Celebrating, promoting and supporting female racers and women in motorsports

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Featured Site: CarChix.com

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CarChix
www.CarChix.com

In my search for all things Women and Racing, I tend to wear out Google trying to stay updated on all the ladies out there.  Believe me, the search isn’t as easy as it seems.  After weeding through the hottest driver articles that tend to populate the first few pages of search results, its slim-pickings past that to find the good stuff.   So I’ve made it my new mission to seek out and share the relevant sites that cover Women and Motorsports as I find them.

CarChix.com

This week’s feature is one of the most vibrant sites I’ve found in my recent searches.    CarChix.com  is a motorsports organization for women created by Jeanette DesJardins.    Founded in 2010, the site was born out of an idea DesJardins had as a teenage gearhead, working at her first job as an automotive lube technician outside of Chicago.  She envisioned someday owning her own shop, where she felt she could improve many of the things plaguing the industry at the time with a female touch.     Sitting outside that shop talking to a friend, she named her future garage Car Chix.

Founder/President, Jeanette DesJardins

Jeanette Working on CarJeanette’s first introduction to motorsports came while she was still in diapers, when her parents and uncle would take her along to Road America in Wisconsin.    Young Jeanette did more crying from the loud racecars at that age however, and it wasn’t until her teen years that she rediscovered the automotive world.  Shortly after purchasing her first car, she was met by resistance from her father, who held the nagging question over her head — How would she afford to repair it if it broke down?   Jeanette’s solution:  she’d learn to fix it herself, and began taking automotive mechanic courses at the local community college.   That training led to her working as a technician at several small garages and dealerships as she moved on to pursue her Associates Degree in Marketing.

“I could go on for days about things that I have learned over the years”, adds DesJardins.  “Some of the keys things, that have really stuck with me over the years are:  don’t over think things too much – It’s okay not to know the answer to something; no one knows everything – Have thick skin – Watch where you stick your fingers – Don’t wear plastic gloves, it hurts peeling it off your skin when you get burnt.”

Jeanette DesJardins at Great Lakes Dragaway
Jeanette working on the starting line at Great Lakes Dragaway

From there, she landed one of her favorite jobs of all– starting line coordinator and starter at Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove, WI.   She continued on there, gaining valuable experience in the automotive industry while she simultaneously earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin.  It was during her time there that she launched the website for CarChix.com, initially intended to share photos and chat with other female drag racers at the track.  But after just two weeks, the site crashed from the high amount of traffic visiting, causing a change to a forum based system and a relaunch.   From there, the site grew, with ladies and men sharing stories from all over the world.   She now works as Marketing Coordinator for a manufacturing company in Chicago,  as well as, the owner of Crank It Media, an Internet Marketing Company and Car Chix.com.

Often a one-woman show, she’s put in years of exhaustive effort and has big plans moving forward she hopes will be announced a little later this year, that would impact women in motorsports and female racers in general.    She remains dedicated to empowering women all over the world, offering this advice:

“Stay focused.  Stay driven.  It sounds cheesy, but you can seriously do anything you want as long as you work for it.  Hard work really does pay off in the end.  You will come across moments when you just feel like giving up, but don’t.  Each hard day is a hard lesson earned.  Apply what you’ve learned through your experiences; tomorrow is always another day.”

CarChix.com News & Features

Jeanette DesJardins at Route 66
Jeanette racing herself at Route 66 Raceway

One of the strengths of the CarChix website are the regular news updates posted on female racers careers, including news reports submitted by racers as well as a Featured CarChix of the Month section.   Both of these sections make it one of the most feature-rich sites for quality women in racing stories, helping to promote the careers and successes of ladies racing all across the globe.   There is even a CarChix store for cool merchandise sporting the CarChix logo and a listing for CarChix sponsored events.

CarChix Events

Jeanette DesJardins Carchix.com
CarChix founder and president Jeanette DesJardins at the 2011 Racing for a Cure event.

DesJardins moved onto hosting her first event less than a year after the CarChix.com launch.  The  event was a breast cancer research fundraiser she named Racing For A Cure a Quarter Mile at a Time, and was held at her home track Great Lakes, to a record-setting attendance.    Jeanette arranged an action-packed event, with exhibition cars, wheel standers, drag radial caompetitors, bracket racing, dragsters, raffles, giveaways, face painting, and musical entertainment from a popular band.   They raised several thousand dollars for the Wisconsin Well Women Program, an organization that helps women with little or no insurance to receive preventative mammograms and pre/post breast cancer treatments and  care.

