Women in Motor Sports

Join us Nov 20th 2008 to Honor Susan Scarola - President and CEO DCH Auto Group - Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles

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Women's Automotive Association

International Is proud to be honoring:

Susan Scarola

President and Chief Executive Officer

DCH Auto Group

Professional Achievement Award

Thursday November 20, 2008

Join us for a Reception & Dinner at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel

Bernard Room, Los Angeles, California

Tickets: $125 | Tables of 10: $3000

Yes, I would like to attend and /or sponsor by the following:

Please mail checks to:

WAAI

P.O. Box 2535

Birmingham, MI 48012

For more information call 248.646.5250

You can fax this form with credit card information to: 248.646.6721

Table Sponsor $3000

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Professional Achievement Dinner

Women's Automotive Association International One Vision, One Mission, Many Minds Erica Sietsma Erica Sietsma has invited you to the event 'Professional Achievement Dinner' on Women's Automotive Association International! Hi Everyone - The event details are in for our annual Professional Achievement Awards. We will be honoring Susan Scarola, CEO of DCH Automotive, and look forward to seeing you there! Erica Time: November 20, 2008 from 7pm to 9pm Location: Bernard Room, Millenium Biltmore Hotel Organized By: Jody Devere Event Description: Join us in Los Angeles as we honor Susan Scarola, CEO of the DCH Auto Group, with the Professional Achievement Award. Individual Tickets: $125 Tables of 10: $3000 We are still looking for sponsors for this event, so if your company would like to participate, contact Karolyn Hart who is on the network or you can email her directly at khart@wirelessronin.com. See more details and RSVP on Women's Automotive Association International: http://thewaai.ning.com/events/event/show?id=2064950%3AEvent%3A1762&xgi=3kXN85P About Women's Automotive Association International... The leading women's global organization dedicated to the development and advancement of automotive industry leaders. 43 members 14 photos 7 discussions 9 blog posts To control which emails you receive on Women's Automotive Association International, click here

Legends Luncheon

9/16/08

You Are Cordially Invited To Attend

A Legends Luncheon

In honor of

Lorraine Schultz

Founder, Woman’s Automotive Association International

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Twelve Noon to Two Thirty pm

Legends Unlimited LTD.

In cooperation with

The American Society of Interior Designers

Michigan Chapter

Community Service Committee

Presents

An afternoon of celebration and sharing

Special thoughts will be shared by

Rosemary Bannon    /    Maggie Allesee    /   Lynn Wilhelm

And many friends

The Luncheon benefits

The YWCA Interim House-Domestic Violence Shelter

Michigan Design Center ~ Mid-America Room

1700 Stutz Drive

Troy, Mi 48084

Tickets   $40 in advance and $45 at the door

Make checks payable and mail to: ASID c/o Debbie Gonzales / 1700 Stutz Drive Suite 102-E / Troy, MI  48084 / A Portion of Ticket Price is tax-deductible

Lynn M. Wilhelm
Chief Development Officer
COTS
313.576.0206

What a ride: Woman, 82, inducted into Hall of Fame

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=104&sid=1458927

Women in Motorsports Blog Carnival - Sept. 15

The cat fight with Danica Patrick may still be on her mind, but now Milka Duno has something to lord over Patrick.

Last week at Chicagoland, Duno stayed out, knowing she only had one more stop to make. The move sent Duno up to the front of the pack, enabling her to lead her first laps in the IRL.

On the restart, she led the field down to the green. Her five laps led, brought her team a bit of the
spotlight, and also meant she led one more lap than Patrick this season.

"We'€™ll continue to work for next year,"€ Duno said after Chicagoland. "€œWe showed we have a lot of potential as a team. We just need to find the resources to improve and continue to build our team to be faster all the time. I have to say many thanks to all (my crew). They continue to believe in me, and I showed what we can do when we have good conditions. I have to thank Robbie (Buhl), my coach."€


R2B2 Motors owner Roger Burgess has added NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Peggy Llewellyn to his team for three more races and announced that R2B2 Motors will be an associate sponsor on Matt Guidera's Mohegan Sun motorcycle in his run for the championship.

Llewellyn's good performance at the recent Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis prompted Burgess to extend the relationship through events at Dallas, Las Vegas and Pomona, Calif. She finished fourth in 2007, winning at Dallas, the NHRA race closest to her San Antonio home.

Idled for months, Llewellyn returned at Indianapolis, changed her riding style in three days and qualified 14th in field of 27 motorcycles on the Guidera team motorcycle. She lost to eventual race runner-up Andrew Hines in the opening round.

