U.S. Pro Surfer and Pro Rally Star Team Up As Female First-Timers And Place 8th!

By Sue Mead

Casablanca to Essaouira, Morocco: It was no surprise that pro navigator and rally driver Chrissie Beavis, 32, of San Diego, was successful at the arduous and difficult navigation required of competitors in the Gazelle Rally that brought her team to an eighth-place finish out of 150 teams from 20 nations. After all, the multi-talented Beavis has guided many celebrated drivers, such as Rhys Millen, Tanner Foust, Ramana Lagamann and Seamus Burke to numerous stage and overall wins, highlighted by a Pikes Peak win in 2005, a United States Rally Championship win in 2006, and Gold and Silver Medals at the X-Games in 2007 and 2008. Beavis started campaigning her own Performance Stock Class car in 2005 in the California Rally Series, and has also had class wins as a driver, with several podium finishes.

By LeeAnn Shattuck, a.k.a. “The Car Chick^TM”

We’ve all heard the old adage, “Beware the woman driver!”  Sir Stirling Moss even reiterated his own similar opinion last week, only to be debunked by many women racers in the profession. That normally insulting phrase took on a whole new meaning recently at the the Doug Foley Drag Racing School held at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, where I met up with top NHRA drivers, Brittney and Courtney Force, for a day of drag racing.

With all due respect to Sir Stirling Moss and all his racing accomplishments, I respectfully disagree with his latest statement in which he said just a few days ago, “The trouble is, when you’re racing, it’s pretty tiring. We had three-hour races in those days. You needed tremendous concentration. Now races are only one hour and 10 minutes… We’ve got some very strong and robust ladies, but, when your life is at risk, I think the strain of that in a competitive situation will tell when you’re trying to win… The mental stress I think would be pretty difficult for a lady to deal with in a practical fashion. I just don’t think they have the aptitude to win a Formula One race.”

AskPatty.com Inc., a website, blog, and online resource that serves as a safe haven for women to connect with Certified Female Friendly® automotive retailers, today announced that TrueCar.com's former Senior Editor, Brandy Schaffels, would be stepping into the role of Chief Editor for the AskPatty.com website and blog. A true car girl at heart, Brandy Schaffels has spent more than 25 years as a journalist supporting the automotive industry. 

In her new role as Chief Editor of the AskPatty.com Automotive Advice for Women website and blog, she will create a variety of informational woman-focused content on all subjects from car care and maintenance, to lifestyle-related features, vehicle reviews, and news.

Let's give a big cheer to Shea Holbrook and her amazing presence representing women in the racing and automotive industry. Not only is she a successful racer and longtime friend of AskPatty.com, but today Shea launched a new website, www.SteelOvaryNation.com and an accompanying #SteelOvaryNation hashtag campaign representing female drivers, engineers, mechanics, fans, car, and motorsport gurus.

It is always fun for me to interview a fellow female racer and a very competitive one at that, who looks to have a bright future ahead of her! Just last year, Dominique Van Wieringen won the 2012 Super Late Model Championship at Springport Speedway in Springport, Michigan at the young age of 17. Dominique, who was born and raised in Ontario, Canada, started racing motorcycles at five years old and later transitioned into go karts which has eventually led her to the world of stock car racing.

Recently I caught up with Dominique via email. Here is some of the Q and A:

How did you get interested in auto racing?
After my family and I got out of motocross racing, our neighbour introduced us to go-karting (the step before cars) and I loved from the beginning, then we set on car racing since.

What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a female in the sport?
Some of my competitors have been hard on me but there was a good level of respect from evergone.

On the other hand, what are some of the advantages to being a female in the sport?
Fans are easy to be around and I think the fans are comfortable around me.

What are some of your biggest accomplishments in racing so far?
Winning the Outlaw Super Late Model championship at Springport and raising over $1000 for the American Cancer Society.

What are some "girly" things you enjoy?
I do have a love for boy bands, crafts, fashion and the occasional chick flick.

Dominique seems mature beyond her years and definitely focused on making a name for herself in the stock car world. She is very well rounded, balancing racing while still in school and on top of that giving back to the community as she continues to raise money for the American Cancer Society. She has an easy to navigate website and is connecting with her fans through all the new social media outlets, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Looks to me like Dominique is well on her way to a successful career. Her long term goal is to make it to the upper echelon of the NASCAR ranks. Certainly one to keep an eye on as she makes her way!!

