CAYUGA, On. – For Anna He, president of Sweetie Girl Racing, the track is a level playing field.
Typically, the automotive world has been considered "uncharted territory" by most women – and track days such as this that I, and about a dozen other women are here to participate in, are generally male-dominated events.
SGR is aiming to change all that. Launched at the Darknights Nationals sports compact car show in 1999, Sweetie Girl Racingis an all-female show and race team – the first of its kind here in Canada. When Anna took it over in 2003, it "sparked a passion" when she realized it could be an "organization that empowers women through car care clinics and driving programs".
Looking around the crowded classroom, it's apparent that gender has no significance in this driving program – the attendance is equally split between males and females.
Many of them are young – new drivers looking to learn skills that will prepare them for a lifetime of safe driving. Others, mostly male, are clearly eager to toss their modified coupes and hatchbacks around the racetrack.
Anna He promises an "adrenaline-filled day"– one that begins with an in-class session led by head instructor Gerry Low, a veteran with over 35 years experience.
Introducing such basics as seating position, proper hand placement on the wheel and the importance of keeping eyes on the road, Low explains the simple physics that form the basis of car control.
In his experience, Low says that "ladies seem to be more open to saying "teach me", where men suffer from false confidence."
Indeed, several of the women students arrive with pen and notebooks and in this comfortable, non-threatening environment, become steadily more confident in their questions.
Moving outside, each student is paired with an instructor who will guide them through such building block exercises as emergency braking, obstacle avoidance and a slalom course. All participants use their own vehicles, experiencing what it feels like to push them to the limit in a safe, controlled setting.
Negotiating a slalom successfully requires proper hand position and smooth inputs – which results in a balanced, happier car that's easier to control. It also teaches the driver to look far ahead – giving them a lot more time to react should a situation arise while on the road.
Typically, the automotive world has been considered "uncharted territory" by most women – and track days such as this that I, and about a dozen other women are here to participate in, are generally male-dominated events.
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| Anna He, president of Sweetie Girl Racing. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush/Auto123.com) |
SGR is aiming to change all that. Launched at the Darknights Nationals sports compact car show in 1999, Sweetie Girl Racingis an all-female show and race team – the first of its kind here in Canada. When Anna took it over in 2003, it "sparked a passion" when she realized it could be an "organization that empowers women through car care clinics and driving programs".
Looking around the crowded classroom, it's apparent that gender has no significance in this driving program – the attendance is equally split between males and females.
Many of them are young – new drivers looking to learn skills that will prepare them for a lifetime of safe driving. Others, mostly male, are clearly eager to toss their modified coupes and hatchbacks around the racetrack.
Anna He promises an "adrenaline-filled day"– one that begins with an in-class session led by head instructor Gerry Low, a veteran with over 35 years experience.
Introducing such basics as seating position, proper hand placement on the wheel and the importance of keeping eyes on the road, Low explains the simple physics that form the basis of car control.
In his experience, Low says that "ladies seem to be more open to saying "teach me", where men suffer from false confidence."
Indeed, several of the women students arrive with pen and notebooks and in this comfortable, non-threatening environment, become steadily more confident in their questions.
Moving outside, each student is paired with an instructor who will guide them through such building block exercises as emergency braking, obstacle avoidance and a slalom course. All participants use their own vehicles, experiencing what it feels like to push them to the limit in a safe, controlled setting.
Negotiating a slalom successfully requires proper hand position and smooth inputs – which results in a balanced, happier car that's easier to control. It also teaches the driver to look far ahead – giving them a lot more time to react should a situation arise while on the road.
 |
| Photo: Lesley Wimbush/Auto123.com |