"Peggy is a good spokesperson for the sport and we are happy she'll be with us again in Dallas," said
Burgess. "We also were impressed with Matt's team and how well they worked together. I knew they could use additional support as he begins his run for the championship, so R2B2 Motors stepped up with an associate sponsorship to help Matt in the Countdown to 1."

"I am thrilled to run more races," said Llewellyn. "We learned a lot in Indianapolis that will help my
riding. I am looking forward to returning at Dallas, my home track, and trying to repeat my success."


The final round of the FIM Women'€™s World Championship this weekend at the Lierop circuit for the Grand Prix of Benelux will not be able to count on the participation of one of the main stars of the series. Double Women’s World Cup winner and Yamaha rider Katherine Prumm is currently recovering from operations to her right knee and left wrist as well as the collarbone break that prematurely ended her season while leading the standings of the inaugural championship.

"On July 25th I had my operation in Auckland with Dr Barry Tietjens, who reconstructed the right ACL in my knee," said Prumm. "They also removed the plates from my left wrist which was meant to be a fairly easy process but the doctors found that the plates were buried in the middle of the bone so they had to be scraped out."


History is in the offing for Ashley Force.

Shirley Muldowney won three NHRA Top Fuel drag racing titles in the 1970s and 80s; Angelle Sampey claimed three straight Pro Stock Motorcycle championships to start the new millennium.

Nevertheless, a woman driver never seriously has contended for a championship in an NHRA Funny Car division considered the last bastion of male dominance.

"I think we'll do good (in the Countdown)," said Force. "It's exciting to have all four of our Ford Mustangs (those or her father, brother-in-law Robert Hight and teammate Mike Neff as well as her own) in the Countdown, but it's also going to be stressful.

"We don't want to be the ones who look back at one bad race that cost us a chance at winning the championship. We just want to go out and do what we've been doing all season," she said. "My crew has given me a great car almost every race. We won a race, we've qualified No. 1 (twice). We just need to keep doing what we've been doing and I think it will pay off."


With the season's final six races approaching, Melanie Troxel has set her sights on a new goal: winning at least one more NHRA POWERade Series event.

"Getting one more race win would make it a very good year . . . and I think it can be done," said Troxel. "Brian (Corradi) and Mark (Oswald, crew chiefs on the R2B2 Racing Dodge Charger R/T) plan to do some parts and tune-up testing over the next six races so we'll have some good data for next year.

"They went in a new direction before the U.S. Nationals and it is really promising. We've had our ups and downs this year, but right now we are on a roll. We missed qualifying for the Countdown to 1, so we don't have to worry about points."


Chrissy Wallace said in an interview with The Press Enterprise that "one fellow Craftsman Truck driver has been anything but thrilled about an up-and-coming woman in the sport, but knows that sort of mentality is something she's going to have to get used to."

"You pretty much can't let it bother you," Wallace said. "You can sit there and hold a grudge and try to wreck a driver, but that's not going to get you anything but a torn up truck."

The interview, about why there are no women at NASCAR's top level, also pondered: "Perhaps another reason women might feel more pressure to succeed than men is because the general public is infinitely more skeptical as to how a female may have gotten her ride."

The cat fight with Danica Patrick may still be on her mind, but now Milka Duno has something to lord over Patrick.

Last week at Chicagoland, Duno stayed out, knowing she only had one more stop to make. The move sent Duno up to the front of the pack, enabling her to lead her first laps in the IRL.

On the restart, she led the field down to the green. Her five laps led, brought her team a bit of the
spotlight, and also meant she led one more lap than Patrick this season.

"We'€™ll continue to work for next year,"€ Duno said after Chicagoland. "€œWe showed we have a lot of potential as a team. We just need to find the resources to improve and continue to build our team to be faster all the time. I have to say many thanks to all (my crew). They continue to believe in me, and I showed what we can do when we have good conditions. I have to thank Robbie (Buhl), my coach."€


R2B2 Motors owner Roger Burgess has added NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Peggy Llewellyn to his team for three more races and announced that R2B2 Motors will be an associate sponsor on Matt Guidera's Mohegan Sun motorcycle in his run for the championship.

Llewellyn's good performance at the recent Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis prompted Burgess to extend the relationship through events at Dallas, Las Vegas and Pomona, Calif. She finished fourth in 2007, winning at Dallas, the NHRA race closest to her San Antonio home.

Idled for months, Llewellyn returned at Indianapolis, changed her riding style in three days and qualified 14th in field of 27 motorcycles on the Guidera team motorcycle. She lost to eventual race runner-up Andrew Hines in the opening round.

