Latest news with #SheaHolbrook
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Fast, Fun and Fabulous: Our Guide to Being a Car Girl
I'm not a car girl. I'm not obsessed, I don't change my own oil and I don't live for barn finds that I can restore. And the last time I tried to remove a lug nut I nearly ruined my back (not to mention my manicure). However, I love cars. I love to drive. I love discovering the new technology cars offer. I love meeting the women (and men) who are innovating the auto world and I love finding cars that make life better. This story is 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. So, I've become a car girl. I've learned how to view cars differently than enthusiasts do and appreciate what makes them interesting (hint: it's not all about horsepower and torque). I've learned to appreciate how they empower us as women, how the right car can make parenthood much easier, and how, as we've always known, a car can be the key to freedom. The modern definition of 'car girl' is very different than it might have been even a few years ago. And that's a good thing; everyone who spends $30K or $40K or more on a car should ensure that they love what they're spending their money on—not to mention valuable time in. So here is our guide to being a car girl. This may be the thing that makes many women—me included—turn off to car culture: The insistence that I need to change my own tires if I have a flat, if I need to replace a tire, if I need to swap out all seasons for winter tires. Anyone who says that is flat out wrong. Yes, you need to know how a tire is changed, what it costs and what is involved so your car is safe and don't get ripped off. This goes for oil changes, windshield wipers and any other routine maintenance and emergency issues. Having a plan for these things, such as a AAA membership or roadside assistance plan, is important. Trying to change a flat on the side of a busy highway is silly—and dangerous. Read: Easy Car Diagnosis & Repair: RepairPal to the Rescue Though we love it if you do. Some of our favorite car girls are not only handy with a toolbox, but they love being able to fix an issue, make an upgrade and the feeling of accomplishment that doing it yourself imparts. Annika Carter modifies and races her own cars. Bogi Lateiner builds cars from the ground up and leads a team of of car girls who work with her; her builds are features on TV shows and auto industry confabs. Shea Holbrook races and leads a team of women who race. Patrice Banks started her own all-female garage to both fix cars and teach women to fix cars. Read: 11 Common Car Maintenance and Repair Questions, and How to Know: Mechanic, Parts Store or DIY? From Rebelle Rally, the longest off-road rally in the US, and the most challenging as it doesn't allow phones or GPS, in which more than a hundred women compete each year, to female racers like Shea Holbrook, Loni Unser, Tatiana Calderón and Sara Price who defy the odds and the critics on the track, women are carving out a space in the sport. I'll admit, I love track driving. I mean really, really love it. But being in a field of cars moving at 100 MPH or more, trying to pass, watching the systems, tires and time, all at temperatures that can soar past 120 degrees and doing this for hours on end every day? That takes dedication I'm not sure I have. Which makes me admire these women all the more. And there are a lot of great stories these days. Consider Jaguar Land Rover, which, with $8 billion in investment from owner Tata Motors, rose out of the ashes of bad ownership experiences to be regarded as one of the most beautiful and most copied car brands. The Land Rover Defender inspired a whole new era of design and the Range Rover continues to be the dream car of the one percent. And consider Dodge, long the American muscle car icon, it had lagged in visibility behind the Ford Mustang and others until it took on the challenge, increasing power and performance in models like the Hellcat and Hellcat Redeye. Now, the Dodge Challenger Daytona is charing into the next era of performance with an electrified version that I can attest, is simply stunning. Car are an assemblage of a gazillion little details, from design language (think aerodynamic roof lines and muscular fenders) to safety and driving technology to cabin comforts. Then, there are nuances such as the difference between a turbo and supercharger (turbo draws extra power from the exhaust system, supercharger draws extra power from the engine) and each has its benefits and compromises (turbo is more fuel efficient than a supercharger). A car girl knows the details of her car's features and equipment, what each does and why they are good to have. From adaptive cruise to lane keep assist, head up display to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, know what features are offered on a model, those that are not and why it's good to have (or not). Many cars are offered in different engine sizes and the horsepower and torque output are important numbers to know. Horsepower represents speed and torque represents pep. Combined, they are the experience you have when hitting the accelerator: the car gets up to speed fast, or it takes its time. Smaller engines are great for in-town driving and fuel economy. But bigger engines are simply more fun. If you go for the thrill and power, know what it's capable of (towing capacity, for instance) and how to make it do that. Electric cars are the future of fun and efficiency. Electric-powered cars have one or two motors, though some have more, and are not only silent, but incredibly fast. And while some critics call them soulless, we can attest, that isn't true. Porsche Macan Electric, Dodge Challenger Daytona and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N all prove the contrary. From uber-popular SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe and the Hyundai Santa Fe, to brands with a lot of iterations—looking at you, Mercedes-Benz—it's important to understand what's in a name. Model name, specifically. Chevrolet's model lineups tend to be easy to follow, LS and LT are the basic models, RST adds sport details, Z71 adds off-road abilities and Premier and High Country are the top of the line. Mercedes-Benz models can get complicated and that's before you've considered