Celebrating, promoting and supporting female racers and women in motorsports

You are here: Home / Archives for Special Causes

International Women’s Day 2016

//  by 

Internationa Women's Day 2016Today is International Women’s Day (IWD), a global day of recognition celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

History of International Women’s Day

Originally entitled International Working Women’s Day, the first observance took place February 28, 1909, in New York; organized by the Socialist Party of America in remembrance of the 1908 strike of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union.    During the first International Women’s Conference held in August 1910, the women voted to make IWD an official annual observance, set for March of 1911.  On March 19, 1911, over 1 million women all over Europe stood up for International Women’s Day, with active demonstrations demanding that women be given the right to vote and hold public office, denouncing employment sex discrimination.    In the United States, many women still observed the date at the end of February, and Russia had also formed its own observance in late February.    In 1917, the date was moved to March 8 globally, after activists in Germany and Russia staged demonstrations demanding voting rights and lead to strikes at textile factories that became known as the February Revolution.  It became an official day of recognition in the 1960’s for socialist countries, and would eventually be adopted in the late 1970’s after the United Nations called for a globally recognized date of March 8th as International Women’s Day.

Pledge for Parity

The annual observance of IWD every year also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity and bringing awareness to the many issues that still face women today.   This year, the spotlight campaign is #PledgeForParity.

The pledge focuses on 5 important areas to women globally:

  • Helping Women and Girls Achieve their Ambitions
  • Challenge Conscious and Unconscious Bias
  • Call for Gender Balanced Leadership
  • Value Women and Men’s Contributions Equally
  • Create Inclusive, Flexible Cultures

By committing to pledge your support on one of the core values today and throughout the future, the campaign hopes to bring about positive awareness and change for women across the globe.   

#PledgeforParity in Motorsports

Parity in Motorsports is a 10+ year labor of love for me, and the #PledgeforParity campaign mirrors almost identically the core mission of Horsepower & Heels in the motorsports community.   I have a deep-rooted passion in identifying, learning and helping to overcome the obstacles that face women in our sport.   Though the motorsports culture has seen more and more female participation, it is easy to not see the impact of long-standing bias that still exists throughout the racing hierarchy.  We have come far, but we still have so much more to overcome.

  1. Helping Women and Girls Achieve their Ambitions
    Thanks to pioneers like Lyn St. James, Janet Gutherie, Shirley Muldowney and many other trailblazing women in motorsports, the idea that women CAN become vital participants in the sport have very real names and faces that help encourage young women and girls to dream of their potential.   Unfortunately, traditional gender bias still exists that steers young women away from racing.   Young girls need to know that they can aspire to a career in motorsports.    By sharing the success stories of women in the sport, helping to develop programs to introduce and involve girls at a young age, and by finding mentors to help guide developing girls into the correct career paths, we can assure we are supporting the future of women in motorsports.
  2. Challenge Conscious and Unconscious Bias
    There is still strong pockets of deep rooted sexism in racing.  Some is very deliberate and intentional – such as the demeaning comments that F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is famous for, while others are sometimes unintentional and based on an unconscious bias.   The latter are sometimes the most difficult to overcome, and through honest discussions and awareness, we can help to re-write the conscious and subconscious view on women in motorsports.    This includes addressing the topics that label and pre-judge female drivers apart from their racecars – from their looks/attire/sexuality, traditional family values and motherhood, and the need for more women leaning in for advancement in the sport.
  3. Call for Gender Balanced Leadership
    Changing the culture has to start with equal representation in all aspects of the sport.  From sanctioning organization leadership, to engineers and technical experts, mechanics, drivers and professionals – women must be present in all forms of the sport to be equally represented in decisions and culture.   STEM and vocational training initiatives should be supported and encouraged for girls at the elementary level to groom them for success.
  4. Value Women and Men’s Contributions Equally
    Even as women demonstrate their skill and success in the sport, vocal majorities search for reasons to reassign credit elsewhere for her successes.     They see a woman racing, and ask the nearest male about the car.   When she shows interest at learning the automotive industry, she’s just wanting attention.   If she tries to network within the industry, she’s branded a flirt.  If she discusses technical aspects, her insight is marginalized and doubted.  When she lands a sponsor, they assume her looks got her the deal.   If she wins a race, it is because her crew had advantages over the field,  and if she gets a spot behind a for-hire wheel, she had to have slept her way to the job.    Women’s successes are too often reassigned or discredited, instead of being celebrated for the wins that they truly are – contributions that should be respected and valued equally.
  5. Create Inclusive, Flexible Cultures
    100+ years of male-dominated cultures make for a landscape that doesn’t welcome change or adaptation.   With more and more women getting involved in the sport, the culture must change to be more inclusive of women.   This starts with the track experience – the grid girls traditions, the stigma of girlfriends in the pit and paddock, accessibility to training programs, diversity in education, etc.   It means addressing things like safety and design for BOTH genders, not adapting things to work for women.

