Girls 'N Garages Issue 3 by Girls 'N Garages

WWW.GIRLSNGARAGES.COM

A WOMEN’S AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE

JAN. 2016

gng’s Women of Automotive

DREAM CHASER

Sema!

GNG Hits the Las Vegas Strip for Biggest Car Show of the Year!

inside... LADY DRIVEN BATTLE OF THE BUILDERS THE VALKYRIE PROJECT:‘69 AMC AMX DRIFTING 101 BY BRITTANY BASSETT

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SEMA has come and gone.

Karen Sullivan Editor-in Chief

Racing is over for the time being. Car show season here has wrapped up and now we play the waiting game. Not always fun, but it does give time to get in the garage and either tear down the current build, start a new one, or just tinker with that is there to make it a little better for next season. Or you may be like me and thoroughly detest the cold and only venture out into the garage when the temperature has risen a little or only when absolutely necessary! Any way you spend your winter months, it’s all good. Here at Girls ‘N Garages we spent the first half of our winter doing a few different things. You’ll find that we have an Industry News area, a Social Media page which will not always feature our page but other pages that we love from any social media outlet. We have had a lot of fun doing this for you. Our website is more active as well and constantly having news about women in motorsports or automotive being written about! Do not hesitate to reach out with an article idea. We love hearing from you, our readers. For our 2016 year, we have made it our resolution to become the resource for the ladies who are a part of the automotive realm, no matter where you might be. Our first year being a magazine was a whirlwind and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down for the 2016 year. We will have car reviews showing up on our website. More fun articles coming about, potentially some podcasts and educational seminars as well! All will be online. So many possibilities, so little time but we love it here at GNG!!! Until we see each other again in the next issue, happy reading and wrenching!

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Girls ‘N Garages magazine is a national quarterly women’s automotive magazine based out of Massachusetts. Our main goal is to bring together those women across the United States, and around the globe, who love anything automotive and educate them about everything to do with them. We will feature automotive women, their vehicles, different automotive parts, DIY maintenance, automotive locations and cruises, as well as much more.

TOM MCCA RT H Y

WRITERS & Content Contribution “April 2016 Issue”

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Happy Wrenching,

Karen Sullivan Editor-in-Chief

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CONTENTS Features

Departments

PHOTO CONTEST AND THE WINNER IS...

Toni McCray

INDUSTRY NEWS

All in the Family: Toni McCray

Rebelle Rally, CCC Women’s 10 Board Conference

SEMA 2015

Las Vegas Convention Center November 2015

Bringing Women Together:1969 AMC AMX The Warrior ProjectsValkryrie Project

IN THE GARAGE A Women’s Perspective 14 On Leading

Babe’s Ride Out 16 Charlene’s Corner

Race of Gentlemen 22

Mustang Sally

HOW-TO/TECH

Missy Perez’s Mustang Project Build

All About OIl 28

How to Do An OIl Change

EVENT COVERAGE

Dream Chaser

42 SEMA Women’s Events 47 Women Battle of the 50 2015 SEMA Show

Janette Thornley

Builders Showcase

Julia Johnson Finding Her Calling: Julia Johnson

IN EVERY ISSUE

ON THE COVER

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Force Rahal Automotive 12 Wedding of the Year

Audra Fordin: “End Auto Anxiety: No Fear Car Repair”

Valkyrie Project

Janette Thornley on her Harley Davidson drag bike. Photo by Tom McCarthy.

Featured Women Featured Vehicles Tech Savvy News/Events

JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 5

GNG FEEDBACK

CONTENTS DRIFTING

Drifting 101 By Brittany Bassett

Exhaust: Reader Feedback

4X4 OFF-ROAD LADIES

76 82 86

Powder Puff Race Lisa Roberto Twitty’s Mud Bog

AUTO-X RACING

Powder Puff Race

AUTOMOTIVE CREATIVITY

101

Frost Automotive Home Decor

101

“Good layout. Very informative and well written articles. Hit many different areas of interest in the field. Has the potential to be a very competitive magazine in the industry once everyone sees what it has to offer. But absolutely love the magazine and can’t wait to see the upcoming articles.” -Lauren Katherine Butcher “I loved it! I enjoyed reading about several different aspects of the industry. I also really like the size, small and easy like a book. Articles are informative and fun to read. Great pictures. And neat personal touches from writers and editor. It wasn’t like reading a magazine from a faceless corporation. I’m looking forward to more issues and broader geographical coverage once they are able to expand more. But not too much so they don’t lose that personal feeling.” -Jaycie Cochran

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“Girls ‘N Garages Magazine just released their first issue and in it you can find Mishimoto’s very own Rachel Turtz! Her and her pink SR20DET swapped Nissan 240SX can be found on page 28 where you can find out how she got into grassroots drifting and why she does it. You will also see what modifications Rachel has done to her drift car which includes Mishimoto’s Limited Edition Ryan Tuerck universal shift knob. On page 40 you can read about Club Loose’s East Coast Bash which took place in Englishtown, NJ on Memorial Day Weekend. You can see Rachel in action and read about how Team Mishi drivers like Ryan Tuerck and Chris

Forsberg took a break from Formula Drift to shred with their friends. Girls ‘N Garages Magazine shows us that females can get their hands greasy too and we already can’t wait for the next issue!” -Mishimoto (Website) “We just got our #girlsingarages first issue and it’s full of some really awesome gals doing everything from vintage hot roddin to modern mechanics.” -Gasoline Dames

We Want Your Feedback! Do you want to know about engines? Or how about how to weld? Any questions you have we would be happy to answer. Let us know by sending us an email to girlsngarages@gmail. com, and feel free to let us know what you think of the magazine as well!

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PHOTO CONTEST

Social Media CONGRATUlations to this issue’s winner: MIchelle Wilson Michelle Wilson took this photo of her dog Nyla at a car meet! Thanks for submitting Michelle!

Left: Featured on Girls ‘N Garages Wednesday, Melissa P. of Westminster, Colorado, is a diesel mechanic and a graduate of Wyotech! Want more features? Check out our Facebook page every Wednesday!

Want to be our next contest winner?

Please send photo contest photos to girlsngarages@gmail.com for consideration. Photos can contain children and/or pet and must include your vehicle. Cuteness factor is always a plus!

Social Media GNG’s OFFICIAL Facebook Feed

Above: Featured on Girls ‘N Garages Wednesday, Michele H is an automotive technician and Wyotech graduate.

Want to be featured on our GNG Facebook feed? Follow us on Facebook and email us to submit for our feature of the week! 8 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

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INDUSTRYNEWS Women’s Board Winter Leadership Conference Imagine your feet in the sand, the sun beating down, and you’re relaxing on the beach waiting for a conference to start. You can have that at the Car Care Council Women’s Board Winter Conference. It is in Orlando, Florida from February 10th to the 11th, a Wednesday and Thursday. The conference itself is being held at the Caribe Royale Hotel. It is a day and a half conference with networking, personal, and professional development. Some topics up for discussion at this year’s winter conference are; Rhonda Waters, M.Ed, will discuss becoming a ‘corporate athlete’, Shea Holbrook, a race car driver, will discuss ‘Being Fearless’, the International Aftermarket will be discussed, Pamela Gatto will discuss her career in the automotive industry, and there will be other presentations as well.

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Google is said to be attending, and will be letting you know what they want from your company to receive a good ranking. This is a great thing with the digital age today! Not only will these educational sessions be taking place but the Women’s Board also has their Scholarship Strides 5k/1 Mile Fun Run going on as well. The Scholarship Strides Run will be taking place on Wednesday the 10th at 6 p.m. with dinner to follow. This Run is to help fundraise for the Women’s Board scholarships. You can find out more information about the Car Care Council Women’s Board by going to http://www.carcare.org/ womens-board/ and register for the conference there as well.

MOTOR TREND VEHICLES OF THE YEAR

Source: motortrend.com

WORDS BY Karen Sullivan

Car of the Year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SUV of the Year 2016 Volvo XC90 Truck of the Year 2016 Chevrolet Colorado

For full reviews of these vehicles, go to girlsngarages.com!

Rebelle Rally Do you want to participate in one of the first women’s off-road navigation rally raid in the United States!? Look no further than the Rebelle Rally. Officially announced on December 1, 2015 it will be taking place from October 13 – 22, 2016. Do not think that you need a killer rig or amazing driving skills to succeed at this rally. This off-road ‘road trip’ is designed for stock vehicles and for the lady who wants a little adventure in their life. It will begin in the Nevada desert and end at the Southern California Dunes. It will span approximately 2,000 kilometers of desert, with

dirt roads, double tracks, trails, and sand dunes. The teams consist of a driver and a navigator, but do not think you have to stay as one or the other the whole time; switching is permitted. There is no GPS navigation allowed, navigation must be done via maps, compass, and roadbook. A variety of checkpoints are to be met check day and points are awarded accordingly. Registration for the event is set to open December 15, 2015. For up to date information and to register visit: http://www. rebellerally.com/ JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 11

INDUSTRYNEWS 2015 Automotive Wedding of the Year! On November 21, 2015, Courtney Force and Graham Rahal tied the knot. Courtney Force is a NHRA Funny Car driver and Graham Rahal drives an IndyCar, making them a very ‘fast’ couple (corny I know). They wed in Santa Barbara, California with a stunning beachfront ceremony and an even more enchanting barn reception at Dos Pueblos Ranch. To keep some automotive flair in the wedding, a 1929 Bentley was Courtney’s chariot to the wedding and the couple’s getaway vehicle. It is owned by a family friend of the Rahal family, Bruce Meyer.

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Graham Rahal!

Women and Racing Exhibit World of Speed is an educational museum in Wilsonville, Oregon. The museum features historic racecars, boats, motorcycles, and has interactive exhibits and handson activities. In November they launched a new exhibit titled, “Women in Racing”. An inquiry was sent out to motorsports teams, and ladies who were involved in racing, to see who would be willing to have some of their belongings on display for the exhibit. Currently, the exhibit features five ladies; Cindi Lux, Lyn St. James, Courtney Force, Betty Burkland, and Michelle Miller. Cindi Lux is a 12-time road racing champion and owner of Lux Performance.

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Lyn St. James raced in the Indy 500 seven times, and set numerous national and international speed records. Courtney Force holds the record for most Funny Car wins by a woman. Betty Burkland holds the land speed record for the blown fuel competition coupe class. Michelle Miller is an instructor at DirtFish Rally School and also a two-time winner of the SCCA National Autocross Championship. The museum is thankfully thinking of having this become a permanent exhibit and will switch out the ladies it features every nine months or so. One more step forward toward showcasing the women of the automotive world in a positive light.

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InTheGarage

Automotive Book: “A WomAn’s Perspective On Leading” WORDS Karen Sullivan Do you want a book that has a powerhouse of automotive women who wrote about their journeys in the industry? Look no further than “A Woman’s Perspective on Leading” creative concept by Dr. John A. Passante and edited by Amy Antenara. I didn’t know quite what to expect when I picked up the book. I knew I was interested in it because the writers were ladies in the industry but the title I thought was a little weird. This is not meant to sound offensive but the title made me think I was about to read a textbook in some way. You know, the kind of monotone, straightforward, and just dull. I jumped in headfirst though and found I could not put this book down. It’s truly heartfelt stories and perspective into the lives and journeys of each woman. These amazing women are telling their stories and a lot of the time sharing some of the wisdom and experience they have gained from being in the industry for years. I found it encouraging and empowering being a lady in the industry myself. This is a book I would recommend for young women who are diving into the industry, either just starting some automotive classes or having been in the industry for a few years. I think 14 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

even those who have been in the industry a long time would enjoy this book as well. It might just give some encouragement that you have been looking for or affirmation of what you are doing in the industry.

