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You are here: Home / Archives for Women in Racing / Women in Racing Resources

Women in Racing Resources

Horsepower & Heels Resource center for Women in Motorsports!     A great source for information - Books & Reviews, Career Spotlights, Personal Development tips, Conferences & Events, and so much more.

Alexis DeJoria’s appearance at Gino’s East

July 7, 2016 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Alexis DeJoria Appearance at Gino's EastNHRA Drag Racing fans can take part in a special meet and greet opportunity with Funny Car driver Alexis Dejoria’s appearance at Gino’s East.    The top ten-ranked Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car driver will join Jordan Himmel in the kitchen of the renowned Gino’s East establishment tonight to help make the world-famous Gino’s traditional Chicago-style deep dish pizzas.   DeJoria will then jump behind the bar to teach Himmel how to make her version of a perfect Patrón margarita, and sign autographs for fans in attendance.

Alexis DeJoria’s appearance at Gino’s East

The Alexis DeJoria appearance at Gino’s East will kick off at 5:00 PM in the Chicago establishment, and serve as the unofficial opening  activities for her weekend at the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, IL.   The fan-favorite event at Route 66 Raceway, located at Chicagoland Speedway south of Chicago, marks the official start to the second half of the 24-race 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

WHEN: Thursday, July 7
5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.

WHERE: Gino’s East
162 E. Superior St.
Chicago, Ill. 60611

Category: Conferences/Events, Women in Racing NewsTag: Alexis DeJoria, Drag Racing, Funny Car, NHRA, Press, 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

Car Chix Ladies Only Drag Race

June 7, 2016 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Our friends over at Car Chix have announced their next Ladies Only Drag Racing event at Bryon Dragway in Byron, Illinois.  This event is a special program held for women competing in all levels of competition — from beginner to Pro level racers.

Car Chix Ladies Only Drag Race
Car Chix | Photo : Boomer

Car Chix Ladies Only Drag Race

Date:  Saturday, July 23, 2016
Location:  Byron Dragway –
Gates Open: 9:00AM
Racing Begins:  10:00AM
Ladies Only Driver’s Meeting: 10:00AM

Racing Information

  • Regular Tree 1/4 Mile Bracket Race
  • 2 Rounds of Qualifying Before Eliminations
  • All racing vehicles must pass NHRA Tech
  • NO BOXES
 Class Information:
  1. Street (11.50 & Slower)
  2. Pro (11.49 & Faster)
  3. Bikes

All About MeDrag Racing for Life Fundraiser

The event is Car Chix’s annual Drag Racing For Life fundraiser, benefitting the All About Me Program at Rochelle Community Hospital.   There will be a mix of 50/50 Raffles, Item/Ticket Raffles, Silent Auctions & Contests throughout the day with proceeds benefitting breast cancer awareness and prevention – All About Me Program.

Category: Conferences/EventsTag: Car Chix, Drag Racing, Events, Special Causes, Women Racing

A Driving Determination: Women in Engineering

February 18, 2016 //  by Horsepower & Heels

A Driving Determination: Women in Engineering

Andretti Formula E driver, Simona de Silvestro will be sitting on a special A Driving Determination: Women in Engineering panel to speak about her career journey as part of sponsor TE Connectivity’s Engineering Week festivities.

‘A Driving Determination: Women in Engineering’ Panel

The field of engineering is changing our world every day, and women working in engineering can be powerful role models for young girls pursuing an education and career in science, technology, engineering or math. Through this panel, TE Connectivity (TE) celebrates and recognizes the role women are playing in engineering today, including the unique challenges they face. Each of the six panelists have found success in their chosen fields and will talk about their own journey to finding their passion.

Cbev6t0WIAAHexYSimona de Silvestro – Driving Determination

Andretti Formula E driver Silvestro will impart her experiences as a five-time Indianapolis 500 participant, and what it is like to be the only current female driver in the Formula E series, the international electric car racing platform.

A Driving Determination: Women in Engineering
Panel Information:

Date:  Thursday, February 25th
Time:  11:00AM EST
Register Online  for access and more information.

Category: Conferences/Events, Women in Racing ResourcesTag: Simona de Silvestro

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

January 15, 2016 //  by Paula Davis-Laack

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.