"Peggy is a good spokesperson for the sport and we are happy she'll be with us again in Dallas," said
Burgess. "We also were impressed with Matt's team and how well they worked together. I knew they could use additional support as he begins his run for the championship, so R2B2 Motors stepped up with an associate sponsorship to help Matt in the Countdown to 1."

"I am thrilled to run more races," said Llewellyn. "We learned a lot in Indianapolis that will help my
riding. I am looking forward to returning at Dallas, my home track, and trying to repeat my success."


The final round of the FIM Women'€™s World Championship this weekend at the Lierop circuit for the Grand Prix of Benelux will not be able to count on the participation of one of the main stars of the series. Double Women’s World Cup winner and Yamaha rider Katherine Prumm is currently recovering from operations to her right knee and left wrist as well as the collarbone break that prematurely ended her season while leading the standings of the inaugural championship.

"On July 25th I had my operation in Auckland with Dr Barry Tietjens, who reconstructed the right ACL in my knee," said Prumm. "They also removed the plates from my left wrist which was meant to be a fairly easy process but the doctors found that the plates were buried in the middle of the bone so they had to be scraped out."


History is in the offing for Ashley Force.

Shirley Muldowney won three NHRA Top Fuel drag racing titles in the 1970s and 80s; Angelle Sampey claimed three straight Pro Stock Motorcycle championships to start the new millennium.

Nevertheless, a woman driver never seriously has contended for a championship in an NHRA Funny Car division considered the last bastion of male dominance.

"I think we'll do good (in the Countdown)," said Force. "It's exciting to have all four of our Ford Mustangs (those or her father, brother-in-law Robert Hight and teammate Mike Neff as well as her own) in the Countdown, but it's also going to be stressful.

"We don't want to be the ones who look back at one bad race that cost us a chance at winning the championship. We just want to go out and do what we've been doing all season," she said. "My crew has given me a great car almost every race. We won a race, we've qualified No. 1 (twice). We just need to keep doing what we've been doing and I think it will pay off."


With the season's final six races approaching, Melanie Troxel has set her sights on a new goal: winning at least one more NHRA POWERade Series event.

"Getting one more race win would make it a very good year . . . and I think it can be done," said Troxel. "Brian (Corradi) and Mark (Oswald, crew chiefs on the R2B2 Racing Dodge Charger R/T) plan to do some parts and tune-up testing over the next six races so we'll have some good data for next year.

"They went in a new direction before the U.S. Nationals and it is really promising. We've had our ups and downs this year, but right now we are on a roll. We missed qualifying for the Countdown to 1, so we don't have to worry about points."


Chrissy Wallace said in an interview with The Press Enterprise that "one fellow Craftsman Truck driver has been anything but thrilled about an up-and-coming woman in the sport, but knows that sort of mentality is something she's going to have to get used to."

"You pretty much can't let it bother you," Wallace said. "You can sit there and hold a grudge and try to wreck a driver, but that's not going to get you anything but a torn up truck."

The interview, about why there are no women at NASCAR's top level, also pondered: "Perhaps another reason women might feel more pressure to succeed than men is because the general public is infinitely more skeptical as to how a female may have gotten her ride."

It's a Lux, Lux life

 Oregon native Cindi Lux made quite a splash over Labor Day weekend in the motor city.

Lux, started 13th at Belle Isle, but managed to launch quite a defense -- by wheeling the No. 2 Team Mopar Dodge Viper Competition Coupe towards the front of the field. Lux, the 12-time road racing champion, fought the best of the best to grab her fourth top-10 this season.

But getting top-10's is almost old hat for Lux.

Continue reading "It's a Lux, Lux life " »

 Oregon native Cindi Lux made quite a splash over Labor Day weekend in the motor city.

Lux, started 13th at Belle Isle, but managed to launch quite a defense -- by wheeling the No. 2 Team Mopar Dodge Viper Competition Coupe towards the front of the field. Lux, the 12-time road racing champion, fought the best of the best to grab her fourth top-10 this season.

But getting top-10's is almost old hat for Lux.

Women in Motorsports Blog Carnival - September 1

The “little old ladies” weren’t from Pasadena, but as drivers go, there was “nobody meaner.”

As WMMR’s Granny Grand Prix competitors and their families waited for the action to start early Friday morning, everyone used the word “aggressive” when asked how they were going to behave out on the track at Arnold’s Family Fun Center.

Sharon Campion, 71, who claimed to normally be a defensive driver, said, “I’m a school-bus driver. Normally school-bus drivers are very defensive drivers, but today we’re going to be aggressive... Today, there’s no defense except aggression.”