“End Auto Anxiety: No Fear Car Repair and Maintenance for Busy Women” WORDS BY Karen Sullivan

A book that is quick and easy to read, but fun too and does not get bogged down with too much detail. Sounds like a fast read right? That’s what “End Auto Anxiety: No Fear Car Repair and Maintenance for Busy Women” by Audra Fordin is. It is short, being only 36 pages but it is jammed full of useful information for those who do not have a complete understanding of their vehicles. This book is geared towards the lady driver but it would be good for the nonauto guy to pick up as well to get a brief understanding of what is going on ‘under the hood’. Each section of the book, of which there are 11, give specific information on what is going on with your vehicle, from “What to Do When Your Car Breaks Down” to “5 Common Causes of the Check Engine Light”. It even details what to have in your vehicle in case of emergencies, and what to do in case you break down. All good information for any driver to know. The approach that Audra takes in giving the information is fun and not complicated which is what makes the book so likeable. I highly recommend picking this book up if you would like a good starting point to learn more about your vehicle. JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 15

NO WHEELS REQUIRED

First Time Motorcycle Journey to Babes Ride Out

I hadn’t gotten any of the street riding experience post-motorcycle safety class that I was hoping for. Which meant going to pick up a rental bike and riding it home alone in heavy LA traffic. A stressful proposition. When a last minute work engagement demanded I work on Friday instead of riding up with my moto gal pal, Lori, I came to terms that a lone journey with zero experience would not only be extremely stressful but super reckless as well. After a second of self-pity and embarrassment at the thought of driving a car to a motorcycle event, I got over myself. New and old friends awaited, with a night of camping, music, and motorcycles… how could I stay away?! As soon as I arrived I knew I’d made the right decision to attend sans bike. Tents were plopped down haphazardly all across the Joshua Tree Lake campground and gals of

every make, size, and model were grouping up and heading out for their Saturday afternoon ride. My pal Lori hadn’t been able to go with the group she’d planned on joining so was still around, trying to decide where to head out – problem was, she didn’t have a passenger seat on her bike for me to join her. While pitching my tent, Lori and I sparked up a conversation with a nearby gal. Tiffany had come up alone and volunteered the day before helping to get girls registered. She’d also not latched onto a group for an afternoon ride and was contemplating heading home early. Before I knew it, Lori had convinced her to take a ride together through Joshua Tree National Park. Then to my surprise, Tiffany offered me a seat on the back of her bike. Us trio of gals set off on that motorcycle ride as strangers – and before I could answer the question

WORDS & PHOTOS Kristen Cline of GreaseGirl.com.

My story isn’t unique. It’s shared by a contingency of the 1,200 other women motorcycle riders at Babes Ride Out 2015. First time riders turning a desire to ride into reality – spurred on by knowing there are a ton of other female riders joining together and celebrating life on two wheels. This being its third year, Babes Ride Out started off as 50 women friends camping out in the desert for the weekend with their motorcycles. So much fun was had that it became a 16 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

“thing” and by the next year there were 400 women, the growth aided largely by social media. In fact, it’s exactly how I found out about it. After peeking at #babesrideout I was hooked, my long-time desire to ride was grabbed from the dusty places in my brain and slung to the forefront. With months to spare before BRO 2015, I signed up for the motorcycle safety course necessary for getting your license and purchased a helmet. As the time grew closer, JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 17

in my head of why I was riding on the back of a bike of a woman I didn’t know – we’d already become friends. The day passed by with the beautiful scenery of Joshua Tree National Park and other groups of gal riders enjoying the same camaraderie. In a hobby where women are often swimming in a sea of dudes, getting out with the babes is a nice change of pace. In fact, BRO 2015 was the largest gathering of women motorcyclists ever! Co-founder, Ashmore Ellis, put it this way in an interview with NBC, “If one girl goes to an event now feeling a little more confident, and knowing that she’ll 18 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

have a friend – I think that’s the biggest success.” Back at camp there was more chatting, dancing, sharing, and having fun late into the night. Lori and I said goodbye to our new friend – no longer would she be able to say she didn’t have any gal pal riders – and no longer would I be able to say that riding is something I’d like to do “someday.” Babes Ride Out gave me the kick in the pants I needed to finally get two-wheel bound. It’s a journey that’s just begun for me and I think it’s the beginning of a wonderful friendship, in more ways than one. JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 19

InTheGarage

Race of the Gentlemen RACING, WINNING AND DRIVING A CAR WITHOUT A STEERING WHEEL

WORDS & PHOTOS Kristen Cline, Greasegirl.com

In its fourth year, The Race of Gentlemen (or TROG as the cool kids call it) gathers true nostalgic cars for true nostalgic racing. I’d been dying to attend; but, being held in Wildwood, New Jersey, it’s quite a trek for this West Coast gal. When Craftsmen Tools called to ask if I’d like to come pit for a dual-engined railer with Jessie Combs driving as one of the first women behind the wheel at The Race of Gentlemen… I couldn’t pack my suitcases fast enough! >> 20 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

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jumpsuit, I got to bounce between offering up Craftsmen tools to other racers, assisting Jessie and the railer, and snapping photos. While I couldn’t choose a favorite moment from the weekend, my favorite picture taken is hands down capturing the reaction of the flag girl when Jessie pulled the wooden steering wheel off its base just after the flag dropped. Like any racer with sights set on the finish line would do, Jessie kept a straight course – placing the wooden wheel over her head to free up both hands for driving and using the brass handles the wheel attached to for steering! I believe she won that race! While race brackets eventually dubbed a single flathead-powered track-nosed speedster by Rays Hot

y fellow Gasoline Girl Motor Club member, Pati, and I cruised into town on Friday – when the weekend’s festivities begin with an informal car show and “Night of the Troglodytes” motorcycle gathering. It was the first time Jessie, Pati, and I got to see the magnificent Craftsmen railer that The Oilers Car Club and H&H Antique put together for us to race with. Modeled after Henry Ford’s second race car, it was the perfect build to fit with TROG’s strict pre-‘35 cars with pre-’53 parts rulebook. Essentially two inline 4-banger engines mated together set on a pair of rail frames, this little racer looked like a speeding time machine! (SEE PHOTO ABOVE) The first order of Saturday morning was getting Jessie in the

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Rods as the fastest, I’m pretty sure everyone who attended The Race of Gentlemen felt like a winner. Not only did I get to pit for the Craftsmen Made To Race team, but I got to meet a handful of other ladies, who I’d only known via social media, who had shown up to race this year as well; while at the same time enjoying one helluva fun event. Now I’ve just got to find a pre-’35 body to cram my Cadillac 331 engine into… and you’ll find me at the starting line on the shores of New Jersey next year!

railer for some seat time before the shoreline drag racing got underway. The Craftsmen railer had an extremely simple gearbox, which translates into not-so-simple driving; Jessie had to get the shifts just right to keep this little beast happy and running. But she’s a pro through-and-through and had mastered driving the railer in no time. As if there needs to be more appeal to an event then strictly period correct nostalgic hot rods, TROG provides an entire atmosphere to go along with it. From canvas tents, painted signs, carnival games, and old-timey watch stands for the crowd, this event is period correct to the “T.” Even attending media have to wear white coveralls to fit in. Already outfitted in my pit crew JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 23

InTheGarage

Charlene’s Corner Top 8 Tips for Women to Be Successful in the Automotive Industry

Find Your Niche

WORDS BY Charlene Bower Are you looking to turn your passion into your work? Do you love tires and the smell of burning rubber at the track? Do you appreciate a nice weld and walk into the dust with authority? Working in the off-road and onroad motorsports industries can be a ton of fun. Let’s be honest, all of us have goals to create something that is appreciated as a piece of art or add into a company with an innovative way of thinking. I have worked in the off-road industry for over 20 years. I started my journey changing dirt bike tires in a motorcycle shop, I worked in powersports retail management for ten years before moving into the magazine business. After that, I decided to build my own business, and have owned Bower Motorsports Media for almost seven years. Bower Media has helped many companies, events,

know how to communicate with these women. Learn what makes them tick – usually safety. Learn what they react to – usually respect. Learn what makes them purchase – usually desire. Whatever your role is, be it a mechanic or a salesperson, you have the ability to help your company communicate with the female demographic. Always keep that strategic thought in mind.

and racers to be successful within the industry. While building the business I have found everyday hosts an amazing new experience and I am always excited to work on the next project! Since I have challenged myself with creating a niche within the industry, and had the opportunity to work with a variety of clients, I have discovered a few key elements that help lead to a woman’s success. However, as it should be, I still learn something new every day. So, take these tips as a great place to start and continue to circle back around to them when you are having a challenging day.

Female Influence

The buying arena is currently based on the woman being the majority in the decision making process, and recently even more so in the automotive aftermarket arena. As a female in the industry, you should

Being successful in business is all about filling a niche. You may have a really cool gadget, but if something similar already exists in the marketplace, why would people need yours? This applies to services that you may render as well. It is okay if you are new; there are plenty of niches to fill. Understand exactly where you fit in the scheme of the industry, but don’t be unrealistic about your place. Sorry ladies, but being a girl is not your niche, it is a fact. You need to have something more to offer than your gender. Understanding your position and using your niche will help you build a strong reputation for yourself.

Find a Mentor

Having a mentor is a very important step for ladies looking to get into the industry. Find someone that shares your business interests

and knows your niche to help introduce you to the right people, honestly critique your investment ideas, and guide your path to success. Watch to make sure you are not viewed as a competitive threat to this person. A good mentor should not compliment your actions all the time, he or she should push you to analyze your thoughts and decisions. You must be open to criticism from others and continually question yourself in order to reach your goals.

Know Your Stuff

The automotive world can be brutally honest. Any woman that has made an impact will agree. After you choose a niche, learn everything you can about its position in the marketplace and your target audience. Then, keep learning. Your brain is the most important part of your success in any job, and you need to be knowledgeable if you want to break into a man’s world. Impress them not with your looks, but your knowledge base on the subject matter at hand. Constantly acquire new information and be thankful for Google.

Think Twice Before You Speak

Silence is much more influential than speaking out of turn or saying something that discredits your reputation in this industry.

This has worked for me in every situation, and it goes hand in hand with knowing your stuff. You need to be able to professionally deliver correct information. Think before you speak. In a professional setting, facts top opinions. Is this important? Is this something that needs to be discussed? Is this a great opportunity for me to put my foot forward into my niche a little further? There is time for a squeaky wheel, but it is not all the time.

Make an Investment

Jumping into the industry and being successful is not going to happen overnight. In fact, it probably isn’t going to happen for ten years or more. Understand what your end goal is, then take jobs and learn skills that get you closer to your end goal. Success happens in small increments, so small sometimes, you don’t even see it happening. Don’t say “YES” to everything, say “YES” to the right things. Complete your projects and build a portfolio that showcases your talent. You should always be adding to your resume.

Kick Butt

Allow your passion to come through in everything you do. Never settle for best when you know you can do better. Those who are successful aren’t an accident. Work your day job then take online classes and continually hone your trade. Don’t 26 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

let one person’s criticism allow you the opportunity to stop, take it as feedback and focus on how to be better for the majority. Do an excellent job at every job you do, and strategically make sure that the right people know the quality of work you produce.