5 Tips to improve stress relief for women in motorsportsMotorsports 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.

Carmen JordaDetermine 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.

Angelle Sampey look of determinationTurn 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.

© 2015. All rights reserved.

Category: Featured, Personal Development, Women in Racing ResourcesTag: Guide to Racing, Personal Development, Women Racing

2nd Annual Women in Automotive Conference

January 12, 2016 //  by Horsepower & Heels

WOmen in AutomotiveDetails for the 2nd Annual Women in Automotive conference have just been announced.  The 2-day conference will take place at the Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate in Orlando, Florida on June 26-28, 2016.

The focus of the 2016 Women in Automotive Conference will be educating and empowering the automotive community on thought leadership and trends that positively impact employment and sales growth within the female market.

“More than 300 professionals from across the country attended the inaugural Women in Automotive Conference in 2015, we expect to double attendance at our 2016 event,” stated Christy Roman, Founder of Women in Automotive.

Sponsors and attendees from the inaugural event in 2015 included AutoNation, Asbury Automotive Group, Hendrick Automotive, BMW Careers, General Motors, Cars.com, Cox Automotive, CDK Global and Digital Airstrike.   Industry Associations included the Florida Automobile Dealers Association and the Women’s Automotive Association International.

This year’s expanded event will include seminars, workshops and keynote speakers all designed to assist in communicating to and capitalizing on the benefits of women both as employees and automotive consumers. The goal – to move the automotive industry forward relating to one of most influential segments of the market: Women.    Both male and female automotive professionals are encouraged to attend.

Women in Automotive Conference 2016Women in Automotive Conference 2016 Information

Dates:
June 26, 27, & 28, 2016

Location:
Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate
1500 Masters Boulevard
ChampionsGate, FL 33896

Registration:
Early Bird – $295/attendee by 4/30/16
General/At-Door – $495
Register Online

Contact Info: Women in Automotive Conference

Website:  http://www.womeninautomotive.com
Phone: 407-256-2645
Email: [email protected]

 

Category: Conferences/Events, Women in Racing ResourcesTag: Women in Automotive

Girls N Garages Magazine

December 29, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Girls N Garages logoLooking for an automotive magazine written especially for women?   That’s what Karen Vielkind set out to find in August 2014.

After her search left her coming up empty handed, and her other lady gear head friends had no ideas either, Karen decided to take matters into her own hands, mixing her passion for cars, writing and creativity to form a new vision:  Girls N Garages: a women’s automotive magazine.

One of the reasons I was looking for a magazine like what I’ve created was because I wanted to see other ladies who were interested in working on cars too, merchandise that was geared towards ladies who weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, and lifestyle type articles that were relatable for ladies in the industry and enthusiasts. I was also looking for some informational/informative articles that were fun to read that gave you basic information on vehicles but could delve into more complicated things.”

Girls N Garages Magazine

Girls N Garages June 2015Girls N Garages started to take form in October of 2014.   Karen, who works full time, poured all of her spare time into the creation of the magazine, which debuted its first issue in June 2015.   The magazine features women in automotive, female project builds, technical how-to articles, and other professionals working in the industry.

Right now, the magazine is a quarterly publication, the second issue came out September 2015, and the third is due in January 2016.    Readers can subscribe to receive the digital edition or have the printed edition sent to them.

Karen hopes that the Girls N Garages magazine and online community continue to grow, working its way towards making it a self-sustained monthly or bi-monthly publication.  She has plans to partner with sponsors on magazine-hosted project builds and ultimately be able to provide scholarships for women seeking to enter the automotive industry.

My biggest thing is for young women and older ladies to see that working on cars/knowing some things about cars is not a bad thing and can actually can be fun. If I can get at least one more lady into the industry then I’ve done some good is my thinking. Plus, it’s about time the ladies who are into automotive get the recognition they deserve. “

 

Category: Books & Reviews, Featured SiteTag: In the Shop, Women in Automotive

10 Habits of Highly Successful Women

December 14, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

10 Habits of Highly Successful Women10 Habits of Highly Successful Women

Author:  Glynnis MacNicol and Rachel Sklar

Publication Date:  August 2014

Length: 222 pages

Download from Amazon (Affiliate link)

Synopsis

’10 Habits of Highly Successful Women’ is a collection of essays written by a diverse group of very powerful women on their secrets to success and hard-earned experiences in the workplace.    The stories cover a range of experiences from emotional correctness by political commentator, Sally Kohn; age discrimination with journalist and social media strategist Nisha Chittal; New York Times author Jenna Worthman’s edge with Thinking on the Fly;  and many other life-lessons shared by highly successful women.