Stay True. Stay Motivated.

Whether it is the response to backlash against any semblance of feminism, a form of reverse misogyny, or just the pressure to remain politically correct, there seems to be a trend where women  are brushing the issues under the rug and denouncing themselves as women in the sport.  They are avoiding important conversations to appear unaffected and unbiased.  They are downplaying their roles as women of influence and apologizing for what makes them unique and feminine.

A race car doesn’t know a gender.   And in an ideal world, that philosophy would be wonderful to experience.  But what people don’t realize is that by downplaying femininity, by criticizing those who choose not to conform to the pre-assigned and very masculine idea of what a racecar driver should look like, act like or be – you are further perpetuating the idea that being a woman is the wrong fit for the job.     I’ve seen female racers within the motorsport community criticize other women because they chose to exert their femininity.   They “slut shame” her because she didn’t choose to “look and act the part”.   They degrade her abilities because she is too girly or too sexy or too pretty.   They ridicule her publicly and decry her dreams because she couldn’t possibly be taken seriously wearing those heels or makeup or dressing provocatively.   But if they TRULY believed that the racecar doesn’t know the difference, then all of those things shouldn’t matter anyways.    Because what she does outside the car – what makeup she puts on, what shoes she wears and what style she identifies doesn’t change ANYTHING about what she brings to the track when the green flag waves and the tires start to spin.

#PledgeforParity starts within us all.   Supporting one another, bringing about positive change for us all.   It starts with being proud of who we are, and being accepting of all forms.   It means having the courage to know our strengths and our differences, and not being afraid to be true to ourselves.    It takes standing up and working towards a culture where all genders are respected and treated equally.

What do you Pledge to support for Women in Motorsports?

30th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day

//  by 

National Girls & Women in Sports DayToday marks the 30th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day – a day created to celebrate the accomplishments of those who have made strides towards gender equality in sports.

Founded in 1987, National Girls & Women in Sports Day was established for February 3rd in our nation’s capital to recognize the women’s sports cause.    Premiere organizations dedicated to women in sports and elite female athletes all came together in hopes of bringing national attention to the promise of girls and women in sports.

LEading the wayThe date also served as a remembrance of Olympic volleyball player, Flo Hyman, for her athletic achievements and dedication to promoting equality for women’s sports; Hyman died of Marfan’s Syndrome in 1986. The modern NGWSD date has since evolved into a nationally recognized movement celebrated annually across all 50 states with community-based events, award ceremonies and other celebratory activities to acknowledge the acheivements of female athletes, the positive influence of sports participation and the issues presenting challenges for equality for women in sports.

National Girls & Women in Sports Day | Leading the Way

For the 2016 program, the National Girls & Women in Sports Day theme selected is “Leading the Way”.  This is meant as a tribute to the work done by ground-shakers that have successfully pioneered the issues and barriers as females in the sporting world, the organizations that work on the front lines to enact change, coaches who challenge and inspire success, and the girls and women who dig deep inside to find the strength and faith in their own abilities and rise up to their potential.

For us as Women in Motorsports, we have all played a part in Leading the Way.   As one of the few sports in which the physiological differences between men and women are irrelevant, our fight for equality in the motorsports world is an important one.   Girls and women are still facing the challenges of find the common ground and equal opportunities in a sport where women and men compete side-by-side.   That makes the journeys and storied careers of women like Lyn St. James, Shirley Muldowney, and all of the other women who have boldly pioneered the motorsports world the very essence of Leading the Way for equality.    And for all the young ladies and women who took up the torch for females in racing, Leading the Way onwards for the future of women in the sport.

National Girls & Women in Sports Day Coalition

The National Girls & Women in Sports Day is organized by members of the National Girls & Women in Sports Day Coalition, a partnership of four leading organizations impacting equality for women in sports.

