The beginning of Girls on Observe? An SCCA assembly, an extended hallway and a aim for ladies in motorsports.
“In 2014 one of many issues that we had been tasked with was how will we assist areas develop the SCCA solo applications,” remembers Velma Boreen, one of many founders of the SCCA Girls on Observe program. “We talked about having issues like women-only drivers’ faculty or having girls in command of all of the totally different specialties for that weekend.”
After that assembly, David Cook dinner of Mazda favored what he heard.
“Unexpectedly he corralled me up within the hallway,” Velma jokes. “He mentioned, ‘What can I do to assist?’” In a stroke of destiny, who simply so occurred to be strolling down that very same hallway? None apart from two-time SCCA Solo champion and future co-founder Linda Duncan.
“David wished to see how we might incorporate this nationally,” Linda shares. “We created a committee of like-minded girls that we knew had been autocrossing for a very long time and created methods to include their assist to get this program up and operating.”
Six years later, SCCA Girls on Observe grew to become an official SCCA committee due to the help of the SCCA Basis and management.
RallyCross, Street Racing, RoadRally, SCCA Professional Racing, Solo, Time Trials and even Observe Evening in America: These are all areas inside the SCCA the place the Girls on Observe program has its affect.
A giant a part of this system? The scholarships, together with the Wendi Allen Solo Scholarship.
“This scholarship began out as a method for 2 girls in Solo to attend as many nationwide occasions as they wished to,” Linda explains. “They might get monetary assist and hopefully really feel inspired to take that subsequent step to run nationally.”
And simply because it did that day within the hallway, Mazda wished to help these girls of their journey. With Mazda’s assist, the Girls on Observe program can now provide a 3rd Wendi Allen scholarship to assist yet another proficient and passionate girl obtain her targets.
The winners of the 2024 Wendi Allen Solo Scholarships had been Ashley Weaver, Sarah Mills and Shelby Redding. What did these girls do with their scholarships?
Ashley, an SCCA member since 2019, used hers to attend Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo and Solo Nationwide Tour occasions in Lincoln, Cleveland and Bristol. However that’s not all: She additionally participated within the Tire Rack SCCA Pink Hills Solo Nationwide Tour and Tire Rack SCCA Charlotte Solo Nationwide Tour. Ashley earned a trophy in C Road Ready Girls, driving a 2002 Mazda Miata to the runner-up spot–solely 0.463 seconds behind the winner, Molly Thore Maxey.
Along with her scholarship, Sarah, a member since 2021, took half within the Cleveland ProSolo occasion, each the Charlotte and Romulus Solo Nationwide Tour experiences, and on the Grissom and St. Louis Tire Rack SCCA Autocross Problem stops. Sarah tore up the observe in her 2016 Porsche GT4 and secured a victory within the Xtreme A Girls class on solely her third go to to Solo Nationals.
Lastly, Shelby used her scholarship to dive deeper into racing. An SCCA member for round a decade, she initially joined to help her husband from the sidelines, however in 2022 she determined to offer driving a try to fell in love.
Because of her scholarship, Shelby competed on the two Tire Rack Las Vegas ProSolos in addition to the Tire Rack Solo Nationwide Tour and ProSolo in Packwood. She additionally took benefit of Evolution Efficiency Driving Faculty instruction and received the Packwood ProSolo Bonus Problem. Throughout her racing tour, Shelby earned an STSL Nationwide Championship in solely her second look at Solo Nationals.
In whole, the SCCA Girls on Observe program offered scholarships to 14 recipients this 12 months– valued at upward of $11,50. These scholarships had been awarded throughout the board–to girls in SCCA Street Racing, volunteering, RallyCross, Time Trials, RoadRally and Solo.
Not seeking to drive? No drawback.
“Not each girl is behind the wheel,” Linda shares. “We do have some scholarships for ladies who’re volunteers, and it began by asking the query, ‘Are there girls on the market who want to simply be a part of these occasions?’”
However what’s the plan for this 12 months?
“Our aim for 2025 is to deal with increasing our regional choices and help and steerage for members of SCCA Areas who want to begin a regional Girls on Observe group and host girls’s-specific occasions of their space,” shares Kelsey Karanges, this system’s govt committee chairwoman.
To advertise this aim, Girls on Observe will probably be presenting two classes in the course of the SCCA Nationwide Conference in mid-January.
“One among these classes is on the state of the Nationwide initiative, whereas the opposite is a examine of how SCCA Areas and native teams can set up native initiatives,” explains Andie Albin, the SCCA’s nationwide workers liaison to the Girls on Observe initiative.
On high of those two classes, Girls on Observe will probably be persevering with its extraordinarily profitable Girls on Observe Brunch at Solo Nationals and internet hosting gatherings at RallyCross Nationals, Runoffs and Time Trials Nationals.
“We gained fairly just a few new leaders on the Girls on Observe Govt Committee in 2024. With their acclimation, we goal to additionally see vital development in our RallyCross and Street Racing applications,” Andie shares.
The most important piece of recommendation for these inquisitive about this system? “Don’t be afraid to dream huge,” shares Kelsey. “There are a lot of alternatives to go locations with the scholarship choices from Girls on Observe, and you’ll’t obtain these in the event you don’t first apply.”
“For these inquisitive about internet hosting a women-focused driving occasion or faculty in your area, don’t hesitate to achieve out to our committee for concepts and help in planning and concepts for elevating funds in your venture,” boasts Andie. “We’re right here to assist!
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1/14/25 1:25 p.m.
Sydney Davis Yagel – has made a huge effect on SCCA racing. She began out serving to her dad.
Sydney attended her first racing faculty at 17 years outdated earlier than getting her SCCA license six months later at 18. Inside just a few years, she expanded her participation by serving as Race Chairman for the Houston Area for each native membership occasions and helping with the operations of professional occasions. After greater than 10 years behind the wheel, Sydney discovered herself in a singular place. She was too busy placing on occasions to proceed to drive. As her profession expanded to working extra occasions, she hung up her driving gloves.
Sydney has served as Marshal Coordinator, Race Management Coordinator, Nationwide Steward, and Deputy Clerk of the Course for FIA occasions and Nationwide Championships. Most not too long ago she served as Championship Supervisor for the F4 U.S. & FR Americas Championships and the Vice President of Occasion Operations for Parella Motorsports Holdings, the dad or mum firm of Sportscar Classic Auto Racing (SVRA) and the Trans Am Sequence. In 2023, Sydney took a step again and centered on her roots as she took on the function as Volunteer Marshal Facilitator for the SCCA. The place allowed her to additionally tackle further stewarding alternatives with Nitrocross, Method E, and the F1 Academy. As well as, Sydney has began consulting with varied organizations on their operations and logistics.
AND she is married and has one stunning baby on high of all of the above!
Sydney is a real function mannequin and goes to indicate that there are nice alternatives outdoors the automotive to make an incredible full time profession in racing!
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