Amy Faulk August 22, 2007

 

Amy Faulk was the first woman to win a national event in an alcohol dragster. Also, she was the first woman to win an NHRA division championship. And she was even one of the first women to work in the performance auto parts industry and was on the board of directors of the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA).

Like many drag racers, Faulk grew up around cars. While her interest in cars came early in life, her interest in drag racing came a few years later when she met her husband-to-be. The two got married in 1971 and Faulk got behind the wheel two years after that.

 

Though she had no experience as a drag racer, Faulk wanted to drive the car and started the process of getting her competition license. But to get the special women’s driving permit, Faulk needed to get the signatures of two track owners and three licensed drivers.

 

Amy Faulk became one of the first women to get a competition permit in drag racing and started her career when female race drivers needed a special permit and could not get licenses.

More and More Women In Grand Prix Racing August 2, 2007

Women are playing an ever-increasing role in the world of professional racing, according to drivers and support crew staff at the 2007 San Jose Grand Prix.

Champ Car Racer Simon Pagenaud of Team Australia said that not only has he seen more women take the driver’s seat, he’s seeing even more women work behind the scenes.

“It’s good to see that women are going into the sport more than before,” Pagenaud said. “I really think it’s important for everybody.”

Pagenaud said two of his team members are women.

One of them is Anna Chatten, a gearbox mechanic.

“I’ve been in motor sports for almost nine years now, so it’s a little bit the norm for me,” Chatten said.

According to Chatten she is the only female mechanic working in the world of champ car racing.

“My dad was a racing enthusiast, and when I was a little girl he bought us go-karts and we went go-kart racing, and I like to say that was the beginning of the end.”

The other Team Australia member is Vikkie Louks.

She said she got into racing much later than Chatten.

She spent years working in high tech software.

“I’m the computer nerd,” Louks said.

“Before I got into racing, I was in software for almost 8 years.”

Louks said now she feels like one of the boys.

“They don’t see a difference any more. I mean when they’re telling the stories, they don’t clean them up, so I know they don’t see a difference.”

(source: www.9news.com)

Hands On The Steering Wheel July 24, 2007

In an article by Ray Massey in the Daily Mail, the reason why men drive with one hand and why women drive with both hands is revealed.

According to the article, men drive with one hand because they are ‘physically relaxed’ at the wheel. On the other hand, it takes a female driver to understand that her car is a separate entity – which means she is more likely to grip the wheel with both hands.

Research has also found that men use chat about their cars as a way of expressing their own feelings.

Co-author Dr Iain MacRury, of the University of East London, said: “Men talk about their cars as if talking about themselves. “Women are more comfortable expressing their feelings directly and see the car as separate. That’s why women give names to their cars. “It’s also why men drive with one hand on the steering wheel. They are physically relaxed as they think the car is part of them. “Women drive with two hands because they see the car as more ‘detached’.”

The study noted where one-handed drivers preferred to put their spare hand. It found that 46 per cent of men rested it on the gear stick. Just 31 per cent of women did this. But although only 27 per cent of men put their spare hand in their lap, 39 per cent of women did.

Co-author Dr Peter Marsh said: “Men hate talking about relationships. But the relationship they have with their car is different – because they identify with their cars.

Women drive with both hands on the wheel because they see the car are more ‘detached’ “This is often demonstrated by genuine feelings of annoyance at the threat, or potential threat, of someone scratching or scraping the car. Affectionate patting of the steering wheel, car roof or dashboard, or glancing back as if to say goodbye, are also signs.”

The study – called The Secret Life of Cars and What They Reveal About Us – also found that motorists are four times more likely to sing on their way to work than on the way home.

To read the rest of this story http://www.dailymail.co.uk

First Woman Chauffeur June 13, 2007

Cora V. Taylor was the first woman in the United States to be issued a chauffeur’s license.

With her husband, she founded Indian Trails in 1910 as a delivery service that specialized in moving passengers and freight from the local railroad depots to points around Shiawassee County. The Taylors soon expanded this service to Flint and their company became known as the Owosso-Flint Bus Line.

Cora Taylor ran the company during World War I and into the 1930s. It was officially incorporated as Indian Trails Bus Lines around 1935, about the same time that the Federal Highway Act brought bus operations under the control of the Interstate Commerce Commission. Today, Indian Trails operates some 54 coaches from facilities in Owosso, Kalamazoo and Metro Detroit.

Interesting… June 6, 2007

Just when you thought women were bad drivers, along came this information.

Young males, between the ages of 16 to 25, typically pay more than females in their age group, because “many young men are more likely to show daredevil tendencies in their driving because of factors such as emotional immaturity and misplaced feelings of immortality.

