is regarded as one of the toughest endurance off-road races in the world, and is open to amateurs and professionals. There are four class categories: Bike, Quad, Car and Truck. The course is divided into Stages, some short and others 800 kilometers or more in a day. The South American Dakar course spans Argentina and Chile.

Below are some of the brave women attempting the Dakar in 2016.

Laia Sanz | KTM Racing #12 (Bike)

Laia Sanz | Women of the Dakar Rally — Photo Gregory Lenormand / DPPI

Barcelona’s Laia Sanz is competing in her sixth Dakar Rally. She finished the 2015 Dakar Rally in 9th place, the highest finish for a woman. Sanz is fresh off winning her fourth consecutive World Enduro Championship title, making her count up to 17 world championship crowns in all (four Enduro and 13 Trial).

Leaving the factory Honda team, she has switched to the works KTM squad for her sixth attempt at Dakar. Her new machine is an Austrian bike with more power and faster than anything she has ridden before.

To be part of the KTM team is a chance but it’s also the fruit of a lot of labour and effort. I have to make the most of this opportunity. I have the perfect situation for improving…there are no more excuses. I have the support of the entire team, who I’d like to thank for showing confidence in me. I wont try to finish on the podium, but I’d take a top 10 result no questions asked. Everyone is waiting for me to go for a top 5 but I have to remain realistic. The Dakar went so well last year but it will be hard to repeat that. It is true that if I did it once, I should try to do it again…but for now I am going to aim for the top 15, but then will see what happens. I have two very special memories over the five years I have taken part in the Dakar. The first is very personal: it was when I completed my first Dakar. There are no words to explain the emotions that I experienced at that moment. Competition wise, I still think about stage 8 last year, the one I finished 5th on. That was something very special.”

Rosa Romero Font | Himonisa Racing Team #93 (Bike)

Rosa Romero | Women of the Dakar Rally — Photo Gregory Lenormand / DPPI

Hailing from Spain, Rosa Romero is the wife of two-time Dakar winner, Nani Roma. She is attempting her fifth Dakar, after unsuccessful attempts at finishing in 2006, 2012, and 2014. She finally completed her goal of finishing the grueling Dakar Rally in 2015, resulting in 52nd overall.

Since then, she has been gaining experience and learning to tackle issues that she may encounter on the course. Building upon the confidence of finishing in 2015, she also gained valuable seat time at the Merzouga Rally, where she finished 22nd overall, and 2nd among women) and the Rally of Sardinia, finishing 44th overall and as the fastest woman.

[translated] “Last year was a slightly tense Dakar. All I wanted was to complete that, and really enjoyed it. Now that is done, and the goal is the same: to end, but enjoying it a little more. If the Dakar was an easier race, it would not be valued as much. Worth a lot of money, a lot of effort, a lot of hours of dedication, you get there and spend fatal, get up at three o’clock, you have some inhuman links, stages where you suffer and think … we are half fools! But then, you think you’ve been able to overcome all that and it is worth it. I liked [Dakar] since childhood because I saw it on TV and I loved the sand, adventure. When I turned 18, I convinced my father to help me buy a motorcycle. What I liked was not competition but travel. My dream was to go to Africa … and I did. I bought a Cagiva, a trail bike that was huge and I went to Morocco with friends. Gradually, I got to know people in the world of racing and getting further into it. Combining that life with family life is complicated.”

Camelia Liparoti | QuadsSVMag.com Maxxis #259 (Quad)

Camelia Liparoti | Women of the Dakar Rally 2016 — Photo Gregory Lenormand / DPPI

Italian-born Camelia Liparoti took an untraditional path to the Dakar Rally. The former Photo reporter specialized in skiing before discovering the Dakar on photo assignment in 2005. During a trip to Africa, she gained the opportunity to ride a quad and found her calling, finding many parallels to skiing in glide, speed, pitch and feedback.

The now resident of France first entered the Dakar in 2009, and was unable to finish. She hasn’t missed the event since, proving her worth with Top 15 finishes 2010-2015, with her best finish at 9th in 2012, and the first female moto-quad finisher in 2013. A six-time world rally champion offroad racer, she proves that she is a serious contender.

[translated “The Dakar is like a drug! We wait all year when we will return to this family, seeing familiar faces again and live the race all the way! The 2015 edition was difficult, especially during the episode of the Salar de Uyuni , and I finished the “mental “. This year I want to do a good Dakar, have fun. I have around me a successful team , the same as in previous years, and I always trust my Yamaha ATV without doubt the closest of the series of the plateau, to finish my seventh Dakar ! I have the record for the number of kilometers driven on the Dakar on a quad and records are made to be broken! I am pleased that the category continues to grow , we are 46 this year.”