CarChix Ladies Only Drag Race
CarChix Ladies Only Drag Race competitors

That event, now named Drag Racing for Life, became the first of several annual events organized by Jeanette and the Car Chix program at several locations across the country.   She also organized the CarChix Ladies Only Drag Race, an all-female drag racing competition that saw ladies in a variety of race cars compete for prizes and awards, and presented the Hottest Ride Award at the Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals, capping off the year with a Light Up the Holidays parade appearance.

DesJardins is currently finishing up the 2015 CarChix Event Schedule, with announcements forthcoming in March on the 2015 dates and locations.

CarChix Calendar

CarChix booth
CarChix setup at events

Another unique offering to help promote women in racing and female motorsports participants, is the Annual Women of Motorsports Calendar contest.   During the contest, women are invited to submit photos of themselves with their rides and seek likes on Facebook.  The top 12 are voted into the calendar finalists.   These calendars celebrate and inspire women in the automotive industry, featuring cars, bikes and any level of enthusiast.    Featured CarChix are often on hand at events to autograph calendars for collectors.

Be sure to check out CarChix.com and add it to your bookmarks!  Tell them Horsepower & Heels sent you!

Have a good site suggestion related to Women in Racing?  Send it our way!

Women in Racing Database

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Women Racing DatabaseA major part of seeing Women in Motorsports succeed, is being able to share with the world our successes and our individual stories.

Part of the difficulty I’ve seen and experienced as both a racer myself and a contributing writer, is getting more mainstream and regular coverage, not just novelty or interest pieces (though those are also great).

The more regular and mainstream coverage of Women in Racing receives, opportunities and recognition will follow.   Right now, searching for news about Women in Racing yields a handful of sites who dedicated themselves to getting the news out for this cause (like our friends over at Chicas Racing and Female Racing News).   But a spattering of voices in the crowd aren’t as loud as a collection told together, so we’ve decided to create a Horsepower & Heels Women in Racing database with the aim of helping to more thoroughly tell these stories.

Horsepower & Heels Women in Racing Database

Our goal is to build a database that not only helps promote your websites and social media along with your peers, but creates a network that allows you to reach out to one another and help the cause together.   We’ll begin by forming a database list that links back to each racer’s personal sites.   We’ve also included an opt-in selection for the Horsepower & Heels Email Roundtable, a group that shares key information related to all women in motorsports, as well as an option to subscribe to this blog (so we can stay in touch!).

Please, take a moment and fill out the Women in Racing Database form.    It only takes a moment to fill out.    Help share this with other ladies in our sport: female drivers, crew members, team owners, and other motorsports roles welcome!

Resolutions for Racers

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Racing Resolutions

As one year comes to a close and another begins, most people look inside to reflect on how their year has progressed and how they can improve for the New Year.    Resolutions are often made, with varying degrees of commitment and success. As racers, we are no different.    So what about some New Year’s Resolutions for Racers?

5 resolution for racers that every team should consider for the new season

1.  Create specific season goals

Not unlike a business plan or a personal fitness goal, racers should be considering their racing-related goals for the New Year. For drivers, this may mean sharpening skills behind the wheel by improving stats or another measurable metric. For crew, this could involve new training on the latest technology or improving service times for pit stops. Identify your areas to improve, and create a trackable goal for achieving it.

2.  Make sponsors a priority

Racing is an expensive sport, and without sponsor support, many of us would not be able to participate.  This means that obtaining and retaining sponsors should be a primary focus for racers. Often, sponsorship contracts will detail what is expected on both sides. But part of cultivating this relationship means you should take extra care to OVER deliver on your sponsorship expectations.   Go above and beyond for your sponsors in the new season. They will appreciate the effort and likely will remember it come time to renew.

3.  Personal Growth away from the track

Often times, we are so focused on our on-track performances that we neglect areas for improvement away from the track.    In order to become more well-rounded, racers should always be looking for personal growth opportunities and training away from their cars.   Drivers can benefit from media training to improve on-camera performances or sport-focused fitness and wellness training. Team owners and crew chiefs can always benefit from management training. By ensuring our personal growth, we bring more to the table as a well-rounded piece of the motorsport pie.