While communities around the country host their own National Girls & Women in Sports Day activities, the Coalition has gathered again in Washington D.C. to rally for legislation and policy that provide critical access for women in sports in key meetings with the White House, on Capitol Hill and in the Senate.   They are addressing the issues and challenges facing girls and women in sports.

These challenges include:

  • Equal Access for Women’s Sports –  1.3 million fewer opportunities in school/after-school programs for girls
  • Title IX policy – lack of compliance by urban and minority-based institutions
  • The role of sports in women’s health and long-term well being – healthy body esteem, academic, economic, general health/well being, social skills and quality of life improvements attributed to sports participation.

Our Part : Women in Motorsports for #NGWSD

As supporters, competitors and professionals in the motorsports world, I challenge you to share YOUR ‘Leading the Way’ story on this important day.   Add your voice to the national conversation by tagging your story with #NGWSD.     Share what sports have done for you as a person, and what challenges still lie ahead.    Because each of us is a representative of our sport, Leading the Way for girls and women in racing.

 

115 free mammograms at NHRA races

//  by 

Alexis DeJoria Breast Cancer AwarenessThe annual ‘Free Mammograms for the Fans’ campaign hosted by Alexis DeJoria Racing offered NHRA Drag Racing fans the opportunity to receive a free mammogram at NHRA races, regardless of health insurance status, while attending the AAA NHRA FallNationals in suburban Dallas and the NHRA Toyota Nationals in Las Vegas.   115 women opted to take advantage of the free screenings, held during Breast Cancer Awareness month.

One in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.   Alexis DeJoria Racing goes beyond simply working to raise awareness of the disease, providing a proactive service that could result in lifesaving benefits to female race fans. The 2015 ‘Free Mammograms for the Fans’ program was made possible thanks to generous donations from the Patrón Spirits Company, Toyota, Kalitta Motorsports and fan contributions.

After the program experienced two successful years of partnering with Nevada Health Centers (NVHC) to offer free screenings at the NHRA Toyota Nationals, the decision was made to not only renew the Las Vegas program, but to add the AAA NHRA FallNationals as well. Alexis DeJoria Racing partnered with Baylor Health Care Systems to offer free screenings to women attending the Texas Motorplex event.

Baylor and NVHC’s mammovans (mobile mammography units) were parked in the race pits and were available to any female ticketholder over the age of 40 on Friday and Saturday of each race weekend. 56 women elected to undergo a screening in Dallas and another 59 women in Las Vegas received a screening, totaling 115 overall free mammograms at NHRA tracks.

“It was another successful year and I just want to thank everyone at Baylor and the Nevada Health Centers for sending their mammovans to the track, and the wonderful women that volunteered their time working in the mammovans, making everyone feel comfortable.  Getting a mammogram can be a little scary at first; it’s just that fear of the unknown. Anytime we can give back like that, it’s a good day. We use our position in the racing community to bring more awareness to these causes and help people out, and thankfully we were able to do that again this year.”

According to Nevada Health Centers, a mammogram for an uninsured woman can cost anywhere between 250-300 dollars, and the high out-of-pocket cost is one of the main reasons many women go without this important test. For the affordable price of an NHRA race ticket, women were able to get checked, and enjoy the races.

“I’m really grateful to have been able to bring our free mammogram program back out again this year to Vegas and introduce it in Dallas. With the support of the Patrón Spirits Company, Toyota, Kalitta Motorsports and all of my great fans that pitched in, we were able to screen 115 women for breast cancer,” said Alexis DeJoria, driver of the Patrón XO Cafe Incendio Toyota Camry, which was ‘pinked out’ during the month of October.

 

 

Raise your Voice – Blog Action Day 2015

//  by 

Today is the 8th Annual Blog Action Day, and this years theme is Raise Your Voice.
From Blog Action Day:“We have the power to create the world we want to see when we raise our voice to promote positive change and expose unjust actions. However, those who their voices are often under attack.  This Blog Action Day we will celebrate those heroes who raise their voice when faced with censorship, threats and even violence. We will raise our voices to defend their right to raise theirs.   We will overcome silence with our words and actions. We will share their stories. We will fight for those whose voice has been silenced”.

Blog Action Day 2015Raise Your Voice for Women’s Rights

As a 10+ year Women in Racing advocate, I naturally hold the interest of advancing women in their endeavors very near to my heart.