My thoughts on “10 Habits of Highly Successful Women”

The biggest thing I took away from these wonderful essays and the knowledge that each of these women shared, is that there isn’t any ‘secret’ to success.  That our journeys are each as personal and unique as we are, and that success isn’t this magic formula or complicated education – it is the sum of our own life story, how we choose to connect dots and climb steps into hills and onto mountains.     For some, the title might be a bit misleading- the book isn’t focused on an actionable list of business advice or acumen, but instead gives the perspective of the varying lifestyles and personalities of these women.  Reading beyond that into the stories of how careers were formed, it reinforces the kind of habits common among women that must be broken, and how overly complicated we tend to make the journey to success in our own minds.    To read how refreshingly normal these women are:  with insecurities, failures and stumbles just like us – is to learn that we all possess what it takes to be highly successful of our own accord.

Some of the stories may strike a chord and others will be more difficult to relate, but that helps to come away with the overall sentiment that the road to success is a personal one, and although we all share many commonalities, success can be reached in a myriad of ways.   I enjoyed reading the early career stories, relating to some and appreciative of the others.   I think it reinforced for me, values that we know but sometimes forget to see the impact on our lives.

Applying Habits to be Highly Successful Women of Motorsports

Although the book details more traditional business career goals, I think much of the advice translates well over to Women of Motorsports and female racers.  These were my Top 4 Take-Aways:

  1. Emotional Correctness:   Women in Motorsports usually fall on one side of a very black and white line: either they completely reject being identified as a woman racer, fighting to be only referred to as a RaceCar driver and not a female driver -or- they fully embrace the girl-power movement, in sparkles and pink, and everything #likeagirl.    There isn’t a thing wrong with either one of those, except that maybe taking that hard stance is less genuine than the complex beings that we are in the sport.Truth is, we are most often a combination of BOTH of those: fierce and capable racers AND feminine and powerful women who are overcoming barriers associated with long standing gender bias in a male dominated motorsport world.   The problem with over-compensating one way or the other, is we are alienating 50% of the population.    The key to applying this as women in motorsports is to be genuine and emotionally correct enough to be relate-able by both sides.   To exhibit your talent and capabilities as a driver or crew member or owner; while balancing that with pride and appreciation for your journey as a woman, and being a role model for women and gender equality in the sport.
  2. Age Discrimination– There definitely is some age bias at work in the motorsport world, although in my observations, they are not exactly aligned with that of women in the business world.    While extremely young women are typically seen as less-experienced, especially when in a more competitive class or category, there seems to be more emphasis placed on the use-by date of women in racing.After a certain age, it seems that women are expected to retreat into the assigned roles of motherhood and spouse.   Many women do not return from those life events, and when they express desire to do so, are often attacked for being selfish and not thinking of their families.   Never mind that men race long after they are married or fathers.   I wrote about this phenomenon in my post Racing After Motherhood, and I believe that much like the business world, we still have much to work towards in terms of allowing women the ability to be both mothers and successful women in racing.
  3. Thinking on the Fly-  Jenna Worthman’s advice about thinking on the fly really touched on a topic that I relate to in the racing world – that there isn’t an education to prepare you for a career in motorsports, nor the experiences you will encounter as a female navigating those tracks.   It is easy to allow yourself to feel unqualified for the career you crave, with few prerequisites to check off to validate your preparedness, and it makes a newcomer feel overwhelmed by the largely uncharted course it will take to achieve the success they desire.   But one quote I especially appreciated:

    You already know so much. In fact, you probably know enough to do the job you want to do.  Respect the process, and know that no matter how much you do know, you can always learn more.  Be willing to learn more.” — Jenna Worthman

    Don’t underestimate what you DO know… because living life equips us with so much more knowledge that for what we tend to give ourselves credit.