4.  Thanking the fans

Racing is an entertainment venue, and as such, our biggest and end customer is ALWAYS the fans.  We often get so wrapped up in the competition and the inner-culture of our sport, that we don’t focus enough on the real reason racing exists: to entertain the fans.   Racers, team managers, crew members should always keep in mind ways to interact with fans.  Small gestures by drivers and crew can leave lasting impressions on fans, keeping them coming back for more.   Find ways to interact and engage your fans.   Be real and human to them, chat with them online and during racing down-times.   Take time to show your appreciation to them and they will continue to appreciate YOU.

5.  Giving back to charity

Racing gives us each a very public platform to a wide demographic range.   Motorsports is the #1 spectator sport in the WORLD.  That’s a lot of reach….   We can use that voice to help give back.   Find a charity organization you are passionate about and become a vocal advocate of that charity.   Donate your time, partner on fundraisers, or just help use your voice to spread awareness.


These are just a few ideas for New Year’s resolutions for racers.   What are YOUR resolution ideas?   

Writing good press releases for racing media coverage

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press badgeOne thing I’ve learned during the 4 years I’ve spent writing my Women in Racing column for Examiner, is that it’s really hard to get racers to submit timely news for coverage.   For the life of me, I cannot figure this out.   Maybe because my background IS PR/Marketing, I understand this better than most, but the single most important thing you can do as a racer is to increase the return of investment of your sponsors.   This means, the more you can get yourself and your sponsors out there, the more exposure you get and the more valuable their sponsorship becomes.   That’s where your media game has to be on-point.

A lot of bigger teams have in-house marketing/ public relations teams who manage all aspects of their media presence.   But for many, there simply isn’t a budget to afford a professional.   This doesn’t mean you can let this important part of your job go unattended.    Here’s a few tips on writing good press releases for racing media coverage.

Who? What? When? Where? Why?

This basic cardinal rule is so often forgotten when submitting press releases for racing.   The first paragraph needs to include all of your important info:  who, what, when, where and why.   Motorsport PR professional Rob Geiger, recommends the Inverted Pyramid Style to structure your release, keeping the most important facts in the opening paragraph, followed by the supporting details and other background information.

Proper Grammar

If you want editors to take you seriously, the first thing you need to ensure is that you are using proper grammar and spelling in your press releases for racing.   Professionals in the media industry follow the Associated Press Style Guide, and are very specific on how a proper release should be structured.   Have a copy of the AP Stylebook to guide your release.   Writing doesn’t have to be fancy or wordy, a simple and concise release is best.

“One rule I have always followed and make my employees follow is to always read your press release out loud before you are done. Not in your head…I’m talking about actually saying the words. If you do this and find any place in the release where you stumble verbally, that place needs to be re-written.”  Rob Geiger, Geiger Media

Keep in mind your audience  

We are so accustomed to speaking in racer-ese that we forget when talking to mainstream editors that they might not be well versed in the intrinsic details of our sport.  While a release detailing the specifics of your results in common racing terminology would be well received at a racing media outlet, a mainstream media source will find it too niche for their audience and difficult to follow.   In these cases, you must write your racing press releases as though you were talking to someone who had never seen or heard of your racing genre.

“Don’t get into numbers, no one remembers them, there are only two things: won or lost;  that’s all that’s needed or remembered.”  Sam Auxier Jr., The Sam Auxier Jr. Show  

Angle the pitch

Be different.  Don’t send out the same canned “Racer to race at XYZ event” pre and post press releases for racing.   Stand out.   If there is relevant news that makes your story different, focus on that angle.  Firsts, historic announcements, human interest, charity partnerships, and other unique angles will get the coverage over the same canned releases.   Take the time to tailor your release to the outlet you are submitting your news.

“What makes a great press release is doing a release not for the sake of doing one. The whole purpose of a press release is to inspire publications to take what you’ve sent, and write an article from it. The lazy places just run press releases without putting any effort in. So, it’s a pre-race release. And your quote reads, ‘We’re excited for this race and we want to win.” Well, big freaking deal, so does every other team out there. Consider your press release with as much forethought as the tune-up in your car. The goal with a tune-up is to get the car down the strip. Well a press release is intended to inspire an article. Details are important, and providing a storyline is even more crucial. We are not trying to be jerks, but more press releases end up in the recycle bin than in publication because the majority just don’t understand the importance of meaty details and quotes.”  Bobby Bennett, Publisher, Competition Plus

Get to the point

Editors have busy, deadline oriented jobs.  They don’t have time to read pages of text.   While it’s important to list the key points and details, you want to present that information in the most concise and easily understood way possible.