It’s OK to Fail

Yes, yes it is. It stinks. It’s far from awesome. But, it is okay to fail. You will fail before you are successful. Failing holds you accountable for your actions. Failing thickens your skin. Failing can be considered the ultimate success because it means you pushed yourself beyond your means. Accept a failure and learn from it. Reevaluate your decisions and take a focused look at what you need to do reach your next set of goals. Give it a shot, girl! Hang on because it is guaranteed to be a wild ride. You’re going to love it and you’re going to hate it, but you have to keep going every day. As someone that is honored to be part of this awesome industry for over 20 years, I can tell you I go through all these steps – every single day. It’s not easy getting where you want to be, but never, ever give up on your dream. I’m Not Just a Girl and neither are you! You’ve got this!

ALL IN THE FAMILY

WORD &PHOTOS Isaac Martin Toni McCray, in car 90, is on the outside second row in the restart. As the field approaches the green flag, she’s hard on the throttle, shifting by ear. Entering turn one, only six laps remain to get and keep the lead.

Toni was racing a Late Model (LM) in NASCAR’s Whelen AllAmerican Series at Irwindale Raceway, in Irwindale, CA. After her twin victory night, she shared insights into her racing experience and observations regarding women drivers. Toni’s current LM spec class doesn’t require cubic Sprint Cup money to compete. This class averages 95-plus mph lap speeds, which isn’t triple digits perhaps, but that’s fast when there’s cars in front and behind you. Irwindale is a one-half mile oval with a six, nine, and 12 degree progressive banking and short tracks provide intense racing action and viewing. Plus each 30 lap race makes it critical to be looking for passing opportunities to win. Make no mistake, driver and team intensity to win easily matches any Sprint Cup team. Besides LM, her driving resume includes NASCAR’s K&N Pro

Series and Spears South West Tour racing. Toni was also one of 20 drivers invited to race in the first ever South African stock car race, which she nearly won. Toni’s family racing background is no surprise. Her grandfather raced, as did her father Rick McCray, who raced at the Orange Show Speedway, since he was 18. It’s not unusual that he met his future bride Sandy at a 605 Speedway race. As Toni explains, he was trying to not only win the race, but her trophy girl heart too (groan. . .ed.). He was successful at both and soon the McCrays had three children, Rickey, Ryan, and Toni. Since then, the McCray children have stayed in the automotive sphere. Ryan is a Roush-Fenway crew member, Rickey manages his own body shop and Toni works at her father’s shop that maintains truck fleets. A Highland CA resident, her journey into racing was modest

Unlike big tracks, Irwindale is fan intimate. Before the night’s events, fans can go on to the track to meet drivers, take photos and get autographs. Not surprisingly, Toni’s very popular with women. And if her fan is only waist or knee high, she’s down on one knee making eye contact along with a ready smile while talking and signing an autograph.

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on the surface. The genesis was karting and pony stocks, during which time car owner Clay Wooster worked on Rick’s NASCAR Craftsman truck team. In 2007, her father was trying to increase race car counts at the raceway and Toni, not surprisingly, took the initiative. Knowing Clay had a LM, she called and inquired if he’d be willing to bring the car to an event, let her start and park it. Toni explained his reaction was, “I have to think about it. I’ll let you know.” With a call back, Toni was on. The initial test session was her first time in a LM. On the track, Toni’s father, now retired from driving, came up to Clay asking, “Well?” According to Toni, Clay’s reaction was, “She’s on old 100lap tires and she’s running trophy dash times.” Clay had his new driver. Starting out wasn’t a smooth

beginning. Toni explains that she had her learning curves and that she didn’t run very well to begin with. But she learned quickly and had plenty of support. “I had my dad talking to me and teaching me,” she begins. Continuing, “My team now, we’ve been together for three years. We have unbelievable chemistry, we all get along. We work good together and have the same goals in mind.” Even on a local level, Toni will tell you, “I don’t look at it as females being in a male dominated sport. It really doesn’t matter. The thing is, when you’re strapped into that race car, you’re just a driver.” She relates there’s been negative attitudes from other drivers. “When I first started, in the driver’s meetings, nobody would sit next to me or talk to me. I kind of felt like I had the plague to be honest with you.” She started winning, but that didn’t cure the

Yes, Toni McCray is a prototypical tall, thin, blond California girl. But she’s earned racing respect and victories through determination, hard work, harder work to overcome setbacks, in addition to having family and team support. Her appearance has nothing to do with her driving success.

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negativity. “You’re just a silver spoon kid that you had it all given to you,” was a typical backhanded whisper. There’s other women racing at Irwindale with younger ones coming up through the Bandoleros class in addition to LM. Based on her experience, they look up to her. “It’s an honor to have that,” she says. It doesn’t go to her head, explaining, “But there’s always going to be somebody bigger and better than you.” The important thing is that these racers have someone to talk to. “I can’t wait until there’s more females and then it won’t be so much, ‘she’s a female driver, you know’.” Toni has suggestions for women who want to get involved in racing. “Go to your local track and meet people,” adding, “ask to volunteer.” She concludes, “It’s not

easy. If you have the drive, you’re going to do anything to make it happen.” The 2015 season didn’t end to her satisfaction. In September, fourth in points, the racing gods struck in the form of a wreck and her season was done. What does Toni’s future hold? The 2016 LM season, check. A drive in a faster NASCAR series? She’s competitive and with a pinch of right-time-right-place it could happen. As for summing up Toni McCray, perhaps her driving self-critique says it best. “I’m not as good at qualifying.” There’s a pause, she continues, “You get me out there with other cars and I guarantee you I’m going to run hard and I’m going to run good.” That’s a champion’s attitude.

In the previous issues we have looked at air filters and the radiator. All in the engine bay of your vehicle. We are sticking with that theme in this issue too. However, now we will be looking more at the interior of your engine with this article.

The Basics:

Motor Oil

WORDS & PHOTOS Karen Sullivan

Once belted in, Toni puts on her Nomex head sock, followed by her helmet along with the HANS device. From this point on, the race is her only focus.

needing to be done every 3,000 to 5,000 miles depending on the type of oil you put in and the manufacturer recommendations. Motor oil does perform a number of key functions within your vehicle and it is best to stay on top of doing regular oil changes.

Motor oil, or engine oil, is also called the lubrication system of your engine. I’m sure you know that oil changes are part of the maintenance of your vehicle,

Motor Oil Functions • It reduces friction and wear between moving parts within the engine

• It helps to transfer heat away from engine parts • It cleans the inside of the engine by removing contaminants (i.e. metal, dirt, plastic, rubber, etc.) • It prevents internal engine parts from rusting and corrosion • It absorbs shocks between moving parts to quiet the engine and increase engine life

Motor/Engine Oil Motor oil does not just work by itself though. It is within a larger system known as the lubrication system within a vehicle’s engine. This lubrication system consists of: • Engine oil – it is the lubricant for moving parts within an engine • Oil pan – it is a reservoir or storage area for engine oil • Oil pump – it forces oil through all the passages inside the engine • Pressure relief valve – it limits the maximum oil pump pressure • Oil filter – it strains out impurities in the oil • Oil galleries – these are the passages through the engine The way each of these components work together is as the engine is running, the oil pump pulls engine oil out of the oil pan. The oil pump then pushes the engine oil through the oil filter and into the oil galleries. The oil filter cleans the oil of any impurities. This filtered oil then moves throughout the engine through the oil galleries. Gravity then causes the oil to flow back down into the oil pan to be recirculated. There are a few different types

of engine oil, conventional and synthetic. There are a few more but for our purposes we will be discussing conventional and synthetic as they are what is predominantly on the market today. Conventional oil is cheaper than synthetic, but this is due to the fact that conventional oil comes with little additives being added to it. It is good for the vehicle that gets frequent oil changes and has a low mileage engine. Synthetic on the other hand have additives added to the oil. These additives are put in to protect the engine from contaminants, rust/ corrosion, and wear. Synthetic oil can provide better performance in extreme cold weather due to this, as well as longer service life, less friction, and better fuel economy in general. It is however more expensive because of these properties. *Key note here. It is a good rule of thumb to not switch between types of engine oil. If you started with conventional oil stick with conventional, if you used synthetic to start, be wary of switching to conventional. Your owner’s manual can tell you what is recommended to use as well as your local auto parts store. Now that you have an understanding of what oil does, and what kinds of oils there are I’m sure you are wondering what is up with the weird numbers and letters you find on oil containers, the 5W – 30 or 10W – 30, and so on.

These numbers have to do with the oil viscosity, or oil weight, otherwise known as the thickness or fluidity of the engine oil. A high viscosity oil is very thick and resists flow, while a low viscosity oil is thin and flows easily. The oil’s viscosity number is printed on the oil container. This is where the 5W – 30 number comes in. This type of oil is known as a multiviscosity oil. What this means is that the oil will exhibit the characteristics of a thin, light oil when cold/when first starting the engine, while it will exhibit the properties of a thicker, heavier oil when hot/the engine is at operating temperature. The reason for this is because it will help the engine start more easily in cold weather and also provide adequate lubrication for when the engine is hot. To pick which oil viscosity you need, you can reference the owner’s manual or oil cap in the engine bay. Both will tell you what is recommended by the manufacture. For the majority of the time, this is how you should be choosing the

oil you are getting for oil changes. However, in a worn, high-mileage engine, high viscosity oil may be beneficial due to it being thicker oil which helps to seal the rings and reduce oil consumption and smoking. I know, a lot of information I just threw at you. Some key points to know and remember. Motor oil is the lubricant the helps your engine work as it should by reducing friction between moving parts. There are two different types of oil, conventional and synthetic. The manufacturer of your vehicle usually determines which is used straight from the factory. Stick with whichever variety you choose, it is better for the engine. Oil viscosity, or oil weight, is also determined straight from the factory and you should be utilizing what they specify. However, if you buy an older vehicle or older engine which potentially has had a hard, long life, think about getting a thicker oil to help the engine. Happy wrenching!

TECH & HOW-TO

A Little Messy, But Not Difficult: How to do an Oil Change

Now you have everything to begin an oil change.

WORDS & PHOTOS Karen Sullivan It comes around like clockwork, every such and such miles or ‘x’ amount of months, it is time to do an oil change. This all depends on one, your vehicle and the manufacturer recommendations, and two, how much you drive your vehicle. Rule of thumb that is out there is every 3,000 to 5,000 miles depending on a few factors. In general though, look up what the recommended mileage is between oil changes for your vehicle in the owner’s manual. For an oil change you will need a

type of oil you will need look in your owner’s manual. It is also sometimes printed on your oil filler cap in the engine bay. You can look to the motor oil article to better understand what motor oil does in the engine bay and why it comes in different weights.

few tools: • Wrench • Oil drain pan • Funnel • Latex gloves • Jack and jack stands Materials required: • Motor oil • Oil filter • Replacement drain plug washer To start, you will need to go to your local auto parts store or dealership to get your motor oil and oil filter. To figure out what

Your engine and the oil should be warm when doing an oil change but not hot! Safety tip here!! After driving your vehicle, let it sit for the exhaust and engine to cool down. However, do not wait until the engine is stone cold. To make it easier to get to the oil pan and drain plug, you will want to raise your vehicle via a floor jack and put jack stands under it to hold the vehicle up while you work under it. Some vehicles have an undercover that may cover the drain plug and oil filter. You’ll

want to take this off to get to both if your vehicle has them. After you’ve done that, bring your oil drain pan over and situate it under the vehicle where the drain plug is. You’ll want to situate the drain pan to account for the possible angle the oil will come out at so do not place the middle of the pan directly under the drain plug. Move it so the middle is a few inches out. Now is a good time to get those gloves on, it could get a little messy. Taking a wrench, loosen the drain plug. This is where you’ll want to have cat like reflexes if possible. Remove the drain plug with your fingers. If you are not quick enough you could find yourself with motor oil running down your arm and/or possibly fumbling the drain plug into the drain pan. Both things have happened to me. This is also where, by letting the car sit, you are not dealing with hot fluid getting on you.