Covadonga Fernandez Suarez | Dimaxpzo #281 (Quad)

Covadonga Fernandez Suarez \ Women of the Dakar Rally — Photo: Dakar.com

This is the first appearance at the Dakar Rally for Covadonga Fernandez Suarez. Originally from Gijón, Spain and now residing in Venezuela, she has trained both mentally and physically for the challenge. A strong showing at the Merzouga Rally where she finished 27th overall and first in the women’s quad category; as well as a 42nd finish at the Rally of Morocco helped strengthen her resolve to enter the Dakar.

[translated] “I worry about the hours I’ll be on the quad. For navigation I think we are well prepared, but marking a pace that makes us arrive at a reasonable time and not go off-course each day will be difficult. We want to avoid getting to that point where we have to surrender. That’s what scares me. With a level of sponsorship, as well as the support of many friends, we spent two years looking for economic resources, physically and emotionally preparing for this challenge … and here we are! I hope we succeed because for us it is a great dream. I’m not very quick but I have a great virtue in that I’m very persistent. I think the ability of suffering, going forward even though the going gets tough is a great asset to succeed in this type of challenge. When I started competing I was terrified. I did not know what it was, I felt I was not up to it, that it was too big a challenge, but I soon realized that there is those who fear and those who dare to try. If you fail, nothing happens, but if you never try you’ll know if you can or not … and that to me is sadder than fail.”

Annie Seel | Rally Raid UK #373 (Car)

Annie Seel | Women of the Dakar Rally 2016 — Photo Gregory Lenormand / DPPI

Nicknamed the ‘Little Princess of the Dakar’, Swedish born Annie Seel will attempt her eighth Dakar Rally, running the show as driver of the Rally Raid UK car.

Annie got her start at Dakar in 2002 on a bike where she finished 54th. In 2007, she finished 94th on the bike, 76th in 2009, and was the fastest woman on a bike in 2010 at 45th overall. Her last event on the bike was in 2011, finishing 83rd before she shifted gears as a Co-Driver in a car in 2014, and then team driver in 2015, where they made it through Stage 5 before succumbing to clutch issues.

This year, she will not be forced to follow and assist another team car, and will be pushing to finish the race with her new co-driver.

…For this edition, Paul Round gave me a call to tell me that a car was available for me if I wanted it but that I should have to pay. I immediately said yes but had no money in June-July. So I decided to post an add on internet offering a co-driver’s seat in exchange of financial help. I received hundreds of responses but no-one had the right experience. Finally this Dutch guy called Bert Heskes called me. He had a Desert Warrior, had experience, was a good mechanic and had the same sort of philosophy as me. It was all decided on the phone. We only met once in Morocco for training. This time, I’ll be the boss. I can drive as fast as I want. I feel confident in my driving. We have a good chemistry with Bert and all the mechanics. The ambition is always to finish. For the next Dakar, I hope to come back with a woman as a co-driver but for the moment none has the mechanical skills. I saw that the FIA has launched a campaign on women in motorsports. I hope that will motivate many to come on the Dakar.”

Karine Hillaire-Corvaja | Etruscan Racing Team #397 (Car)

Karine Hillaire-Corvaja | Women of the Dakar Rally 2016 — Photo Gregory Lenormand / DPPI

Co-Driver Karine Hillaire-Corvaja will tackle her first Dakar Rally with her longtime partner Luca. The pair have been together sharing a passion of off-road endurance racing with their two children for many years, and Karine is no stranger to navigation duties. Luca handles the mechanical portion and is fresh off a European off-road championship.

[translated] “Dakar has always been a dream of mine when I was little. On other rallies, I let him go alone, but not on the Dakar! We’re hoping to go to the end, that would be fantastic . We will make the most, but we also realize that it can stop at any moment. As for my co-driver job, I always had the nose in the road book, and I’ve even written when we organize rallies. But I know it will be a level above, and that’s when the pressure starts to rise.”

Alicia Reina | Pasion Rally #414 (Car)

Alicia Reina | Women of the Dakar Rally 2016 — Dakar.com

Argentinian driver Alicia Reina will make her third apperance at the Dakar Rally, finishing 60th overall in 2014, and ready to conquer again after a disappointing end in Stage 3 for 2015 due to engine issues. Since then, the team has tested their Toyota racecar and worked on its readiness for Dakar in the Argentine Cross Country Championship.

[translated] “It was very frustrating to leave shortly after starting in 2015, but the engine was wounded by a problem in the air filter and little could be done. On this experience, we set out to test the Toyota throughout the year and were improving our performance, especially with suspension and shock absorbers. Today, we know that we have a proven mechanical means to run the Dakar. The concern: we don’t know what we can bring Uyuni in Bolivia and Argentina in the final stages with high temperatures.”

Maria del Huerto Mattar Smith | IAAM Team Sport #395 (Car)

Maria del Huerto Mattar Smith | Women of the Dakar Rally 2016 — Photo: Dakar.com

Avid Dakar enthusiasts since 2009, this Chilean couple have followed the Dakar caravan every year with their own Hummer from the outside. This year, the marriage will be tested in a race-ready Frontier and Maria del Huerto Mattar Smith will make her maiden attempt as Co-Driver at the Dakar Rally.