“Keep it short and to the point. When submitting a release you have to understand most outlets receive a dozen or more a day. While it is important to stand out, don’t provide a two page release with 600 words. Time is valuable, but if your product or news is interesting, we’ll follow up with the person directly or seek out more info with provided URLs to product info, videos, websites, and more.”  Mark Houlahan, Editor, Mustang360 Network

Contact Info

Make sure you include contact information that will allow an editor to follow up.   Include multiple formats: Social, Website, Email, Phone to ensure they can get the info they need in a timely matter.  Be responsive, do not leave questions unanswered.

CC and BCC Blasts

Trying to drum up good press seems like it would be a numbers game.  Deliver your message to the most amount of people as possible.    But as an editor, you don’t want to be one of hundreds regurgitating the same information.    Forget “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Editor” submission styles.   Take the time to research the media you are pitching.   Get to know the name of the editor that covers your beat, and make your release personal to them.

“Press releases are an effective media tool, however, they should not be your sole form of communication with the media. Personal notes and pitches that are specifically tailored to a certain media outlet and/or contact can often go a lot further than blasting out a press release. Personalized pitches also help to build relationships, and relationships are everything in PR!”   Allison McCormick, Public Relations Manager, Alexis DeJoria Racing

Finding this information is fairly easy if you know where to look.   Most print publications have editors listed in the inside cover or near the index.  Online sources usually include editor contacts on a ‘Contact Us’ page, but searching the name of an editor who writes the column you are hoping to reach usually returns a lead to contact details.

Including Sponsors  

Obviously, we always want to thank our sponsors and help get them the added exposure.  But being tactful in your approach will help get them mention rather than being edited out.

“I like it when the racer works the sponsor’s name into the story, rather than just tagging them at the end like it is a chore to get over with”   Scott Lucky Hudson, Contributing Writer at Drag Illustrated Magazine

Instead of including a line list of sponsors at the end of your press releases for racing, incorporate them into the detail text of the body.   “The Sponsor X Mustang took the top spot with a dominating display of Engine Y horsepower” is much more likely to stay off the editing room floor than an addendum line “thanking sponsors x, y and z” at the end of the release.

Media Credits

A press release without photos will often go into the trash.   It is imperative to include photos and video to accompany your news.   Source all multi-media, and provide hi-res printable photos (or offer hi-res upon request).  Understand that a photo that you pulled off a photographer’s site, (or from Facebook and other social outlets) without their consent, is considered unauthorized use.   Media outlets need original, high-resolution images and videos with proper attribution.

“Be sure that you include one or two quality images to accompany the release. Photos or videos are an important aspect of a modern release, as imagery helps your release standout in the flood of information that media outlets receive.”  Steve Turner, Editor-in-Chief, SVTPerformance.com

Deadlines and Lead Times

Depending on the publication, deadlines and lead times may vary.   Because social media has made information so readily available and virtually instantaneous, its important that you are timely in your PR efforts.   Many publications only have a 72 hour or less window of opportunity on news stories, so submitting your race results a week after an event will diminish your chances at coverage in the online world.    Print outlets usually require 3 months lead time, and stories should be much less time-sensitive material.

If you do not have the luxury of having someone dedicated to providing timely results, then make sure that at the end of your race weekend, you are making time to get this information drafted and released within 48 hours after an event’s completion.

RSS Feed/Opt-In Releases  

Consider setting up an RSS newsfeed or Opt-In newsletter for your press releases.  This gives editors interested in your news a chance for regular coverage, and promotes a long-term media relationship by providing great follow-up material for their readers.   Using a content management software such as Constant Contact or Mail Chimp, you can import your press release database (provided you have the editor’s permission).   Include a subscribe link at the end of your outgoing press releases, as well as on your media contact section of your website to build your media relationships.

Thank you

Most important, follow up with a thank you note for editors who ran your story.  This creates a lasting relationship and goes a long way in building trust for future coverage.   Share the articles with your fans and followers, its a nice token of appreciation for an editor’s hard work.

Featured Site: Chicas Racing

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Chicas Racing
laschicasracing.blogspot.mx

Chicas Racing.com

Not too long ago, I stumbled on a site that I really enjoyed reading.  Chicas Racing, a women’s racing site in spanish language based out of Mexico.  What Horsepower & Heels hopes to accomplish in the english-speaking community, Chicas Racing is doing for the spanish-speaking demographic.