After the drain plug is out you can sit back and relax while the oil drains. You will want to clean off the drain plug and prep it to go back in, so you’re not completely relaxing. Once all the oil is drained, it is time to put the drain plug back in. This is where the replacement drain plug washer can be put on. For the drain plug, you only want to tighten it down as much as you can. Do not use extra leverage to tighten it down. You do not want to overtighten this bolt. Now we move onto the messiest part of this whole project, removing the oil filter. Usually the oil filter is on the underside of the vehicle. However, in some vehicles now the oil filter is a top-mount cartridge filter that is in the top of the engine. Takes away some of the messiness. First we will discuss removing the oil filter from the underside

and installing a new one. To do this, just loosen with your hand the filter. It can be a little stuck on there due to the gasket on the filter swelling where it meets the vehicle. Some elbow grease will help. The filter comes off fairly quickly but there is no way to avoid getting oil on your hands and sometimes down your arm at this point. Try not to let the filter fall into the drain pan, which should be under where you are unscrewing the oil filter now. It gets even messier if you do but don’t worry if it happens, I know I’ve done it quite a bit. Now you can let the oil filter drain into the oil pan and once that is done set the filter down on some shop rags. Take the new oil filter and put some of the new motor oil around the gasket. Then you can install it. To tighten the filter, only tighten about three-quarters of a turn beyond the point from when the gasket contacts the vehicle surface.

To remove a top-mount cartridge filter you will want to take the engine cover off to locate where the filter is. From there, you can find the filter location. Remove the cap to the filter with a socket and pull the cap off. You’ll notice a cartridge attached to the filter cap.

That is the filter. Take the old filter out and install the new filter with the new o-ring in the cap and put the cap back on and tighten. Almost done! Now that you have the drain plug in, and the new filter on, it is time to put the new oil in the engine. When filling, hold the motor oil container on its side, it allows for a smoother flow. Fill as specified by the owner’s manual for the amount the engine holds. Don’t forget to put the oil cap back on. You can lower the vehicle down and you are done with doing an oil change!

Want more how-to/ Tech articles? Be on the lookout every issue and online at girlsngarages.com to learn basic maintenance techniques from experts and experienced automotive enthusiasts. 38 GIRLS Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; GARAGES JANUARY 2016

SEMA SHOW 2015

WORDS Karen Sullivan PHOTOS Taylor Haney, Mark Brylo & Karen Sullivan

SEMA is the Specialty Equipment Market Association and every year they put on the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show lasts for 4 days officially, from Tuesday to Friday. On Monday there are some events that go on but the show floors are inaccessible until the start of the show Tuesday. Now that I have the informational section aside, let’s talk the actual show! For those that have never been, this is by far the most overwhelming trade event I have ever been to. It spans multiple buildings and has outside events, and booths going on as well. What everyone fails to tell you when you attend the show is how much walking you will be doing! I swear I lost weight just from walking for 5 days nonstop. As an aside, good shoes are a must when attending. As I aforementioned, the trade event spans multiple buildings, which SEMA thankfully breaks down into sections, so depending on your interests you can go directly to the hall you want to peruse. This makes your life as show attendee so much easier! In each of the halls there were a number of car manufactures, Ford

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had a huge spread, Chevrolet was being competitive with theirs as well. Whatever your favorite manufacturer you could find the manufacture and see some of the concept vehicles they had designed in the past year. Kia had some pretty interesting concept vehicles. Personally, not a Kia fan, but the minivan that they had transformed is definitely my kind of mom-mobile. Not only can you walk the show floor but SEMA also had educational events that were happening throughout each day. Some were for company owners, others discussed particular automotive themes, like where racing was going, or engine oil. Other seminars tackled social media and how to use it, how to make videos, and the list can go on. Overall, this event is an amazing week for the automotive enthusiast. The amount of vehicles you can see, the people you can talk to, it’s overwhelming and exciting all at once. Peruse the gallery of photos here, then go online to girlsngarages.com to see even more photos from the SEMA show.

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Sung Kang and GReddy racing sat down for an interview about their Nissan 240Z build .

SEMA 2015

This van is our idea of the ideal “mommobile,” don’t you agree?

The highly anticipated all-wheel drive Ford Focus RS set to be released next year 2016.

Hydrogenfueled Toyota Mirai modified for Back to the Future movie tribute.

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Custom Infiniti G35 from Vaydor, a specialty body kit company based out of Pinellas Park, Florida.

Want to see more from our coverage from the SEMA show in Las Vegas? Go to www.girlsngarages.com for the full photo gallery.

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SEMA Show: For the Ladies WORDS Karen Sullivan

The SEMA show is good for both the guys and the gals of the automotive industry to attend. At this year’s show there were a number of seminars and events that were geared towards women in the industry.

ABOVE: The Hogie Shine rat-rod was a real attention-getter with a matching hauler! RIGHT: GNG Editor-in-Chief Karen Sullivan waits in line for NHRA women celebrity signing after SEMA Business Network’s women’s event.

Women Driven: Gear Up Girl, Networking Event – Powered by SBN Beginning in 2011, the SEMA Businesswoman’s Network (SBN) started Gear-up Girl. This event is designed to connect female students with industry leading female professionals. At this event awards were given out by the SBN. Each year, the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) recognizes the top individuals for their contributions to women in industry. Rose Kawasaki of Exports International was the recipient of the Athena Women of the Year. Rose has served as a member of the SBN for the last 10 years. She is also an advocate for programs benefiting women and mentoring young women coming into the automotive industry.

Female NHRA Drag racer Alexis DeJoria’s dragster during signing after SBN Women’s Event.

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Kristin Stone, owner of Reaction Time Marketing was the recipient of the Athena Rising Star award. Kristin is a volunteer of both the SBN and the Young Executive Network, also a SEMA organization. She also speaks at her college and at high schools about getting into the

automotive industry. Nan Gelhard of Summit Racing was the recipient of the Athena Champion award. Nan is a true inspiration and champion of women in the automotive industry. She has led many car builds done by women and Summit Racing actively supports her in these endeavors. Even now, she still continues to work on projects for women in the industry. Educational Seminars: Women Driven: Communication Roadmap for Men and Women How Expectations Are Changing the Sales Experience for Millennial Women Women in Business: Shattering the Glass Ceiling Women Driven: Leveraging Differences to Drive Success: 5 Best Practices for Building a Diverse Workforce SBN Networking & Wine Tasting What goes together better than some networking and wine? I do not know because it was a great event! This event was open to professionals who were invested in helping women in the automotive industry. There were a few different wines to sample and food to try. It was a great causal event to network in and meet professional who were devoted to helping women become more a part of the automotive industry. JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 45

ABOVE: Kristen Stone, owner of Reaction Time Marketing receiving the Athena Rising Star Award. BELOW: Rose Kawasaki of Exports International receiving the Athena Women of the Year award.

The Women of the NHRA:

2015 NHRA SEMA Show Breakfast

WORDS & PHOTOS Karen Sullivan

Leah Prickett, Alexis DeJoria, Courtney Force, Erica Enders, and Shirley Muldowney. The four Ladies of the NHRA Mellow Yellow Drag Racing Series, and the legendary Shirley who helped to pave the way for these younger women to step into drag racing, were the leading ladies of the NHRA SEMA Breakfast this year at the SEMA Show. The breakfast consisted of a panel discussion among these five ladies discussing the state of the sport and their own achievements within racing. It was a great hour of discussion and comradery. After the breakfast the ladies of the NHRA went to the NHRA booth to sign autographs. Leah Prickett is a Top Fuel drag racer and a former Nostalgia Funny Car world champion. Alexis Dejoria is a Funny Car drag racer and has a number of milestones under her belt. Courtney Force is a Funny Car drag racer and has seven career victories, making her the winningest female Funny Car driver. Erica Enders is a Pro Stock drag racer and world champion. Shirley Muldowney is a former drag racer and a legend. She helped to pave the way for other successful women in motorsports. 46 GIRLS Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; GARAGES JANUARY 2016

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SEMA SHOW Women of Battle of the Builders WORDS Karen Sullivan

The Battle of the Builders is an extraordinary event that takes place at SEMA and allows a number of car builders and customizers to showcase their vehicles. With this years Battle of the Builders seven women entered vehicles. Female Drive: Battle of the Builders Michelle Perez - 1967 Ford Mustang Chantal Ballo - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze LS Janet Fujimoto - 1970 Toyota Crown Rebecca Olavarrieta - Jeep Wrangler Judy & Richard White - 1999 Firebird Pro Touring LSR Wendy & Richard Alcedo - Toyota Tundra Nicole Viscovich - Dodge Dart Find out what went into these builds in our Female Drive: Battle of the Builders Showcase!

Builder: Rebeca Olavarrieta Projects like these is what every shop dreams of... having a blank slate to work on and that you can take your time to choose specifically each component so that at the end of the day everything flows together in harmony. Nothing clashes, its just so functional that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye of the connoisseur. The main inspiration was the Flying Tigers from WWI, an outnumbered unit of American soldiers which fought the Japanese in China before the United States was officially in WWI. Flying Tigers used innovative tactics to battle the enemy. On our build we are using the latest technology in suspension, aluminum armor, LED lighting, even synthetic winch rope. Combining all 48 GIRLS Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; GARAGES JANUARY 2016

the modifications for all aftermarket accessories to work in harmony. There are many JK builds out there, but most are good in one aspect but fail in another, our goal is to have the ultimate JK, a true echo to a Flying Tiger. JANUARY 2016 GIRLS Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; GARAGES 49

Builder: Wendy and Richard Alcedo I’m a huge fan of the Toyota Tundra Crewmax it’s big and since I have two kids I need as much space as I can get. My Tundra is wrapped in new leather from Roadwire Leather and of course I would go with Toyo Tires and a Ranch Fiberglass Cap for added storage. I’m adding truck vault to the bed as well. To help with the price of gas I’m adding a propane conversion. The one thing I was not happy about was the small bed that the Crewmax offered so I stretched the frame and added the 8’ bed with my own brand products from my company Atomic Offroad Designs such as my 10 - 12” lift kit, my front and rear bumpers, my grille, and roof rack. The truck has premium sound from Rockford Fosgate and I custom built my headlights.

Builder: Janet Fujimoto My most recent restoration is a rare 1970 Toyota Crown. It was built Japanese hot rod style. I designed it and it was built by Duane Tomono. This hand-built beauty was created with a 1970 Toyota Crown shell and everything else custom built and fabricated to new

design specs. The Crown has been restored to give the exterior of the Crown’s original, classic look and 2JZ-GE powered underneath.