Back then, they burned bras, now we BURN RUBBER.  It’s the motto I first coined for this website.   Women in Racing have for decades blazed trails to success in a male-dominated motorsports industry.   But it wasn’t without conflict, as early pioneers to the sport could attest.   Women like Shirley Muldowney and Lyn St. James fought through tough issues for entrance and acceptance that paved the way for all the female racers, crew, and professionals that succeed in the sport today.

But what about women in other parts of the world who are still fighting for basic human rights and freedom?  Fighting not to be marginalized as property, but to be regarded as equal individuals and empowered to know their true worth?   Women who endure horrible discrimination, violence, sexual abuse, and are subjected to gross exploitation and trafficking.

It is in knowing the struggles that women face and in knowing the limitless potential that empowering women creates,  that we should seek to RAISE OUR VOICES for WOMEN’S RIGHTS.

Women’s Rights are HUMAN Rights

It’s a statement that seems to go without saying, but for some women, those rights are gravely violated, subjecting them to horrors of mutilations, sexual abuse, marginalization, and many, many more injustices.   For many of us first-world athletes, the days of the Women’s Suffrage movement seem so far distant in history, that its hard to grasp the discrimination and abuse still present in other parts of the globe.   Women’s rights for us have evolved from suffrage and burning bras, to today’s hot topics of gender equality.   Successful female CEOs and celebrities speak out about feminism and removing the stubborn remnants that remain of eons of gender inequality- things like equal wages, objectification, and the labeling of strong and empowered women as bossy, aggressive, isolating, and anti-male.   (One of my favorites:  Emma Watson’s UN speech)

And though those type of issues still are present in every country on the planet, the more urgent and basic rights of some women, who have remained so repressed that they HAVE no voice of their own, THEY are the ones that truly need us most.

Demanding Equality Now

Equality NowThere are many organization working tirelessly to help bring support, protection, and advocacy for women suffering basic human rights violations.   Organizations such as Equality Now, provide countless resources internationally to help focus on areas of abuse that plague women worldwide.     These organizations fight for issues in law discrimination, by calls for the repeal of laws that discriminate against women in accordance with international and regional human rights standards, and for women’s access to justice at all levels.   They take a front-line stance against Sexual Violence, not only by helping to prevent incidents of abuse through change in the negative stereotypes of women and girls that contribute to their objectification, but by ensuring that victims are afforded proper response- investigation, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators.    In conjunction with the United Nations, organizations band together to end female genital mutilation, a tortuous, cruel, and often deadly practice done to degrade and demean women in the most inhumane fashion and inflicted on between 100-140 million young women worldwide.    They work to end human trafficking, a pervasive and under-reported crime that enslaves more than 12.3 million women and children, by seeking more sanctions against traffickers and buyers, and decriminalizing victims, instead providing rehabilitation and protective support.

Take Action- Speak Out

Organizations working to change legislation need your support in petitioning change from governing bodies internationally.   There are plenty of ways to help speak out: from signing petitions, to writing letters seeking legal changes, to raising funds or volunteering your support in grassroots programs working on the frontlines to rescue women in repressed areas.

P.S. Feminist isn’t a Bad Word

A few years back, I made a comment online about a wonderfully insightful speech on feminism and the ‘He for She’ movement to aid in the elimination of gender discrimination.   I prefaced my statement of praise by saying that I didn’t consider myself a ‘feminist’.    Jim, a friend of mine and a respected journalist, quickly challenged my statement.    He said to me, the “definition of feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men”, and if I did not identify with feminism, then which of those did I not support?    Of course, my answer is that I wholeheartedly support all of those things, and that DOES make me a feminist.

Somewhere along the lines, feminism has been assigned a negative title meant to label women as men-hating, anti-establishment, reverse-misogynists.  But gender equality isn’t just a female issue, as it also take the form of the stoicism and the enforced inability to express sensitivity and emotion for men, the devaluation of fathers in the family unit, and the gender stereotypes that perpetuate the entire situation.   As Emma Watson said in her UN address,  ‘If men don’t have to be aggressive in order to be accepted women won’t feel compelled to be submissive. If men don’t have to control, women won’t have to be controlled.’   That is the voice we all should share equally.

What is Blog Action Day?

Founded in 2007, Blog Action Day brings together bloggers from different countries, interests and languages to blog about one important global topic on the same day. Past topics have included Water, Climate Change, Poverty, Food, Power of We and Human Rights, with over 25,000 blogs taking part since 2007.