Her granddaughter, Stephanie Hickey, said, “When it comes to the other grannies, the story ends with my grandmom putting them in the wall.”

Campion added that she has been involved in racing a long time, and her husband works down at Bridgeport Racetrack.

One family was all decked out in red T-shirts saying “Granny Theft Auto,” a takeoff on the “Grand Theft Auto” computer game.

Janice Sweet was that group’s racing matriarch. “I’m pretty excited,” she said.

Her granddaughter, Trina, said “She might take it a little far, but that’s OK... She’s pretty much a little aggressive in everything she does.”


Ashley Force debuted a pink rendition of her Castrol sponsored Mustang Nitro Funny car at "The Big GO" in Indy this weekend.

As much as she's a proponent of Girl Power, I wondered why she had never incorporated a pink theme into her graphics. Well, this weekend she will be racing a Bubble Gum Pink racecar as her Rookie of the Year themed entry. The special edition is a one-race appearance, so unfortunately it will be short-lived.

What a great idea in getting back to the Shirley Muldowney-inspired symbolism! Big thumbs up for this one!


Danica Patrick would be ecstatic with another strong run at Detroit Indy Grand Prix.

After starting 11th at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park, Patrick worked her way up to fifth late in the race when the cars running second, third and fourth were involved in an incident with two laps to go. Patrick sped past the wreckage and held on for a second-place finish behind Andretti Green Racing teammate Tony Kanaan.

"I remember it like it was yesterday," said Patrick, fifth-fastest in practice Friday with a lap at 100.100 m.p.h. "I'm very fortunate that I didn't get caught up in it. It was great to stand next to Tony Kanaan on the podium, first and second. Hopefully we can do something similar again."

Despite winning her first IndyCar race earlier in the season at Twin Ring Motegi, nothing has come easy this year for Patrick. She has finished in the top 10 in nine of 15 races this year, but only three times in the top five, including a fifth-place showing Sunday in Sonoma, Calif.

"It's been a year of ups and downs, and drama," Patrick said. "It's either been something on the track drawing attention or something off the track. It's just been like that this year.

"(Winning) hasn't lessened the pressure to win again. We're shooting for No. 1 every week. It's the other drivers who are making it hard on me. The competition is very deep out there, especially on the road courses. It's tough every single weekend."


Valerie Thompson, a two-time Bonneville land-speed record holder who has spent the last two years in the All Harley Drag Racing Association's V-Rod Destroyer class, will make her Pro Stock Motorcycle debut at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

Three years ago, Thompson left a promising career in the banking industry to fulfill her longtime goal of becoming a professional racing team owner and rider. Her success in the AHDRA series, which includes a third-place effort in 2007, has attracted the interest of seasoned NHRA crewmembers including Rob Schopf and Jim Schneider, who worked with Tom Bradford's six-second Buell.

Thompson recently relocated from her home base in Scottsdale, Ariz., to Wisconsin to be closer to her crew. She has tested extensively this summer, running a best of 7.14, 186.14.

Thompson will join a roster that includes four other female riders: Angelle Sampey, Karen Stoffer, Peggy Llewellyn, and Angie McBride.


Check out Tiffany Daniels blog from the Best in the Desert Off-Road Race last weekend:

Yesterday we all slept in to recover from our very long day on Friday.  We then were able to do a little sight-seeing in the afternoon. We went to look at some of the very elaborate hotel/casinos and rode a roller coaster in New York New York.  Then we went to the Stratosphere on the end of the strip, which rises over 1,000 feet in the air. We went up to the observation deck on the 108th floor. Then Cliff and I took the elevator up to the top of the building, the 112th floor, which was outdoors. We rode “The Big Shot” on top of the building, which shot us up to 1,150 feet in the air and dropped us back near the building several times. We were both scared half to death, but it was such a rush!

Now it’s Sunday and we are sitting in the airport ready to go back to Charlotte. Jerry showed us a great time out here in Vegas, and it was a great opportunity to experience off-road racing, although I am looking forward to being back home.



Team Hummer WINS BIG at TSCO Vegas to Reno!

Rod, Chad and Josh all capture first place finishes in 3100, 4100 and 8100. Emily finished 3rd in 4100.  All three Halls maintain their leads in the points championships, and Rod breaks the tie for 1st in Stock Mini.  Check out the blog Monday for a post race update and race photos.

by Linda Przygodski
Contributing Editor
AskPatty.com

The “little old ladies” weren’t from Pasadena, but as drivers go, there was “nobody meaner.”

As WMMR’s Granny Grand Prix competitors and their families waited for the action to start early Friday morning, everyone used the word “aggressive” when asked how they were going to behave out on the track at Arnold’s Family Fun Center.