Janet’s Stats Drive Train: Rebuilt 2JZ-GE engine swap Custom fabricated motor mounts and transmission mounts Custom drive shaft Refabricated OBX headers Koyo radiator Spal dual fans Brakes & Suspension: Custom front mounted four piston Brembo brakes and two piston Brembo rear brakes Updated brake booster and motor cylinder Custom built QA-1 coilovers Exterior: Gunmetal metallic paint with all restored stainless and chrome moldings and rechromed bumpers 50 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

All new rubber moldings Keyless remote and security system Enkei wheels on Vokohama tires Interior: Dynamat insulated New headliner and carpet Reupholstered original seats using original headrests and door panels Custom dash using Auto Meter gauges Vintage heat and air conditioning system Other: All new wiring using Painless Wiring System All brackets and mounts custom fabricated Optima high performance battery relocated to the trunk MagnaFlow exhaust system

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SEMA Women’s Battle of the Builders

2013 Dodge Dart Turbo’d Stats Owner: Nicole Viscovich

Nicole Viscovich: Dodge Dart a.k.a. Project Black Widow My name is Nicole Viscovich and I am the proud owner of Project Black Widow. Project Black Widow is a 2013 Dodge Dart that is built with a woman’s touch. I have spent years supporting my husband and his builds and being around the seen. I finally decided it was my turn to get my hands on a project and make it my own. I enjoy the shows

and the people I meet and it’s nice to have a project to show. When I talked with my husband about this build we talked about what direction and theme I wanted to go. The dart being black originally we decided red and black theme would fit great. After getting a rendering done of the 2 tone we decided Black Widow was the name that would follow the car throughout all of its

builds. I have built this car with a woman’s touch and a great support especially from Diablo Kustomz, O2 Creation, and SS Customs. The Dart has been to SEMA 3 times now with 3 different looks. First year we were a booth car for StreetGlow Lighting, following year we were blessed to be on stage with Car Crazy and this year we went as a feature Vehicle (XS Power) to reveal the current look of Project Black Widow. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBlackWidow Twitter: https://twitter.com/ProjBlackWidow Instagram: http://instagram.com/projblackwidow 52 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

Exterior: – 4 piece Razzi Body Kit – Custom Headlights ( LED halo, LED DRL, HIDs) – Oracle Crosshair Light Kit – BrightTails LED Grille Kit – Avery Dennison Red Chrome Wrap ( 1 Piece Wrap On Bumpers & Other Panels) – Modern Performance Carbon Fiber Hood – Modern Performance Carbon Fiber Trunk w Custom Lip Spoiler Built In – Custom Door Holders and Hood Holder –License Plate Relocation Kit Interior: – Katzkin Black Leather, Black Gator & Red Suede – Black Widow Logo Embroidered In Front Seats – Black Suede Headliner – Custom Fiberglass Door Pods – Custom Spider Rear Deck w/ LEDs – BrightTails Under Seat LED Kit – BrightTails Under Dash LED Kit – BrightTails Dash LED Kit – BrightTails LED Bezel Kit – Oracle LED Interior Light Swap ICE (Audio & Video) – Diablo Kustomz Custom Trunk Build – Diablo Kustomz Custom Trunk Lid Build

– Diablo Kustoms Custom Rear Valence Build (back window) – DC Audio 15” XL Sub – DC Audio 1.2K Amps (2) – DC Audio 90.4 Amp – Kicker 6.5 K-Series Components (3) – XS Power Power Cells (2) – 7” TV Screens (2) – LED Backlit Build Engine/Exhaust: – 3G Customs Engine Bay Dress Up Kit (custom hourglass cutout) – K&N CAI (one off built to extend into dress up kit) – Turbo Charger – Diverter Valve – BrightTails Engine Bay LED Kit – Magnaflow Cat Back Exhaust – Ported Throttle Body Wheels/Brakes/Tires/Suspenion – 02 Forged 2 Piece Forged Wheels 18X8 – Eibach Sportline 2” LoweringSprings – R1 Concepts “R1” Engraved Rotors and E Line Pads – R1 Caliper Painted Stock Calipers(Black Calipers Now) – Vredestein Conti-Trac Tires 225/40/18

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SEMA Women’s Battle of the Builders

Chantal : 2011 Chevrolet Cruze LS WORDS BY Missy Perez

Chantal bought her 2011 Chevrolet Cruze LS in July of 2011. In 2015 she decided to participate in SEMA’S Battle of the Builders, just like the six other ladies who participated as well. Chantal’s build was executed in only 7 months! At the beginning of 2015 her vehicle was completely stock, meaning no alterations. This is what she did: Exterior- Duraflex GT Racing body kit (full), Spec-d headlights, smoked taillights, 3000K low beams, 6000K high beams, 20% tint front and rear windows, 5% tint rear windshield, duel exhaust, hood, trunk, and roof wrap, exterior trim kit- brushed aluminum, 18x8 +40 Vienna Kreis SSR wheels, 225/40R18 GT Radial tires Interior- headliner and pillars in red suede, front and rear seats/headrests in red velour, interior ebony zebra dash kit, trunk display for air ride, white front and rear VIP curtains, front and rear VIP tray, VIP neckpads Engine- Trifecta PCM/TCM map, K&N cold air intake Suspension- KSport front and rear coil overs, air ride with viair compressor. Chantal has much more planned for 2016. Two weeks before SEMA, Chantal was sponsored by herself, without taking a loan out either! She said, “I just worked hard and gambled to get the mods. Now she has sponsors and would like to recognize them; 742 Marketing, Emerald Wax, Odyssey Battery, Husky Liners, Madico, Spec-D Tuning, Xenon Vision, Air Ride Equipment, VIP Vinyl, Extreme Dimensions, Amsoil, MGP Caliper Covers, GT Radial, and local shops, L's Upholstery, Russ Ward Auto Body, and New Age Audio & Alarm. 54 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

All-Female Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Team Edelbrock

At the SEMA Show there was the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Build Competition going on. This competition is held outside, and high school students from across the United States compete against each other to deconstruct and then reassemble an engine. There was one particular team that stood out for the GNG staff. An allgirls team. There were girls on other teams but this one was comprised of all females, even the coach was a woman. It is the first team that the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow has had, that was all female. There have been other all-girl teams in the past but the coaches were men. Nothing wrong with any of this, it was just nice to see these girls getting out there and kicking some butt with their coach cheering them on. The team is comprised of Alexandra Madra, Hannah Johnson, Amada Atkinson, Makayla Stein, and Sarah Wajner. Jill Arata is the coach. Some of the girls were not even a part of an automotive program in high school, they were just interested in joining together and being a team. Great conviction from these young ladies! Overall, the team placed 11th at the SEMA Show competition.

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Bringing Women Together: 1969 AMC AMX The Warrior Projects- Valkryrie Project

When almost 30 ladies come together to build a vehicle you know it is going to come out badass. Excuse the language but there is no better way to describe the 1969 AMC AMX that the Warrior Projects LLC, Valkyrie Project ladies designed and built…. all in a matter of a few months. >>

WORDS & PHOTOS Karen Sullivan

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Commitment, determination, and the desire to make a difference driving this powerhouse team of women. The vehicle itself is owned by Karen Salvaggio, owner of Thunder Valley Racing and also the technical lead on the Valkyrie Project. As she said, “This car has a history. When I found it I could not pass it up.” The vehicle was originally owned by John Robertson, a road racer. It was ordered direct from the factory for the purpose of road racing and for competition. It came with a 390 CID engine, 4-speed manual transmission, ‘Go Pack’ option, and was an “option delete” car. This meant the car was not to include any options like electric windows, power steering, or air conditioning. However, the ‘Go Pack’ option meant the vehicle came with a dual exhaust system, power disk brakes, E70x14 tires, heavy duty cooling fan, fan shroud, Twin Grip axle, suspension handling package, space saver tire, and the over the top roof stripes. This AMX has a well-documented history of racing and was set up by legendary Corvette racer Dick Guldstrand in his race shop. The vehicle carries Dick’s signature on the center console as well. Karen had the AMC AMX for six years before this build idea came about, and the AMX AMC was not originally the vehicle the Warrior Projects was going to use. However, logistics came into play and it was better for the ladies to go with the it than the other option. The AMC AMX 58 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

AMC, standing for American Motors Corporation, produced the AMX from 1968 – 1970. It is classified as a muscle car but is unique in that it has a short wheelbase and also was the only American built steel-bodied twoseater of its time. The AMX name came from American Motors eXperimental which was the name used on a concept vehicle and two prototypes. Its competition was the Chevrolet Corvette, with the Corvette being one inch longer, and having a pricier price tag. AMX was meant to be a car that would appeal to both the muscle car and sports car enthusiast. The Warrior Projects The Warrior Projects was an idea brought up at the 2014 SEMA Show. It was originally just going to be a build similar to the 2013 SEMA Show Mustang build that consisted of all women. However, the discussion sparked a bigger idea, to encourage women to delve into the automotive industry and to help them succeed. The Facts • The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence reports that the number of certified female technicians has more than tripled in the last ten years, yet women still represent less than one percent of the total ASE-certified technicians. •Seven women are among the top 52 corporate officers at Ford Motor Company – a leading statistic in the industry. Ford’s number of female engineers has more than doubled since 1990 while the number of men has increased approximately 21%. •Women are good for the industry.

Gender diversity in the work place provides different ways of thinking – relational, value centered etc. Jennifer Moran opened a car dealership in 2009 at the height of the recession and has become the number one dealer in the State of Washington. What factors contributed to Moran’s success? Core valuesbased marketing, a strong sense of community responsibility and a focus on building relationships are just a few of the reasons for her success. (Source: the Warrior Projects website) With these facts, the ladies are not looking to push the guys out of the garage, but to instead put the message out there that we are women and look what we can do. Their other incentive is to inspire other ladies to give the automotive realm a try. Let’s face it, getting your hands dirty and being able to fix your vehicle yourself is pretty darn empowering and fun! The Valkyrie Project The build of the AMX was scheduled to take 12 weeks. Week 1-2: Shop set-up, vehicle prep, initial assessment and vehicle tear down Weeks 3-6: Body work and paint Weeks 7-11: Vehicle rebuild – Rebuild engine, replace transmission, rewire, replace interior, upgrade suspension etc. Week 12: Hot Rod Power Tour preparation The plan for the build was to take place in four steps. The build

process, which is outlined above. The philanthropy, in which the vehicle would hit the road for the first time and raise money for the Austin Hatcher Foundation on the Hot Rod Power Tour. Competition, in which the AMC AMX would compete in races across the United States, showing off what the ladies on the build had accomplished. And the final stage, having the vehicle at the 2015 SEMA Show to showcase the car at one of the biggest automotive events. The build was done at a few different locations but without the bay at the High Performance Advisors shop in Florida owned by Doug Evans none of it would have been possible. I don’t know if Doug knew that a small army of automotive gearheads loaded with estrogen would be bearing down on his shop soon after he allowed the build to start there, but the women involved with this build definitely had drive and conviction. The interesting part of this build was that all the ladies who joined in, did so on their own dime. Sure the parts were sponsored, but each one of these ladies that decided this was a build they wanted to be involved in, had to get down to Florida on their own time and finances. It started with just Susan Carpenter, project creator/lead and president of JR Products and Karen Salvaggio at first. These two ladies started the breakdown of the AMC AMX, getting ready to pull the motor. From there, word got around and the ladies just kept coming.