  4. Check your Fears – One of the most common themes that ran in the core of most of the essays, was the ability to rise up over our fears.  Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, the things that keep us from saying yes and taking chances that will lead us onto the path of success.Reading some of these stories made me think back to how many times I let fear hold me back from something that may have been my game-changer.   How often had I let fear make me skip that trip to the SEMA show, or how many times I stood aside instead of walking up and introducing myself to that sponsor or team owner.   These stories showed me what could’ve been if I would’ve just taken that chance, bought that plane ticket, sent that cold email, invested in myself and my future success absent from the conservative approach that said I should wait.   In essence – GO, DO, BE.  Do it NOW.

    All you need is ignorance and confidence, and the success is sure.”  —  Glynnis MacNicol

    Looking back, it seems that success for me came the fastest and easiest when I was young, full of drive and passion, and ignorant to how much I didn’t know in the world.   As I got older, the more I learned and the more I was aware of all that I didn’t know, the more I let it paralyze me into fear of action.   No matter what drives your fear, these stories help show that rising above that fear is what it takes to discover your true potential.

Read the book and have something to add? Have suggestions for another title we should review?  Leave us a comment below!    

Category: Books & Reviews

Rebelle Rally – All Woman Off-Road Adventure

December 9, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

Rebelle Rally
Rebelle Rally – All Women Off-Road Adventure

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 2016Rebelle 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

Category: Conferences/Events, FeaturedTag: Rally, Women Racing

Maria Costello: Queen of the Bikers

November 20, 2015 //  by Horsepower & Heels

 Maria Costello: Queen of the BikersMaria Costello: Queen of the Bikers

Author: Maria Costello, with Steve Pitts

Genre: Autobiography, Sports – Motorsports

Publication Date:  January 8, 2014

Length: 171 pages

Synopsis

The autobiography of British motorcycle road racer, Maria Costello MBE, takes you through the journey of a petite blonde into the male dominated world of racing.  Maria walks through her life story from awkward teen to record breaking racer, recounting the struggles, the gory injuries, and the difficult relationships endured along the way to Isle of Mann fame and Guinness Book of World record titles.    Each chapter details the pains in being knocked down and having to rebuild herself back up, not only from the physical injuries, but from the mental ones as well.   Her decade-long career has seen the loss of racing mentors and near-death experiences of her own.  But the successes and the accomplishments outweigh the hardships for Costello, as she persevered on to become one of Europe’s top Motorcycle racers, earning countless trophies and the honor of being named Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).

My Thoughts on “Maria Costello: Queen of the Bikers”

Maria tells a very honest and candid account of her life story, detailing the passion and interest that she possessed for motorbikes from a young age, of having to first overcome the objections of her parents and family before moving onto the constant objections of the male-dominated motorsports world.   The story was filled with funny accounts from her early years, the often painful recollections of her many crashes and injuries, and some of the more personal details of her private life and the difficult chore of balancing them with her racing dreams.

I really appreciated not only her racing history retold, the struggles, and the inner workings of race sponsorship and paddock culture, but also her mindset and resolve required entering the motorsports world and its effects on her personal relationships.  I think it is a story that women in motorsports of all forms can relate to in one fashion or another, and one that isn’t often discussed publicly.

At times, the book detailed far too many switches between classes and motorcycle models that the average reader may find themselves lost in, or not fully be able to appreciate the importance or differences between the models and their respective power, engine displacement and relative size.   It also was a bit out-of-sync on the chronological order of events at times, jumping forward and back in events, but only mildly scattered and not difficult to follow.

Overall, I really appreciated reading about Maria’s obvious passion and dedication to her sport, and found the book very easy and engaging to read.   I found the book very relate-able for Women in Racing and the motorsports world, and could identify with many of the insecurities and the passionate drives that she discussed in her journey.   I think “Maria Costello: Queen of the Bikers” is a wonderful read for fans and racers alike, and that her story goes beyond that of a sports autobiography or a motorsports fare, extending as a tale of a woman’s lone defiant struggle to succeed in a hostile and dangerous male world.

Category: Books & ReviewsTag: Maria Costello, Women Racing

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