What do you Raise YOUR Voice for?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

//  by 

Breast CancerToday begins National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and with it comes the chance to highlight a cause very near to us all – the fight against Breast Cancer.   Breast Cancer affects women all over the world, with 1 woman every 2 minutes being diagnosed with this deadly disease.    Most everyone now has known someone touched by breast cancer.   October’s Pink-Out brings great awareness to the disease, and boosts efforts to support research aimed at preventing and finding a cure.   Sports teams go pink, fundraisers abound and special reminders to

Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Horsepower & Heels officially supports the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to achieving prevention and a cure for breast cancer by providing critical funding for cancer research worldwide to fuel advances in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, metastasis and survivorship.   They are the highest rated breast cancer organization in the US, and have donated half a billion dollars directly to research efforts since 1993, with over 88% of all funds going towards research efforts.

Breast Cancer Research FoundationThe Stats about Breast Cancer

(taken from BCRF)

In the United States:

  • Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women after skin cancer.
  • 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in 2015.
  • 62,570 new cases of breast carcinoma in situ (non-invasive, has not invaded nearby tissue), including ductal carcinoma in situ and lobular carcinoma in situ.
  • 40,290 women will die from breast cancer.
  • 2,350 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in men.
  • 440 men will die from breast cancer.
  • The five-year relative survival rate for female invasive breast cancer patients has improved from 75 percent in the mid-1970s to 90 percent today.
  • The five-year relative survival rate for women diagnosed with localized breast cancer (cancer that hasn’t spread to lymph nodes or outside the breast) is 98.5 percent. In cancer that has spread to nearby lymph nodes (regional stage) or to distant lymph nodes or organs (distant stage), the survival rate falls to 84 percent or 24 percent, respectively.
  • There are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S., including women still being treated and those who have completed treatment.

How you can help end Breast Cancer

It doesn’t matter how you choose to help.  What’s important is that we each take a moment this month to help end Breast Cancer.    Horsepower & Heels has an active Breast Cancer Research Foundation fundraiser that we encourage you to take part in and support.   Please, find the time to help be part of a cure.

Free Mammograms for the Fans

//  by 

Free Mammograms for the Fans While many professional athletes celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month by wearing pink uniforms or using other pink-ribbon awareness, NHRA Funny Car racer Alexis DeJoria goes above and beyond to fight the disease.   Her “Free Mammograms for the Fans” program returns for the third year, allowing female race fans the opportunity to receive a free mammogram in the mobile mammovan while attending the NHRA race.

Alexis DeJoria Racing partners again with the Nevada Health Centers (NVHC) to offer any female ticketholder over the age of 40 attending the NHRA Toyota Nationals event in Las Vegas (Oct 30-31), a free mammogram, regardless of health insurance status.  In addition, she has partnered with Baylor Health Care Systems (BHCS) for a similar program at the AAA NHRA FallNationals in suburban Dallas (Oct 16-17).

“With the success of ‘Free Mammograms for the Fans’ the last two years, we decided to expand the program to include the Dallas race, which now falls during National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October,” said DeJoria, an Austin resident who will proudly sport a hot pink Patrόn XO Cafe Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Carthroughout October in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series competition.

Fight like a Girl against Breast CancerAlexis DeJoria has been raising funds for the cause with the sale of special “Fight Like a Girl” bracelets, with 100% of the proceeds going to the “Free Mammograms for the Fans” program.   The addition of presenting sponsors Patrón Spirits Company and Toyota assisted the program’s growth to Dallas and the Texas Motorplex.

“I really want to thank the Patrón Spirits Company and Toyota for their support, as well as Kalitta Motorsports, everyone who bought items on our eBay fundraising page, purchased our pink Fight Like a Girl bracelets and made donations,” said DeJoria, who has qualified for the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs. “It all goes toward this very wonderful life-saving cause and we would not be able to provide this service to our fans without their support.”

Those wanting to get screened at the race do not need an appointment or referral. Although health insurance is not required, those who are insured should bring their insurance information to the race. Test results will be sent via mail approximately ten days following the event.