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The engine of the AMC was pulled, and Susan and Julia Johnson, an instructor at Skyline College of Automotive Technology, drove from Tampa, Florida to Concord, North Carolina to the Automotive Specialists. This shop, and Keith Dorton, would rebuild the engine. Upon returning to Florida, the interior needed to be stripped completely to prep for body and paint. The Warrior Projects was able to secure a bay at Roberts Collision Center in Clearwater, Florida to do the body and paint work. This meant that JoAnn Bortles, body/ paint lead, and owner of Crazy Horse Custom Paint could get her groove on. JoAnn and a great gang of ladies descended upon the AMC to get the body work completed in a timely fashion where time was very much a factor. They only had 12 days to get the body prepped and painted. Amy Bogner, a certified painter for PPG from Northeast Collision worked with JoAnn on getting the paint done. While there was a time crunch going on, that did not mean the ladies who came down to Florida did not get some learning experiences. As JoAnn said, “One of the things that many of the team members wanted out of the build was to learn new techniques and skills. Team members experienced in body work helped those who has little or limited experience. It was a sharing of knowledge that gave the team the extra momentum they needed to get through the long day.” 60 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

A majority of the ladies who came together to work on this project had never worked together before but they were able to bond and problem solve in an amazing way. Whenever a snag was hit, the ladies would come together to figure out the best solution and move forward. As the car was finished being painted. It was soon brought back to the shop for reassembly but there was one piece of the car missing… the engine! It was time for the car to travel to the Automotive Specialists in North Carolina for the engine installation and from there it would travel to Cool Hand Customs for the finishing touches. With the finishing touches in place, it was show time! The ’69 AMC AMX was ready to hit the road for the Hot Rod Power Tour. After it finished the Power Tour, Karen took the vehicle to run a few races and has plans on a few races this 2016 season to have it compete in. As Karen said, “The reach we get at those events will be invaluable. Getting the car in front of people and telling our story is much more effective than any statistic.” I could not agree more. To follow more of the Warrior Projects future builds go to their website at http://www.warriorprojects.com/.

The ladies involved with this build are: Susan Carpenter, the project creator and lead, is the president of JR Products, a company that manufactures parts and accessories for the aftermarket. Karen Salvaggio, technical lead and car owner, as well as owner of Thunder Valley Racing. Nan Gelhard, product procurement lead, and Advertising Manager at Summit Racing. Christina Kwan, public relations lead and webmaster, as well as owner of Kwan International Marketing and Media. JoAnn Bortles, body and paint lead, and owner of Crazy Horse Custom Paint. Julia Johnson, student participation recruitment, and instructor of Automotive Technology at Skyline College. Amy Fitzgerald, build liaison, and

owner of Cool Hand Customs. Amy Bogner Tracy Crow Becky Wingler Dee Asbury-Robertson Diane Tran Jess Anderson Jessica Gomez Jessica Hojnacki Laura Duenas Madison Ervin Molly Gursky Molly McCarthy Bogi Lateiner Sarah Kauhl Angel Chacon Tracy Marshall Missy Perez Shayla Frederick Maurisa Russell Tracy Stolpa Morgan Turner Jade Fitzgerald

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Mustang Sally WORDS & PHOTOS Karen Sullivan

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‘Mustang Sally Guess you better slow that Mustang down Mustang Sally’ And the beat goes on. I’m sure you’ve heard the R&B song, the more iconic parts of the lyrics anyway, ‘Ride, Sally, ride’. I could hear it playing in my head as I walked over to the flat black Ford Mustang sitting outside one of the SEMA Show halls.

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It belongs to Michelle Perez, of Half Moon Bay, California. The 1967 Ford Mustang was not flashy like some of the other rides that could be found on the SEMA Show grounds. It is more of an understated classy muscle car, if there ever was one. I for one, would not have believed that this vehicle was part of a five-month build if I had not been following the progress. That’s right, this vehicle had only five months to have a manual transmission put in, all new suspension, a new steering setup, and the interior redone, as well as have the exterior painted. That’s quite a bit of work when you’re doing it yourself, while also working fulltime. Thankfully the engine had already been done before this build was started. Michelle redid it while attending Skyline College for their Automotive Program. Since then,

it has been repainted to match the final idea Michelle has for the exterior color with purple accents being found in the engine bay. With the engine not needing any work, Michelle could focus on some of the other large items to be done. She completed Sally only a few days before the SEMA Show began. A job well done! This Mustang has not just gone through this build, but a few others over the years. Michelle bought this vehicle 11 years ago at the age of 16. It was her first car and it turns out it has a funny story behind how it was found and chosen. Michelle’s dog picked the car out for her. She was always off leash and while at a shopping center, she ran off and sniffed out this vehicle. Michelle looked at the vehicle and when the owner came out asked if he would sell it, and that was that. Since then, the vehicle has changed a few times. It was originally aqua, then blue with racing strips, primer grey after that, and now flat black. It had ‘Under Construction’ on the windshield for a while to show that this Mustang was a work in progress. For a lot of us with classics, I think some are always a work in progress, mine included. For Michelle herself, this vehicle still very much is under

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construction and not done just yet. It is getting there though. She is looking for a very particular purple color (Midnight Purple) to paint the exterior herself. Until she can locate the color she is looking for, it may be doing a few more color changes. Kind of reminds me of ladies changing their nail polish. You keep changing shades until you find the one you absolutely love, then it’s your go to color. It’s a labor of love though and other Girls ‘N Garages ladies know the feeling. Drive on Sally! JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 65

“Mustang Sally” Specs -Borge Warner 5 speed Trans. -Centerforce Clutch -Magnaflow exhaust 2.75 with an x pipe- all stainless -Stainless fuel and brake lines - Willwood disc brakes Steering & Suspension: -Dual adjustable coil overs - Speed Direct Vector Series Complete Suspension Kit( rack and pinion, tie rod kit), -Tilt chrome steering wheel Sallys sponsors: Speed Direct Centerforce Clutches Magnaflow Classic Tube GT Radial Tires Boostane Street Legal Amsoil 742 Marketing gotellis speed shop taylormade automotive 66 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

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DRIFTING

SEMA IGNITED EVENT, LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER, NOV. 2015

Drifting 101: Basic drift car setup WORDS BY Brittany Bassett, PHOTOS BY Taylor Haney

Drifting is quickly becoming a well-known motorsport. You may have seen it in the movies, on television, or maybe you’ve attended an event in person. For those that don’t know what drifting is, drifting is the intentional oversteer of the car to lose traction in the rear wheels. The driver maintains the drift through the turns by counter steering and throttle control. If you have seen someone drifting before have you ever thought to yourself “that looks like so much fun, I wish I could do that too”? Well I have fantastic news because you absolutely CAN do it! I am not a professional, but I 68 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

can provide you with the basics to get yourself setup with the proper beginner car. A good beginner car is one with just a few basic modifications. If you have the funds you could build an insane car, but without experience you could be setting yourself up for failure. It is beneficial to start with the basics and as you start to understand your driving style you can decide which modifications will be beneficial to you. In order to get out on the track for the first time you will need: • A rear wheel drive car. (Some of the most common are 240sx, 350z/

G35, RX7, E30/E36, and AE86) • Manual transmission. • A limited slip differential or a welded differential, you want to keep both rear wheels spinning not just one. I highly recommend this because drifting with an open differential is not fun. • A working e-brake. (This is not a serious requirement, but I recommend it) • Rear wheels with tires to drift on and rear wheels with tires that you can safely drive home on, if you don’t have a truck and trailer. • TIP: if you have a newer car make sure your ABS is disabled and traction control is off. Safety is a big concern in drifting. Accidents do happen all the time and you are going to want to make sure that you have the proper safety gear to keep you safe. At most drift events that basic safety equipment you will need for a beginner drift

car is a SNELL SA2005 or newer helmet, battery secured properly with the positive terminal covered, seatbelts that work properly and are mounted in the correct location, a fire extinguisher, and a safety kill switch on the outside of the vehicle. Each track has their own tech rules so make sure to check with your local track before you attend their event to make sure you have the proper equipment. At your first drift event don’t be scared to ask advanced drivers for help and advice. Most people are always willing to help out beginner drivers. Drifting is all about having fun, so go out, try something new and shred some tires! If you have specific questions about car setup or you are unsure of where drift events are held in your area feel free to email me at brittanydonuts@gmail.com. JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 69

The Dream Chaser

FEATURED WOMEN

Janette Thornley Takes Flight WORDS & PHOTOS Tom McCarthy

For Janette Thornley, chasing her dreams has become a way of life. She envisions what she seeks and then it’s her focus and commitment that gets her there. By throwing herself into her projects, her dreams become her realities. >> 70 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

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ase in point, on November 8th, 2015 Janette Thornley of Statesville, N.C., became the first woman in National Hot Rod Association history to win a fuel bike championship. Other women have won national championships with the NHRA before, but never on a fire breathing nitromethane powered, it-can-blow-up-at-any-moment, motorcycle. Her dream of winning a national championship while piloting a Pro Fuel bike within the ranks of the NHRA, Harley-Davidson Drag Racing Series was a dream come true for her. You’re damn right she was jumping up and down when she won it. Going into the last race of the season, Janette trailed the series point’s leader, Dennis Fisher, by five points. The pressure was on for her to not only perform to her best abilities, but with zero room for error: no mistakes allowed. She started off the race by qualifying number two, just ahead of Dennis. Then on race day her perfect storm formed: she defeated her opponent in round one with a thundering 172 MPH pass down the drag strip in 7.50 seconds. Then, the

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next pair of racers up included her nemesis Dennis Fisher and Dennis lost his round of racing…that was game over for Mr. Fisher. Janette, who was awaiting word on the race track return road after her round win, got the news she’d been waiting for and she could not hold back. “I was jumping up and down, screaming loud as I could: that was a long time coming.” She had every right to be ecstatic, under the circumstances, anyone would. Janette has been chasing her dream to win a Pro Fuel Harley Davidson championship since 2012. And that she was able to run down her dream in four years speaks volumes about her. Janette’s racing efforts are run under the banner “Dream Chaser Racin’” because for her, that’s what her life is about, her living out her dreams by chasing them. Her decision to become a nitro Harley pilot formulated in the year 2011, but her racing roots go much deeper than that. Born in 1967, when Janette was a little girl, she remembers her dad racing dirt bikes and VW powered machines when she was just a little tyke. With great misfortune, she lost her dad and little brother to a drunk driver when she was only six years old. “My dad was a bit of an adrenalin junkie, we still have some old photos of him from his racing days and I would climb right in and help him. I’m sure if my dad was around today, my racing probably would have started much sooner in life.” Janette was bitten by the twowheel bug in her twenties, and she went out and bought a Harley Davidson 883 Sportster in 1996, her first motorcycle. In so doing, she entered the motorcycle Rider Safety program first. Her love of

riding and her attention to detail with safety, eventually led her to a job with the Harley Davidson Motor Co. in their Rider Education courses. One thing led to another, and when Janette started touring the USA on behalf of Harley Davidson, she had visits to two very important and influential HD Dealerships that had an enormous impact on her life. The shops were the one’s owned by Ray Price, of Ray Price Harley Davidson, in Raleigh N.C. and Johnny Mancuso’s shop in Houston, Texas. Both of these men are top Nitro Harley racers and Ray Price is a living legend in the sport with close to five decades of nitro Harley racing under his belt. After her visits to their shops, she ran into Ray Price at more than one event and a genuine friendship formed. Then, in 2011, she was at a motorcycle drag race and she had the chance to sit on a fuel bike built by Johnny Vickers, of Hawaya Racing. It just so happens that Johnny runs a fuel bike school for new nitro Harley pilots. She couldn’t pass it up, the calling was with her, Janette signed up for the October 2011 class. She graduated, got her fuel bike license that same weekend, leased a race bike from Johnny, and raced in her first Pro Fuel class race that same weekend. She qualified for the field, lost her first time out but the learning experience shaped her future. Now she was in it to win it! Shortly thereafter, Janette struck a deal with Ray Price Racing whereby Ray helped her out with a bike and she had the legend himself overseeing her racing efforts, in effect schooling her for the entire season. In 2012, her

rookie season, Janette finished 5th in points, a top ten finish her first year out in the class, with the All Harley Drag Racing Association (AHDRA) sanction. She could not have started out in better hands. Fast forward to 2015, with a few seasons under her leathers and more education from Johnny Vickers at Hawaya Racing, she was ready to contend for an NHRA championship. In professional drag racing, there is no larger sanction than the National Hot Rod Association. This is the big time and for sure is as big as it gets in the sport of professional drag racing. Her 2015 season was a great accomplishment any racer would love to have in their racing resume. She raced in nine NHRA sanctioned events from coast to coast, qualified 3rd twice, qualified 2nd four times, and was the #1 qualifier 3 times. She won four events, was the runner up three times and when the smoke cleared, she became the first woman in the history of NHRA drag racing to win a fuel bike championship. Her future is as bright as her smile. “Dream Chaser Racin’ is me, it’s me chasing my dreams.” Her next step when the time comes will be the big move to Top Fuel Nitro Harley racing. That’s a giant step really that costs ten times what she is spending now, so finding the financial backing is the key to unlocking her future. She hopes that in 2017, she can make the move. “In the 2016 season, we hope to race the five Manufacturers Cup (MANCUP) sanction races in Pro Fuel and some NHRA events as time and money permit.” For Janette Thornley, naming her race team Dream Chaser Racin’ could not have been a better choice. JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 73