[translated] “Since the 2009 Dakar went to South America, we have followed the routes closest to Santiago del Estero. My first experience as a navigator was the Challenge Route 40, and although we had to leave in the fourth stage due to differential breakage, I can proudly say that I was right on point! I like the course of this year, since I prefer firm ground, rather than sand.”

Source: Dakar.com | Rider Entry List

Wide Open with Courtney Lambert

January 3, 2016 // by Horsepower & Heels

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

The Early Years

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wide Open onto the Airwaves

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

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

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

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

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

Where Two Roads Merge

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

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

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

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

Finding Balance

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

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

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

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

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

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

2015 Women of the Year Award WINNERS

December 30, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

2015 may go on record as one of the most successful years for women in motorsports! Ladies in the pits, on the track, and in the boardrooms were all making big moves and celebrating amazing milestone victories.

The first-ever Horsepower and Heels Women of the Year Awards is our way of recognizing the women that are out there working hard and making things happen in motorsports.

Over 915 ballots were cast in 10 days, 2,611 votes were counted, nominating 378 different women in motorsports. The competition was tight, and some of the races came down to the final hour of voting.

So without further delay, we’re proud to announce:

DRUMROLL, please……

2015 Women of the Year Awards – Horsepower & Heels

Female Rookie of the Year
Female Crewmember of the Year
Female Motorsport Professional of the Year
Female Motorsport Team of the Year
Most Improved in 2015
Most Influential Woman of the Year
Female Racer of the Year

Rebelle Rally – All Woman Off-Road Adventure

December 9, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

Blending the love of driving with the ultimate challenge of precise navigation, the Rebelle Rally is an all female off-road navigation rally that covers more than 2,000 kilometers across the Nevada and California desert over 7 days of competition. The rally is not a race for speed, but a unique and demanding event based on the elements of headings, hidden checkpoints, time, and distance using maps, compass, and roadbook.

Rebelle Rally: First women’s off-road navigation rally in the US

It is designed as a hybrid of serious competition and the ultimate road trip comprised of dirt roads, double tracks, trails, and sand dunes. The course includes off-road recreational vehicle venues and iconic landmarks, and will be contested in two classes:

4X4 Vehicles – 4-wheel drive vehicles that have a two-speed transfer case (low range) -and-

Cross-Overs – Unibody construction with all-wheel drive (no low range).

Women from around the globe are encouraged to participate, and professional driving experience is not required.

Rebelle Rally Information

DATE: October 13-22, 2016
Website: http://www.rebellerally.com/

START

Thursday, October 13, 2016
Technical Inspection & Welcome – Lake Tahoe, CA

Friday, October 14, 2016
Rally review & transfer to Base Camp_1 – Nevada desert

FINISH

Friday, October 21, 2016
Competition Finish – Southern California dunes

Saturday, October 22, 2016
Prize Ceremony & Black Tie Gala – Del Mar Race Track, San Diego, CA

Navigate Rebelle Rally — Set your course for the Rebelle Rally

LODGING

Hotels:

Start – South Lake Tahoe. Competitors receive a complementary hotel room on 10/13/16 (shared by teammates).

Finish – Del Mar, California. Competitors receive a complementary hotel room on 10/22/16. (Discounted room rates for additional stay)

Competition:

4 Base Camps & 1 self camping night.

Base Camp is a traveling support village complete with toilets, showers, food, medical staff, mechanics, event staff, and competition officials.

Teams will self-camp at a designated location during the marathon leg. This means that you will have other teams around you along with some rally staff.

ENTRY INCLUDES

10-day event with 7 days of competition
Food & beverage including water
Camping areas – known as Base Camp
1 hotel room per team at start and finish
Safety and medical teams
Mechanics team – shared by all competitors
Maps
Tracking services for family, friends, fans, and media to follow your team online
Introductory online navigation course
1 team = two people

COSTS

$5,000 per person before May 1, 2016 | $5,500 after May 1
Vehicle and insurance
Satellite tracking equipment – TBD ($650 per team)
Anticipated fuel cost – vehicle dependent – TBD ($350 – 450 per team)
Vehicle equipment
Camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad)
First aid kit
Navigation equipment – compass, ruler, plotter, and calculator
Driving and navigation training

Ladies of NHRA Red Carpet 2015

November 17, 2015 // by Horsepower & Heels

It’s the end of the season, and that means the annual 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Awards Ceremony has arrived! All of our favorite stars of the NHRA series gathered Monday after the finals in Pomona to Hollywood’s Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Vineland for a year-end banquet and the crowning of the 2015 champions. This formal event is always a crowd favorite, because we get the rare chance to see our favorite personalities outside their fire suits and crew uniforms, dressed to the nine in formal attire.

For 2015, the ladies didn’t disappoint, hitting the NHRA Red Carpet all looking stunning. Check out their red carpet fashion below!