To learn more about Dominique and follow along with her career... go to www.dominiqueracing.com.

 

Erin Evernham Contributor

Although southern California is celebrated as a sports car mecca, sport utility vehicles of every size and type were among the biggest hits at the 2012 Los Angeles International Auto Show. More than 40 different brands parked their new models and concept renditions on the ‘red carpet’ at the Los Angeles Convention Center, as 50 new vehicles made their premier entrance or global debut. The LAIAS is among the most significant shows in annual big-city show season in the U.S. and the home of the Greater Los Angeles Auto Dealers Association (GLANCDA), the umbrella organization for local and regional dealers. The LAIAS is followed by 2013 auto shows in Detroit (January), Chicago (February), New York (April) and other cities across the nation.

For my first ever car media launch experience, Buick and AskPatty invited me to Louisville, Kentucky to see the unveiling of the new and improved Buick Enclave and the brand new Buick Verano Turbo.

Let’s just say that if all launches are like this, I sure hope I get invited to many more. Everything about this event was organized and professional. From the travel arrangements to the accommodations to the presentations, it was all “First Class”. There were about 24 or so media members including me at this particular event. It was a two day event but really they get everything in in about a 24 hour time period. The hotel, the 21c Museum Hotel they chose was very artsy and modern. The lobby and main floor consisted of one art gallery after another. A really neat concept. The hotel was located in the heart of downtown Louisville just a block or two from the famous Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. (So of course I ran down there to fill my Louisville touristy obligations  )

This is a must check out for any Kasey Kahne fan and also a must check out for anyone who is looking to drive a new Chevorlet!

NASCAR supserstar Kasey Kahne, Hendrickcars.com and Farmers Insurance have teamed up to give one lucky individual $35.000 towards a new Chevrolet. This event is called “Farmers Insurance Start Your Engines Sweepstakes”. The contest runs for 8 weeks and ends on November 15^th.

Having raced for Kasey Kahne a few years back in my racing career and also having been a teammate of his, I know this event will not disappoint. Just by entering, everyone who enters will unlock six “hilarious” never seen before videos of Kasey. I am sure some of you have seen some of Kasey’s acting in years past in national television ads. His shy quiet demeanor and good looks make for a great combination.

Hendrickcar.com is one of the largest online retailers for used cars. They have at any given time up to 5000 cars from their network of Hendrick car dealerships. Mr. Hendrick who is the man behind the car dealerships as well as the NASCAR team Kasey drives for, is an incredible person and business man who does everything first class. I could almost guarantee the winner(s) of these sweepstakes will be treated above and beyond their expectations!

To enter these sweepstakes just go to the Famers Racing Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FarmersRacing/app_429711717063856) and select a key. Every player can enter once a day, every day. Just by entering you not only get to unlock the funny videos, but you also have the chance to win an instant prize of either a $25 or $50 gift certificate god towards Kasey Kahne souvenirs at the NASCAR.com superstore.

I know I am going to enter just to check out the “hilarious” videos of KK and of course at a shot to win lots of money to put towards a new Chevy!

For a better explanation of how these sweepstakes work, Kasey and Farmers Insurance have made a promotional video. Check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2gKEcZtj4U.

Good luck!

 

Erin Evernham Contributor

To make a long story short, I went to PRI (Performance Racing Industry) in 2007 and realized that if I wanted a life in motorsports… I had a very long way to go since I didn’t grow up with a racing background. My father had me work the room exchanging as many business cards as I could but most importantly making a real connection with motorsports professionals. No one, and I mean no one, wanted to speak with me and I was a fairly confident young girl! Then I began to realize that maybe it was because I was a girl that no one wanted to talk to me? Needless to say, the first day of the convention was terrible for me. The last two days I adopted a new communication style. I patiently waited for someone’s attention and finally jumped in saying, “My name is Shea Holbrook, I’m a 16-year old aspiring female racecar driver. I’m going to be a pro one day so we should know each other. Here’s my business card.” The first time I did that my heart literally sank to my stomach! I got people’s attention and from there on in I realized that if I didn’t make an opportunity happen I would never make it in this industry.

Over the past few years I’ve come to realize how wonderful and passionate “racing” people are but also how cutthroat and demanding this industry can be. Racing has completely possessed every ounce of my body, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.