4X4 OFFROAD

POwder PUFF Race M.O.R.E. Towards A Cure for Cancer

WORDS & PHOTOS Journee Richardson On Saturday October 17th, 2015 in Barstow CA, close to 75 race cars filled with women of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds came together for one mission, to race towards a cure. >> 74 GIRLS Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; GARAGES JANUARY 2016

The M.O.R.E. Powder Puff Race Towards a Cure is an annual, all female offroad race that serves as a fundraiser to raise money to find a cure for breast cancer. In the last 10 years, this Powder Puff Race has raised over $600,000 from entry, raffle ticket sales, donations and much more! They have always donated to Cedars Sinai Breast Cancer Research center as 100% of the money goes to research. Over 1,100 women in the last 10 years have taken off from the starting line and only one critically injured person has been helicoptered out of the desert and 2 by ambulance. Ages range, from the youngest driver being 15 to the oldest being 79. The race has women that are not allowed to drive on the street but push each year to pass their physicals to be able to race or ride. This race truly changes lives, relationships, and self-esteem! Many women receive their first 76 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

opportunity to get behind the wheel of an offroad race car at the M.O.R.E. Powder Puff Race for a Cure. And if they weren’t already hooked before the race, offroad racing will soon become their new passion. Earlier in the week, the 10th Annual M.O.R.E. Powder Puff Race Towards a Cure was in danger of being postponed or even cancelled. A week before, the local BLM (Bureau of Land Management) had mentioned a lack of staffing so the race was shortened from 25 miles to 18 and outlying pits and road crossings were removed in compromise. Unable to remedy their staffing issues, a mere four days before the green flag dropped for the race, the BLM contacted the M.O.R.E. Race Officials with the bad news. This charity race is on public land so the BLM is required to attend, and without their presence, there would be no

race. Immediately, all social media platforms went into a frenzy. The impact of cancelling a race that has been such a long standing tradition was devastating and the community was prepared to fight back, some with understanding and grace, others not so much. Intervention by the local Barstow Congressman, Paul Cook, remedied the miscommunications and with the help of countless others, they were able to supplement the BLM’s staffing needs with local law enforcement and get the race back underway. With an open pre-run format, tech and contingency was held at the Barstow Outlet Center on Friday, October 16th. Many venders, due to the last minute reinstatement of the race, had either cancelled or didn’t have enough time to make it. Despite the challenges, it was a great success! From BeHappy Photobooth to PCI Radios, Fab Tech, Live Music, and much more,

a great time was had by all. (My particular favorite moment was giving the little girls a chance to sit in my driver’s seat) Saturday morning, October 17th, bright and early at 7:30 a.m. the crowd gathered together at the M.O.R.E. Trailer near the start/finish line for the mandatory drivers’ meeting. After race director, Cody Jeffers, and his team went over the race rules and regulations, (Might I add this ladies race had “0” safety infractions!) the National Anthem was sung, prayers were said, DezertWife Photography took a group photo, hugs were given, and the first heat began right away with a 8:30 a.m. start. The battle raged on and the results came in. Ms. Lois Ramey in her Class 2000 Truck took 1st place. In Class 11, which is Stock VW Beatles, Kaylee Guilford, with her Meehan Motorsports prepped car took 1st place followed by Donna Passante in 2nd, and Michelle Silcock in

>>Lois Ramey, Class 2000 truck JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 77

4X4 OFFROAD 3rd . Ms. Drea Coello #1499 took 7th in her Class 1400 Truck. Kali Ngyuen, AKA Killah Kali, is 17 years old and the 2015 Powder Puff Race Towards a Cure was her first Race behind the wheel. Naturally, this little rocket ship took 1st place in Class 1300, with her mother, Jennifer Clemison, and her sister, Kaitlyn Rye, as her co-drivers to guide her along the 18 mile course. Ms. Madison Dormack took 7th in Class 1300. Second heat had a start time of 1:00 p.m. With the faster classes and the deteriorating condition of the course, the ladies really had an exciting race. Jennifer Clemison, after finding a fuel cell leak that morning in her Class 1 car, drove the same Class 10 car that her daughter Kali took 1st in Class 1300 during the first heat. Jennifer took first place, even with a rollover! Kori

Dalbey took 1st in Class 1/2 1600 with Julie Meehan right behind her. Martee Burke of Martha Lee Motorsports (MLM) team with her co-driver Emily Macaulay took 6th, despite the many issues. I took 11th place with my first time driving a 1628 with my 17 year old co-driver, Kassondra Boyd of MLM. Emme Hall took 12th. Awards were held right after the race at 5:30 p.m. It was an emotional yet rewarding experience that I am so fortunate to share with everyone that was there. This race truly changes lives. I am so thankful to be a part of such a great cause and such a great group of ladies. The 11th Annual MORE Powder Puff Race Towards a Cure will be on October 15th, 2016 in Barstow CA. Visit www.MORERacing.net for more information.

>> Martee Burke of Martha Lee Motorsports (MLM)

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>> Kaylee Guilford, and her Meehan

>> 17 year old Kali Ngyuen in her first race as a driver

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4X4 OFFROAD

Beyond the Bounty Hole WORDS Lisa Roberto, PHOTOS Amanda Estey & Michael Roberto

The owner and operator of the mega truck, MUDDUSA, is a woman by the name of Lisa Roberto. This 49 year old mother of three, and grandmother of one, fell in love with the sport of mud racing when she attended Vermonster for the first time in 2012. Always a truck lover, and wanting to play with the boys, Lisa convinced her family to help build a truck for her to drive. 80 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

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Her dream started to come alive over the winter of 2012-2013. MUDDUSA started out as a Jeep Wrangler on a Suburban frame. With the help of her family, Lisa cut the frame down a few feet to fit the small Jeep body, welded it back together, and put in a Dana 60 front-end and a Dana 80 rear. It was powered by a 366 Big Block Chevy truck motor with a tall deck tunnel ram and 2 Edelbrock 750, 4 barrel carburetors. The 366 was a very sturdy truck motor, but it was made tougher by installing head studs, a Mutha Thumper Cam, lower end crank studs, and zoomie headers. MUDDUSA sat in 44 inch tires.

finish her run. As Lisa’s passion for the sport grew, it was time to go bigger. The Dana rear end and front end were replaced by 2 ½ ton axels. The transfer case was not heavy enough to handle the power and to turn the tires, so that was replaced by a homemade chain drive. This was accomplished by taking heavy duty tractor gears with a chain and building a partial box around it to protect. Unfortunately, the mud was not forgiving and the open gears screamed when they got dirty. The 366 was replaced

with a stock 427 Big Block Chevy motor just to get her in the mud. The only modification was to put the zoomies, tunnel ram and quad carb set up on the 427. Sadly, this was just not enough power to turn the tires as well, and Lisa did not do as well in the mud. While she was not able to run in 2015 due to a long distance move and change in jobs, Lisa is working on a project to get her back into the mud for the 2016 season. Keep your eyes and ears out to see what she has in store this year.

After only a few months of building, Lisa was able to take MUDDUSA to Vermonster in 2013. Unfortunately, the turbo 350 transmission did not hold up to the motor, and with no one wanting to help rebuild a transmission, Lisa bought a book and taught herself how to do it. Lisa pulled a spare turbo 400 transmission apart, and rebuilt it from the ground up and was able to play in the Fall of 2013. In 2014, Lisa was able to play in the “bounty hole” at Barnyard, and went quite far for being a first timer there. Unfortunately, not before paying the price with a blown rear-end, which was fixed by welding the spider gears together in order just to finish the run. Then by spinning a main bearing in the motor. Although the motor was screaming, Lisa was able to 82 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

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4X4 OFFROAD

Twitty’s MUD BOG WORDS Lisa Roberto PHOTOS Michael McHugh

As the mud season winds down, especially for those of us in the northeast, attentions turn to the Throttle King Finale and Year End Championship at Twitty’s Mud Bog in Ulmer, South Carolina. All season long, the guys and gals who drive these awesome mud machines strive to qualify to bring their rigs to this incredible event. >> JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 85

Trucks from all over the country, including Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and everywhere in between, bring their machines to compete and play together. I had the pleasure of traveling with some of my favorite trucks, unfortunately, not mine, to watch this event unfold. Waking up in the morning to hear the roar of these wicked engines and smell the race fuel was invigorating for a truck gal such as myself! Twitty’s 4th Annual Finale took place this year on December 4th and 5th. For those of us from the north hoping for a long weekend of mud, horsepower and warm weather, we were greeted with a cold welcome from Mother Nature, but a warm welcome 86 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

from the folks at Twitty’s. While mud racing has been around for many years, the official sport is fairly new. As a newcomer myself, only 3 years into this, I love to see that more women are getting involved in the sport as drivers, mechanics, and building their own rigs. Twitty’s schedule of events is a clear example of the variety that mud racing holds. The weekend got off to a cold start with Friday night’s tug-o-war. With everyone huddled around barrel fires, the trucks were able to showcase their power against one another on the tug pad. As the ONLY lady driver who was able to make it to the event, 12 year old Jordyn Twitty took the win for the one-ton class! This was her first event as an official driver and she made short work

of beating every one of the guys! Way to go Jordyn!! Saturday’s events kicked off with a tire pull, followed by the obstacle course, which included some seriously deep mud action, followed by freestyle. This was a non-stop day full of action, and even some carnage. The weather was much colder than normal for this time of year in South Carolina, but it was beautifully sunny, the people were warm and welcoming, and everyone seemed to have a great time! Twitty’s is a must for anyone who wants to watch, or participate with some of the best in this sport! I, for one, would love to see more women participating and will strive to get my truck there as well for next year!

Jordyn Twitty

I had the opportunity to speak with Jordyn, who was quite the sweet, young, southern lady. She comes by the sport quite naturally as her father is the infamous Twitty, who not only runs this awesome event, but owns and runs the truck Liva-Killa, also known as the Wheelie King. Jordyn grew up a part of the mud world and helped her father to build her truck, Twitty’s Princess. Jordyn drives a camouflage and pink full sized Chevrolet truck with V-treads and one-ton axles. This is a newer truck for her from her original, and for someone as young as she is, and with a new truck to get accustomed to, she did a fantastic job showing up the boys!!

