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Update:
The 2003 Women in the Winner's Circle broadcast will be airing on over 67 PBS
stations around the country with a release date of April 11, 2004, check you
local listings for exact airing times. On Monday, May 19, 2003, an historical event took place in Indianapolis:
Twenty-three winning women race car drivers were presented to a sold-out
luncheon audience made up of motorsports industry leaders, community leaders,
and race fans. It was history-making because it was the first time this many
women race car drivers had ever been brought together in one place at one time,
and it included representatives from all forms of auto racing -- from midgets to
NHRA, open wheel to drag racing.
The purpose of the undertaking was to spotlight women in motor racing, and for
some very important and intriguing reasons. The advancement and promotion of
women in the motorsports industry is at a critical crossroads. Not just for
women as competitors -- and top-level performers -- but as engineers, team
managers, owners and in other leadership positions. To be successful, there must
be more support, more encouragement, more research, more development, and more
awareness. This event was a first step toward that goal.
The event was conceived and developed by Lyn St. James, retired winning race car
driver and 7-time Indianapolis 500-Mile Race participant -- its first female
Rookie of the Year. St. James also heads the Women in the Winners Circle Foundation, under
whose banner the entire day’s proceedings occurred.
Following the fund-raising luncheon, which was held at the Columbia Club in
downtown Indianapolis, the women drivers traveled to the Christal DeHaan Theatre
on the campus of the University of Indianapolis. In front of a live audience,
they participated in an open forum discussion relative to the joys, challenges,
frustrations and opportunities they have experienced as women in racing. The
audience included a number of students, faculty and administrators from the
University of Indianapolis as well as others interested in the topic.
At the conclusion of the discussion among the drivers, questions were fielded
from the audience. Many of these questions were posed by members of the
University, because its School of Business is initiating an innovative research
project in the fall of this year specifically to study the impact that women in
racing have had on motorsports and on society in general.
Drivers who participated in the day-long program included: the legendary Janet
Guthrie; NASCAR’s Shawna Robinson and Angie Wilson; NHRA drag racers Erica
Enders and Melanie Troxel; USAC’s Sarah McCune, Sondi Eden, Erin Crocker, and
Samantha Weakley; Quarter Midget racers Stephanie Tuttle and Katie Hargitt;
stock car racers Allison Duncan and Deborah Renshaw; Go kart racers Gabriele
DiCarlo, Rhonda Mims-Brown and Lynsey Tilton; open wheel racers Jenna Ramsey,
Wendy Mathis and Rhonda Trammell; and Toyota Atlantic racer Danica Patrick.
The forum was moderated by Lyn St. James. Special guest host was Dawn Riley,
President of the Women’s Sports Foundation, captain of the America 3 all women’s
sailing team, and CEO of America True sailing.
What the forum brought to the forefront is that no matter what kind of racing,
no matter what kind of talent and experience the driver brings to the table,
history has shown that without the proper training, opportunity, support,
encouragement, and sponsorship, women are fighting a never-ending battle to
drive their way into the winner’s circle. But it’s a battle that can be won.
It’s a history than can be rewritten.
Viewers of the show will hear the personal stories and passions of a variety of
highly talented and motivated women. While diverse in backgrounds, talents,
attitudes and ambitions, all share a single vision -- to carve the way and
create awareness for women involved in racing. It is their hope that they are
raising the national consciousness and setting the example for women who, like
themselves, have not only the desire to compete, but intend to become “women in
the winner’s circle.” |