“Toyota is extremely supportive of everything that each of our teams does to help promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we are excited that working extensively with Alexis DeJoria Racing on their ‘Free Mammograms for the Fans’ program has afforded us the opportunity to make an additional impact,” said Ed Laukes, Vice President marketing, performance and guest experience for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.  “If we are able to save the life of so much as one mother, daughter, sister, wife or friend, it will be well worth our additional investment in our partners at DeJoria. It truly is rewarding to be able to assist one of our race teams on a program that is so meaningful to so many people.”

For more information, please visit www.alexisdejoria.com.

Pippa Mann’s Indy 500 helmet up for auction

//  by 

Justin Wilson Children Memorial Auction

Indy Car driver Pippa Mann has donated her race worn helmet from the 2015 IndyCar season as part of the Justin Wilson Memorial Auction.

Justin Wilson Memorial Auction

The eBay charity auction features helmets worn by IndyCar drivers at Sonoma Raceway, as well as many more items added for auction through October 26th when the charity fundraiser ends. All of the proceeds will go to the Wilson Children’s Fund, which was created after Justin Wilson lost his life on August 24th.

Pippa Mann HelmetThe helmet donated by Pippa Mann was worn at the 2015 Indy 500, and at every race this season where she drove the Dale Coyne Racing 18 car. The auction for her helmet will end on Monday 28th October at 10.20pm ET.

Race fans are also able to donate to support Justin’s wife and two young daughters via www.wilsonchildrensfund.com

 

Helping Cale Aronson

//  by 

Cale and Tinzy AronsonCale and Tinzy Aronson are two of the hardest working people I have had the pleasure of meeting in the drag racing world.  I originally met them back in the Fun Ford Weekend days, when they were just dating, and was always proud to see how far they had come, both as a couple and in the Pro Stock ranks.

A few weeks ago, I got an opportunity to chat with them at the Bradenton IHRA race, where they were competing in Pro Stock.   We caught up and reminisced some on the Fun Ford Weekend days, and discussed some ideas for the possibility of a Fun Ford Reunion.

Sadly, just one week later, on April 25th, at the IHRA Palm Beach Nationals in West Palm Beach FL’s PBIR, Cale was involved in a terrible accident, with the car crossing the track and impacting the wall before rolling onto its roof and sliding down the track.    Initial reports were that Cale was alert and ok, but he was airlifted to the hospital and things got really quiet about his condition, until now.

Competition Plus.com just released the family’s statement.    Cale has suffered some very serious injuries to his spine, and is recovering from surgery to fuse vertebrae damaged in the crash.   Good news is that he has tingling sensations across his body, showing there is connectivity, but is still limited on the amount of movement he has over his upper body.    For now, he must let his body heal before beginning a long road of therapy to regain his strength and mobility.

The family has had an outpouring of support from the racing community since the accident, and continues to draw on that strength during this difficult time.   The Gwynn Family (of the Darrell Gwynn Foundation) stepped in to provide the Aronsons guidance and support, having experience with Spinal Cord injuries.

Tinzy and Cale AronsonHelping Cale Aronson and Tinzy

Cale remains in the hospital in Florida, surrounded by his family, all displaced from their Missouri home.    They will need support during this difficult recovery, helping them to offset the costs of his care and the family’s accommodations in Miami.   Godspeed Ministry, the official chaplain for the IHRA, has set up a Bridge the Gap fundraiser for the Aronson Family to help defray medical expenses.

For anyone wanting to send the family care packages or get well notes, they can mail these to:
Bupa International Patient Services Center
DTC Building, Ground Floor Central 152 for patient Cale Aronson
1080 NW 19th Street
Miami, FL 33136

Details of the Crash

Cale remembers every moment of the crash, and vows to help make these cars safer upon his recovery.  All the details can be found on Competition Plus.   Please visit their story for more.

Pippa Mann’s run at Indy 500 for Susan G. Komen

//  by 

Pippa Mann 2015 Indy 500

Pippa Man enters 4th career Indianapolis 500

This year is the 99th running of the legendary Indianapolis 500, and British Indy driver, Pippa Mann, is ready to represent women racing with a special pink tribute car.  Paired with a large campaign on Indiegogo, the international crowdfunding website, her racecar livery is dedicated to the race against breast cancer at the Indy 500 for Susan G. Komen program.

This marks the 4th run at the Indy 500 for Pippa, who is one of only 11 female racers to compete in the historic race.  Her best finish so far has been in the 20th position, a mark she hopes to improve with her Komen team in 2015.