The site features a wide variety of different racers from every different genre of motorsport.  They regularly feature news for rising young talent, as well as report on all the professional women tearing up the racetracks.

I was especially honored to see this from Andrea Escalona, one of the Chicas Racing staff:

which in english translates that she was inspired to create a blog because of mine. That is one of the biggest compliments that anyone could ever offer me. It means that my passion and dedication to supporting women in motorsports has made a difference for someone, and that the passion will continue to be spread around the world.

Sharing with the world the stories of the many thousand women and young girls out there showing that they are strong, capable, and talented drivers is so important to ALL women in motorsports.     Over the years, there have been only a handful of news sources that share and champion this message to the masses.   But the more we grow in telling our stories, the more the world has to celebrate the successes and fight through the hardships with us.

So for my latinos, please stop by and check out Chicas Racing! Dígales que Horsepower & Heels le envió.

Women’s Fire Suit Review

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Women's Fire Suits

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

Women’s Fire Suits Review

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

DIna Parise, DJ Safety
Dina Parise, DJ Safety

DJ Safety

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

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

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

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SUIT?   4 months

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

FORM AND FIT:  starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

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

Sunny Hobbs G-Force
Sunny Hobbs, G-FORCE

G-Force

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

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

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

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

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

FORM AND FIT:  starstarstarstar (4 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstar (4 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstarstarstar (4 STAR)

Check out more from Sunny Hobbs on Facebook or Twitter

Jennifer Jo Cobb, Simpson
Jennifer Jo Cobb, Simpson

Simpson

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

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

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

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

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

FORM AND FIT:  starstarstarstar (4 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstarstarstar (4 STAR)

Check out more from Jennifer Jo Cobb on Facebook or Twitter

Kathy Fisher, Simpson
Kathy Fisher, Simpson

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

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

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

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

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

FORM AND FIT:  starstarstarstar (4 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstarstarstar (4 STAR)

Check out more from Kathy Fisher on Facebook

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

Hinchman Racewear

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

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

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

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

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

FORM AND FIT:  starstarstarstarstar(5 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR)

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

Nancy Matter, Deist
Nancy Matter, Deist Safety

Deist Safety

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

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

MOBILITY:   Comfortable

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SUIT?   Since 2005

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

FORM AND FIT:  starstarstarstar(4 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR)

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

Erica Ortiz, Impact
Erica Ortiz, Impact

IMPACT

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

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

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

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

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

FORM AND FIT:  starstar (2 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstar (4 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstarstar (3 STAR)

 Check out more from Erica Ortiz on Facebook or Twitter

Cassie Gannis, Axcel
Cassie Gannis, Axcel

Axcel Sports

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

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

MOBILITY:   Didn’t allow for much movement

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

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

FORM AND FIT:  star (1 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:  starstar (2 STAR)

 Check out more from Cassie Gannis on Facebook Instagram or Twitter

Rebecca Starkey, Stroud
Rebecca Starkey, Stroud

Stroud

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

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

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

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

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

FORM AND FIT:  starstarstarstarstar  (5 STAR) 

WEAR/MATERIAL:   starstarstarstarstar (5 STAR) 

OVERALL RATING:   starstarstarstarstar  (5 STAR)

 Check out more from Rebecca Starkey on Facebook

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

Dealing with Haters

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DRO Agent 1320 Erica Ortiz
Drag Racing Online 11/14

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

Keyboard Jockey-ing: Dealing with Haters

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

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

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

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

Shaming Women’s Bodies

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

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

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

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

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

Jessie Mayunga Using your body to get an sponsorship…smh

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

Divided, We Fall.

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

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

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

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

Women Racing Groups and Networks

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women racing
Together, women can make a difference.

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

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

LinkedIn Groups

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

Facebook Groups

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

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

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

Women in Motorsports Examiner

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Women In Motorsports Examiner

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

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

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

Subscribe to Women in Motorsports Examiner

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

Send News, Stories, Updates and Features

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

 

Fighting the Good Fight: Women in Racing

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

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

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

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

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

She Wins, You Win.

It really is as simple as that. Why?

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

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

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

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

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

Her loss isn’t your gain.

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

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

We are NOT all Equal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Share YOUR story! Please comment below!

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

 

 

 

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