Many auto insurance industry experts would agree with the theory that males, especially young men, tend to drive more aggressively than women and display their aggression in a direct manner, rather than indirectly. Furthermore, as a rule of thumb, male drivers are more likely than women to break the law, and the male of the species tends to be more of a risk-taker.

So… let’s see what the statistics have to say about drivers, in terms of males vs. females. Figures compiled by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show that more men than women die each year in motor vehicle crashes.

Check out http://www.insurance.com/quotes/Article.aspx/Are_Men_Better_Drivers_than_Women/artid/259

 

Get The Girls Started!! May 17, 2007

Young girls today are no longer that interested in dolls and tea parties. Instead, they already engage in boy “stuff” like computer games and extreme sports.

This is why many young girls express interest in racing. Parents with daughters who want to be racers can first start exposing them to races every now and then to develop their appreciation.It is also important to note to know what your daughter thinks.

Second, parents can engage their daughters in go-karts. This is a practical and fun way to enhance their talents and interests. Karting, in fact, became the first training ground for some of the world’s most famous women races like Jackie Stewart and Danica Patrick.

If these children will decide to enter the world of professional racing, finding the perfect driving school would be the best answer.

Though they may still be young, girls can further develop their interest and skills and at the same time learn the value of responsible driving.

 

 

Who wants more interesting facts on women drivers? I do!! May 17, 2007

 More and more women are taking control of the road nowadays. Bring on the notions on women drivers but one thing’s for sure, nothing is going to slow us down.

The overall percentage of female drivers is rising, while overall percentage of male drivers is decreasing. (VMR International, 2001)

80% of American women over age 65 operate an automobile. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1999)

Now who says women shoud stay at home and just let their men drive? I bet none.

 

Liz Halliday: Woman Racer and Equestrian April 24, 2007

Liz Halliday ia another proof of women’s greatness in the racing world. She has two sporting careers in which she is both successful. She is an international motor racing driver who competes in sportscar and GT endurance racing and at the same time, she is also an international equestrian in Three-day eventing.

She was born in California but she is currently based in Survey England. Now at 27, she has earned a lot of honor in her chosen careers.

In her first season of international sportscar racing at ‘prototype’ level in 2005, she claimed 3 impressive class wins in the LMP2 category, finished 4th in class in the final drivers’ standings, won the Dailysportscar.com Rookie of the Year Award, and helped co-driver Clint Field lift the LMP2 drivers’ title.

For 2006 Liz still remained loyal with the Intersport Racing team with whom she shared her success with in 2005. They started the new season with a blast by an astounding class win and 2nd overall behind the mighty factory Audi squad in the highly-prestigious Sebring 12 Hours.

2006 has so far been a a very fruitful season for Liz who, after 7 of 10 rounds of the American Le Mans Series currently lies 2nd in the championship with an unbroken run of podium finishes including 3 wins, one 2nd and three 3rds.
In fact, so successful has her season been that up until the most recent race, she and her co-driver Clint Field had held the championship lead, ahead of the mighty Porshe factory team with their two RS Spyders run by the illustrious Penske squad. Liz’s most recnet wins in the series have also confirmed her as the Winningest Female Driver ever in the history of the ALMS.

Yes, it’s another victory for women racers.
 

The New Girl In NASCAR April 21, 2007

In most race car movies, a woman is usually behind the scene. Either she is the driver’s golddigging wife or the loving and supportive girlfriend.

But in real life, it is not always the case. Sure, the racing world is supposed to be ruled by men. But I’m happy to say that more and more women are gaining the spotlight they deserve. One latest addition to these women is Michelle Theriault. She is the latest girl in the world of NASCAR.  And she is set to become a NASCAR champion.

Theriault competed for Seven yearsin Quarter Midgets and this gained her more than 200 wins in 13 states. Five times she was a runner up in the Quarter Midgets of America National Championship.

Michelle became the first female competitor to qualify for the season ending National Championship at the USAR Hooters ProCup Series in 2004. Although, she was also the only female competitor in the series, she never doubted herself.

During the 2004 season, she accepted an invitation from Ford Racing to participate in its Driver Development program in 2004. The comprehensive program evaluated and nurtured driver skills both on and off track.

Michelle’s big break in Nascar came in 2005 when she made her NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series debut at Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Ore. Not only that, she also qualified for the USAR Hooters ProCup Series National Championship for the second consecutive season.

The best part is, she is not only a kick-ass racer but she is also an excellent honor student. In fact, she graduated from Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia with a 4.0 GPA.

Talent, brains and beauty – these are the greatest weapons of a woman.

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