Susan G. Komen

The Susan G. Komen organization is the largest and most widely-recognized breast cancer assistance and resource non-profit organization.   Mann joined forces with the organization in her 2014 Indy 500 campaign to increase awareness and raise funds.  Her partnership with Indegogo has strengthened the funding efforts for her 2015 return, with a goal of $50,000 and a more fan interactive initiative.

As we started to prepare for the second year of this program, I wanted a much more interactive way to host the fundraising component that would show a goal, our progress towards it, and give us the ability to reward people who contribute to the campaign,” said Mann. “I am incredibly grateful for the way the racing community has stepped up to be a part of this campaign to raise money, and I love the list of perks we will be offering through the site.

Want to help Pippa fight Breast Cancer with Komen?

You can join into the fight by visiting pippamann.com/getinvolved, through midnight after the Indy 500 race concludes. Race fans, benefactors, media and other supporters can follow along the progression of the campaign leading up to race day. Donors get cool perks, including Komen wristbands and koozies, tribute T-shirts, Honda and Firestone hats, garage tours, a Race with Pippa night at Fastimes Karting, new exclusive Doug Garrison Artwork, and Bell mini helmets painted by Pippa’s Indy 500 helmet painter.

I’m excited about our campaign finally going live, and to see people clicking through, talking about it, telling friends about it, and getting involved with what we’re trying to do,” said Mann. “This isn’t a campaign for just my fans; this is a campaign for anyone who has been directly affected by breast cancer, and also for those we hope will never be affected. We believe our $50,000 goal is achievable, and we believe we can get there with the help of our fans and supporters. If just 5,000 people donate $10 each, we will be able to meet our goal.

The online buzz can be followed via the #GetInvolved hashtag on social media, as well as the URL pippamann.com/getinvolved.

Good Luck Pippa, we’ll be cheering for you!

Power of WE: Blog Action Day 2012

//  by 

Blog Action Day
Blog Action Day 2012: The Power of WE

Today is Blog Action Day 2012.

If you’re not familiar, Blog Action Day brings together bloggers from different countries, interests and languages to blog about one important global topic on the same day.   The project began in 2007.   Past topics have included environment, water, climate change, poverty and food with thousands of blogs, big and small, taking part.

I hadn’t participated since back in 2007, with a post  about Greener Racing for their environmental topic.   This year, I’m happy to join back in on the 2012 campaign, the Power of WE.

The ‘Power of We’ in Racing

The Power of We is a celebration of people working together to make a positive difference in the world, either for their own communities or for people they will never meet half way around he world.

Over the years, I’ve found that the racing community as a whole has a very strong We network.   There is an abundance of teams that utilize their racing platforms to benefit many different causes.    Because racing is fairly unique and exciting for the mainstream population, its easy to share that excitement and leverage to help important charity organizations get their messages out.

Racing Charities/ Racers supporting Charity Orgs

Doug Herbert/B.R.A.K.E.S. :   Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe.  That’s the message that NHRA Top Fuel pilot, Doug Herbert is sending with BRAKES, the charity organization he started after losing his two teenage sons in a tragic car accident.   Their mission is to prevent injuries and save lives by training and educating teenage drivers and their parents about the importance of safe and responsible driving.

DRAW (Drag Racing Association of Women):  The DRAW organization was born out of the successful fundraising efforts to aid Top Fuel driver Shirley Muldowney cope with medical expenses after an accident in 1984.   The DRAW organization  is a non-profit organization that provides financial and emotional support to qualified individuals involved in drag racing accidents at a track. From 1985 through 2011, DRAW provided a total of $3,943,442 in financial assistance to 760 racing families. In 2011, financial assistance totaled $189,000.

Darrell Gwynn Foundation:   Its the tragic reality that comes with the risks of racing.  Top Fuel driver Darrell Gwynn was at the top of his class in the early 1990’s, holding records for the fastest man on earth when a devastating accident left him paralyzed.  Ironically, the The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, a charity he had chosen to support with his racing platform just 6 months prior, would have his future in their hands.    The Darrell Gwynn Foundation was created to aid spinal cord research through the Miami Project as well as provide support for people with paralysis and to prevent spinal cord injuries.

Katie Sullivan/ Girls for a Change:  NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Katie Sullivan is an active spokesperson for Girls for a Change, a national organization that empowers girls  for personal and social transformation. The program inspires girls to have the voice, ability and problem solving capacity to speak up, be decision makers, create visionary change and realize their full potential.