Sharon Campion, 71, who claimed to normally be a defensive driver, said, “I’m a school-bus driver. Normally school-bus drivers are very defensive drivers, but today we’re going to be aggressive... Today, there’s no defense except aggression.”

Her granddaughter, Stephanie Hickey, said, “When it comes to the other grannies, the story ends with my grandmom putting them in the wall.”

Campion added that she has been involved in racing a long time, and her husband works down at Bridgeport Racetrack.

One family was all decked out in red T-shirts saying “Granny Theft Auto,” a takeoff on the “Grand Theft Auto” computer game.

Janice Sweet was that group’s racing matriarch. “I’m pretty excited,” she said.

Her granddaughter, Trina, said “She might take it a little far, but that’s OK... She’s pretty much a little aggressive in everything she does.”


Ashley Force debuted a pink rendition of her Castrol sponsored Mustang Nitro Funny car at "The Big GO" in Indy this weekend.

As much as she's a proponent of Girl Power, I wondered why she had never incorporated a pink theme into her graphics. Well, this weekend she will be racing a Bubble Gum Pink racecar as her Rookie of the Year themed entry. The special edition is a one-race appearance, so unfortunately it will be short-lived.

What a great idea in getting back to the Shirley Muldowney-inspired symbolism! Big thumbs up for this one!


Danica Patrick would be ecstatic with another strong run at Detroit Indy Grand Prix.

After starting 11th at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park, Patrick worked her way up to fifth late in the race when the cars running second, third and fourth were involved in an incident with two laps to go. Patrick sped past the wreckage and held on for a second-place finish behind Andretti Green Racing teammate Tony Kanaan.

"I remember it like it was yesterday," said Patrick, fifth-fastest in practice Friday with a lap at 100.100 m.p.h. "I'm very fortunate that I didn't get caught up in it. It was great to stand next to Tony Kanaan on the podium, first and second. Hopefully we can do something similar again."

Despite winning her first IndyCar race earlier in the season at Twin Ring Motegi, nothing has come easy this year for Patrick. She has finished in the top 10 in nine of 15 races this year, but only three times in the top five, including a fifth-place showing Sunday in Sonoma, Calif.

"It's been a year of ups and downs, and drama," Patrick said. "It's either been something on the track drawing attention or something off the track. It's just been like that this year.

"(Winning) hasn't lessened the pressure to win again. We're shooting for No. 1 every week. It's the other drivers who are making it hard on me. The competition is very deep out there, especially on the road courses. It's tough every single weekend."


Valerie Thompson, a two-time Bonneville land-speed record holder who has spent the last two years in the All Harley Drag Racing Association's V-Rod Destroyer class, will make her Pro Stock Motorcycle debut at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

Three years ago, Thompson left a promising career in the banking industry to fulfill her longtime goal of becoming a professional racing team owner and rider. Her success in the AHDRA series, which includes a third-place effort in 2007, has attracted the interest of seasoned NHRA crewmembers including Rob Schopf and Jim Schneider, who worked with Tom Bradford's six-second Buell.

Thompson recently relocated from her home base in Scottsdale, Ariz., to Wisconsin to be closer to her crew. She has tested extensively this summer, running a best of 7.14, 186.14.

Thompson will join a roster that includes four other female riders: Angelle Sampey, Karen Stoffer, Peggy Llewellyn, and Angie McBride.


Check out Tiffany Daniels blog from the Best in the Desert Off-Road Race last weekend:

Yesterday we all slept in to recover from our very long day on Friday.  We then were able to do a little sight-seeing in the afternoon. We went to look at some of the very elaborate hotel/casinos and rode a roller coaster in New York New York.  Then we went to the Stratosphere on the end of the strip, which rises over 1,000 feet in the air. We went up to the observation deck on the 108th floor. Then Cliff and I took the elevator up to the top of the building, the 112th floor, which was outdoors. We rode “The Big Shot” on top of the building, which shot us up to 1,150 feet in the air and dropped us back near the building several times. We were both scared half to death, but it was such a rush!

Now it’s Sunday and we are sitting in the airport ready to go back to Charlotte. Jerry showed us a great time out here in Vegas, and it was a great opportunity to experience off-road racing, although I am looking forward to being back home.



Team Hummer WINS BIG at TSCO Vegas to Reno!

Rod, Chad and Josh all capture first place finishes in 3100, 4100 and 8100. Emily finished 3rd in 4100.  All three Halls maintain their leads in the points championships, and Rod breaks the tie for 1st in Stock Mini.  Check out the blog Monday for a post race update and race photos.