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Julia’s mailbox. Among the classes offered was Automotive Principles. As Julia puts it she discovered that, “A.) it was not that hard and B.) I enjoyed it! I took that class twice and decided that I wanted to apply to the program.”

home mother. Now, what does any of this have to do with being an automotive woman?

When Julia started the Automotive Technology Program at Skyline College she was almost always the only female in the classes. She relates that she felt like the new kid on the block for a while, even though compared to her classmates she was almost 20 years their senior (sorry to disclose Julia!). On the other hand, having a spunky and sassy personality helped her make friends. Not only that but as Julia tells it, “I quickly found out that my classmates didn’t know any more then I did and that put us on the same plane.” She continued with “ I also discovered that being a female in a male dominated industry can be an advantage! I applied and won 9 scholarships while I was in school and attracted a lot more attention from the local employers who were eager to hire me right out of school.”

Julia always had an interest in cars but found herself too intimidated to learn more. Sound familiar to anyone? “My attempts at learning in the driveway with friends or family usually resulted in me handing tools to someone under the car and me not knowing what they were doing with the tools.”, says Julia. Due to this, she put aside her interest in cars. That was until Skyline College, in San Bruno, California, sent out class lists, one of which ended up in

During school Julia worked at an array of independent automotive shops. She also gave seminars to women and girls after her first semester, and started teaching weekend classes for women in her second year in school. Truly awesome! Not only that but just two months after Julia graduated from the Auto Technology Program, she was hired by the Automotive Department at Skyline College to teach the fundamentals class.

Finding Her Calling: Julia Johnson

WORDS Missy Perezw, PHOTOS COURTESY OF Julia Johnson

There are so many different ways people figure out what it is they are meant to do with their lives. Sometimes it takes a while, and it’s a twisting road with sharp hairpin curves and other times it’s a gentle drive around the block. Any way they get there, it’s a journey and Julia Johnson had one such journey. Julia earned her Bachelors of Arts in International Relations from San Francisco State University in 1995. From there, she worked in international trade, civil rights advocacy, non-profits, and Julia even started her own dog walking business aside from being a gym instructor and stay at 88 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

To date, Julia has stayed on at Skyline College and is a professor of automotive technology. She teaches the entry level classes, coordinates the career advancement academy program for the Automotive Department, and she is also the coordinator and instructor for the internship/job placement program. Julia develop the internship/job placement program herself. Aside from doing all of that, she has many more duties and side classes she teaches. Julia teaches and coordinates the Honda Express Tech Program and she still teaches automotive classes for women on the weekends. As if all of that is not enough she has written grants and recruited for the department and developed several new programs and certificates at Skyline. Remember how we started this? Julia had not touched a car before and had no knowledge of how one worked. Julia now has Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certification in Engine Repair (A1), Manual Drive Train and Axles (A3), Suspension and Steering (A4), Brakes (A5), Automotive Electrical Systems (A6), and Engine Performance (A8). She also holds a California Enhanced Area Smog License, Refrigerant handling license, 8 years in technology training, and teacher training certificates. She has come a long way would not you say? As it is now, Julia has given seminars all over the United States and also participated in two allfemale vehicle builds for SEMA. She also has plans in the works for JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 89

FEATURED WOMEN new programs and new car builds. I asked Julia if she had any advice for girls/women interested in the automotive industry and she said, “You have just as much right as anyone to learn this technology and work in this field. You will probably have to work harder to prove yourself and that may make you mad, but just remember that you’ll be better than others as a result. No one is going to hold

90 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

your hand. If you want to know something – ask. If you want to see – push your way up front. If someone tries to take tools out of your hands – snatch those tools right back. Ask them to teach you instead of show you. Confidence in yourself is crucial. If you’re not normally self-confident, then you need to pretend that you are. Women see excessive confidence as boasting or arrogance. Men equate confidence with competence.”

CHIX GEAR

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Wheelz Up Radio was created by Chris Barnes and is co-hosted by Mike Carr. The radio station is dedicated to the NHRA and IHRA class and sportsman racer. They pride themselves on giving racers a platform to talk about their racing and to give not only themselves, but their sponsors as well, the coverage they deserve. Wheelz Up Radio gives you some of the best Sportsman Drag Racing talk on the Internet every Wednesday night

at 7pm EST. You can tune into their show at www.blogtalkradio.com/ wheelzupradio. They have a variety of on-air personalities and an array of shows that will continue to grow, as they grow. They also welcome call-ins as well. Check out their website and listen to past shows and see how you can call-in to their next one! While Wheelz Up Radio is first and foremost a radio show they do stay involved with the local community. Over this past summer they brought many children into the drag racing realm by bringing the children of the Concord, New Hampshire Boys and Girls Club to the New England Dragway also in New Hampshire. The kids were able to go into the pit area with Chris and the Wheelz Up Radio crew and meet some of the drivers and even sit in a drag car! The radio station also held a Carz for Kidz event in Concord, at the Boys and Girls Club facility, bringing in some drag cars for the public to see. Check them out if you have a chance! JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 93

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WORDS & PHOTOS COURTESY OF HayleyLawless It’s me again! Maybe you read my article last time, and I convinced you to get out there and drive, or maybe you’ve been autoxing already, if so, this article is about stepping your game up a little bit. While I autocross in particular, almost all of these tips hold true for other types of track/road racing as well. Obviously, the best way to get good

at driving is driving. Driver mod always comes first! But let’s assume you’ve been working on that. Here are a few mistakes beginners make when it comes to autox and their car, and mistakes I’ve made personally that perhaps you girls can learn from! 1. Don’t mod your car until you can drive it 100% This may seem pretty obvious, but it’s gotten me in trouble a few times. The number one way to ensure you never become competitive is if your car is changing every single race. You never learn how to drive your car to its max potential because it’s always changing! If you have new suspension one race, then new camber arms the next, then a new tune the one after that, you’re never getting enough seat time to learn the ins and outs of your car in its current configuration. This cost me an ENTIRE season, because I JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 95

showed up to every race it seemed like with a new mod. Pick a class, and stick with it for as long as possible. Try to minimize mods during the season, and then go out on the build during the winter. 2. Don’t buy too much tire If you’ve been to an autox or two, I’m sure you’ve noticed that tires are number one on everyone’s list for “stuff that really matters” and that’s for good reason. Your car could make all the horsepower in the world, or be the most nimble footed, and if it’s not getting that power to the ground or sticking in the corners, then it’s all a waste! However, this sometimes backfires, and someone who hasn’t been driving that long picks up a tire with more “stick” then they should. Good tires are amazing, but they’ll also hide any bad habits you pick up. If you’re coming into corners too hot, good tires might save you, but you’re still coming into corners too hot! Also, the grippier the tire, the less warning you get when they let go. This can be catastrophic for a new driver, because instead of the tires squealing their displeasure before they start to slide, they just start sliding. And with all that increased grip, you can be going pretty fast before grip goes. If you’re brand new to autox, I’d suggest just running whatever tire your car has (all-seasons/summers whatever). After a few autoxs you can look into upgrading to a lower tread wear summer tire, or even a dedicated autox tire. 3. Always empty your car Believe it or not, your car is jam 96 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

packed with stuff you probably don’t need on the autocross course. Some examples include your spare tire (if your car has one) a rear sub, any parcel shelves/cargo accessories, and ANYTHING that’s loose in the car. I once left some keys in my center console, and the infernal racket almost drove me insane and was extremely distracting. I typically bring a large plastic storage bucket with me to races and put all my stuff in there, that way if it rains, all my stuff is protected! 4. Bring some essentials Speaking of stuff, there’s a few things you should get in the habit of bringing with you. If your car is modified, bring all the tools you need to make any sort of repair. I’ve had to replace blow off valves, tighten camber arms (to adjust camber), jump start cars, and zip tie things together on race day. Nothing is more frustrating than getting to the race and your car malfunctioning and you having no way to fix it. Plus, you’ll make lots of friends being “the girl with all the tools”! In addition, I’d highly suggest picking up something to inflate/deflate and check tire pressure with, because that’s my next point . . . 5. Tire pressure is important In autox, how your tire grips the ground is essential. Tire pressure can effect under/oversteer, and how pressurized your tires are can greatly affect how much grip you have. Obviously this will vary greatly between cars, and your car specific forum, or people

In the image, you can see a correctly inflated tire for grip. The chalk would have been applied starting up onto the tread, then all the way down to the sidewall. After a run, the chalk is all rubbed off where the tread hit the ground, but the chalk on the sidewall remains. In the image, you can see a correctly inflated tire for grip. The chalk would have been applied starting up onto the tread, then all the way down to the sidewall. After a run, the chalk is all rubbed off where the tread hit the ground, but the chalk on the sidewall remains. In some cases, you want to actually reduce grip (i.e. in FWD to help the back end come around in corners) and here you’ll actually overinflate. It’s all a very delicate balance, and very car specific, but ask around and start playing around within the safe operating limits of your tires!

at autox with similar cars will have input. Tire pressure can make the difference between a car oversteering and understeering. Check your pressure regularly, and bring your pump with you to the

line so you can adjust it as the day goes on. A good trick for finding the right pressure is to bring some chalk/shoe polish with you. The goal is to have the tire not rolling over on the sidewall. The less JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 97

inflated your tire is, the more it will “sit” and the more tread will be in contact with the ground. However, if your tire is TOO deflated, the sidewall will begin to roll over when you turn, where there is no tread hence, no grip. If you’re going for grip, you want to deflate the tire as much as possible without rolling over. 6. Horsepower doesn’t equal fast This brings me to my final point. If you’re new to autox, or any sort of track racing in general, a lot of the floating parking lot talk is that a car isn’t worth anything if it doesn’t put out a lot of ponies. Well I’m here to tell you that on the autox course, that’s actually usually the exact opposite. A race or two ago, we had a highly modified aftermarket supercharged 2012 Camaro out on the course. He easily made north of 500whp. His car is mean at the drag strip. However . . . he was

one of the slowest cars there. He never once got into the gas, and his suspension, while upgraded, literally couldn’t handle the corners at the speed his engine wanted to take them. Totally stock 1990s Miatas were running circles around him. Heck, totally stock 1990s Miatas were running circles around me . . . but I digress. Power =/= fast in autocross. Driver skill, good tires, and a GREAT power to weight ratio is what matters, and at the end of the day, it’s not about having a race car, it’s about racing your car. Don’t forget, the best way to get better at driving in autocross is to do a heck of a lot of driving! Practice makes perfect! It doesn’t hurt that you get to spend a whole day doing race car things with your race car friends either.

Automotive Creativity:

Frost Auto Decor

WORDS Karen Sullivan, PHOTOS Frost Auto Decor

Have a need for some automotive flair in your home but do not have the do-it-yourself drive or knowhow? Turn to Frost Auto Décor owned and operated by Brandee Frost of Oologah, Oklahoma. Brandee Frost is known as Miss Metal and rightfully so. Frost Auto Décor opened in November of 2014. It had begun when Brandee wanted a mirror in the auto repair shop office that had gears but she couldn’t 98 GIRLS N’ GARAGES JANUARY 2016

find anything online. So she made it herself with what was in a scrap pile and some welding. She then thought that some other automotive enthusiasts might enjoy something like this as well to decorate with. From there, this automotive furniture and décor store was born. You can find the shop online at https://www.etsy.com/shop/ FrostAutoDecor and also have Brandee do custom orders. JANUARY 2016 GIRLS N’ GARAGES 99

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