April 26, 2010: On being asked if female drivers were as strong as their male counterparts - You drive the car, you don't carry it.

[Janet Guthrie-quote as title]

Growing up in this era of equal opportunity and gender equality, I've long been taught of the struggles of gender and race. I have no stories of true struggle or strife in regards to them. Instead, I only have the misconceptions of a young, wet behind the ears lady thrown into the auto-sport world. I've had a few glancing touches before, like when you accidentally brush shoulders with a stranger in public. But I'll be honest, I'm not of the mechanical mind and I would prefer (infinitely) the so called "softer sciences".

After my first brush with deathly illness (this is an exaggeration, but it sure didn't feel like one) at Cal Speedway, I'd vowed to never again be talked into coming out. Not for anyone, not for anything. Since then, I'm glad I've changed my mind.

My second encounter was much more smooth although it did blow any preconceived notion out of my mind. I made my debut at Miller Motorsports Park as the "Driver's girlfriend" for NASA's
National Championship Event 2009, and it's been an experience I wouldn't trade for the world. I was afraid I wouldn't fit in since I didn't know anything or anyone, and that being so far away from home for a week would be boring since the only involvement I had was sitting on top of the garages biting my nails during the races.But I was pleasantly surprised by how wrong I was.

At first, I'd been warned that there wouldn't be very many women out, that there never are. We must have been very lucky because in the garage next to us there was another "Driver's girlfriend" and in the week we were there we made friends very quickly. The ratio of men to women definitely favored the men, but all in all I didn't feel like a zebra in the city. In fact, many of them had levels of involvement I can hardly fathom, and each event seems to enforce that in my mind.

Since then, I've managed to come a long way. I've gone to every event since, learned a bit about hubs, axles, tires, and other car related things. I've also experienced SEMA, my first endurance race, and participated in tire changing. Honestly, I couldn't be more shocked at how involved I'm becoming with racing as a sport. But I can't say I don't enjoy every second of it. The best part is that my involvement as more than just the "Driver's girlfriend" helps him out too. We've had women come over and say how great it is to see women actually out there helping out, and taking pictures. But even more than that, it's nice to know that no one else notices that I'm a woman, they treat me as an unlearned person. Everything they teach me is just dragging me farther into their life and passion, and making it mine. I don't mind at all.

Love, Polly.