AMG packages or actual AMG models. Like most car brands, trim names tend to apply across the brand. So with Hyundai, Calligraphy is the top model of Santa Fe and Palisade, though expect to see it on more trims in the future—it has proven quite popular. It's the car girl conundrum: we like a lot of cars. We may still need a Toyota Sienna or a Jeep Grand Cherokee L for carpools and road trips, and still want something that makes our soul soar. So, consider a purely fun car for those solo drives or dinner out with friends. A Nissan Z or a Mazda MX-5 not only looks great in the driveway but will make your time away from the kids all the more special. A luxury car sends a strong message: I can afford what I want. But don't take luxury for granted; luxury car features are more sophisticated and tech-focused than ever. Sure, a finely appointed interior with real leather upholstery and Alcantara suede are nice, but what other features are part of the package? Head up display? Night vision? Massaging seats? A supercharged engine? And, does the manual mode work with paddle shifters or the gear shifter, or do you have a choice? Driving a stick shift is a lot of fun. If you want to learn, don't be afraid to ask someone to teach you. Here's a guide to that, and also, what you need to know to prepare. And if you don't want to learn, that's OK too. A lot of men don't know how, either. If you do want to learn, it's best to have a manual transmission car to drive regularly—see above: second car in the driveway—so you never lose the skill. Here is our list of great inexpensive stick shift cars. People can get geeky about cars and their details, so it's OK to pick your level of interest and change the subject when you (or the person you're talking to) hit it. And, cars can get complicated; you might know more about yours than other people want to hear. Being a knowledgeable car girl and a fanatical enthusiast are not the same thing, whether you're talking about cars or the finer points of the Louis Vuitton Speedy. More must-reads: Tasks Are More Fun in the 2023 Polaris Ranger Crew XP 1000 Texas Edition Road Trip: Discover the Treasures of Southwest Virginia
Forbes
20-03-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
First To The Finish: Docuseries Follows 3 Women Taking On The MX-5 Cup
2025. Sally Mott #15 MX-5 Cup. Motorsports is one of the toughest sports to break into. It's expensive, demanding, and requires unwavering dedication. From the cost of racing cars, tires, and fuel to training, track access, and travel, the financial barrier is huge. On top of that, sponsorships are hard to secure, and for women, the road has been even tougher—fewer opportunities, less funding, and not enough role models have made it harder to reach the highest levels. Since 2020, Mazda Motorsports has been working to change that. Through the Mazda Women in Motorsport Initiative and scholarships, they've been actively supporting female drivers in the MX-5 Cup series and beyond. Their "Challenger Spirit" philosophy aligns perfectly with the grit and determination these women bring to the sport. Now, Mazda is taking that support a step further with First to the Finish, a new Prime Video docuseries premiering on March 25. Produced by Boardwalk Pictures and GroupM Motion Entertainment, the series follows two fierce racers, Heather Hadley (#54) and Sally Mott (#15), along with BSI Racing Team Principle Shea Holbrook, as they battle through the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship Season. Historically, women in racing have rarely been in the spotlight. We see the races, but we don't often get a deep dive into their challenges, triumphs, and relentless pursuit of success. First to the Finish offers that inside look—the passion, perseverance, and sheer hard work it takes just to get on the track. In exclusive interviews, Shea Holbrook, Heather Hadley, and Brad Little (Car Chief for Sally Mott) share their stories and insights into the series. BSI Racing Team Principle Shea Holbrook, MX-5 Cup 2025. Q: You've transitioned from racer to team owner. What inspired that shift, and how has it changed your view of the sport? Shea Holbrook: "Racing for 15 years taught me resilience, strategy, and the business side of the sport. Becoming a team owner felt like a natural next step. It's about more than just winning races—it's about leadership, financial management, and making sure our drivers have the support they need. I've had to be resourceful and think outside the box. Some see career pivots as setbacks, but I see them as changing lanes—sometimes you need to slow down to gain momentum before speeding ahead again. Looking back, I realize I always envisioned this path for myself." Q: As a woman, a mother, and a former racer, what's been the biggest challenge and the most rewarding part of team ownership? Shea Holbrook: "Early on, I was often the only woman on the grid. I looked up to women like Danica Patrick, Katherine Legge, and Sarah Fisher, who carved out space for themselves in IndyCar and NASCAR. Now, we have six female drivers in the MX-5 Cup, which is an incredible shift. Success isn't about being male or female—it's about mastering your craft. But women in motorsports still face unfair labels. I've embraced a leadership style that's both competitive and personal. I believe passion and vulnerability are strengths. At BSI Racing, we're working to create those opportunities. One of our junior drivers, Riley Hutchins, is racing with us this weekend. Seeing young women progress in this sport is exactly why this work matters." Q: What sets BSI Racing apart, and how do you approach developing your drivers? Shea Holbrook: "We don't just focus on winning—we focus on building well-rounded drivers. Our coaching and engineering teams are top-notch. We teach drivers how to analyze, adapt, and improve. Some teams only look at short-term results, but we develop talent for the long run. We also emphasize teamwork. Motorsports is often individualistic, but at BSI Racing, drivers know they're part of something bigger. Another key factor? Marketing and sponsorship activation. I've worked in nearly every area of this industry, from sponsorship negotiations to media. Knowing how to position our team for long-term success is critical. At the end of the day, we're not just a race team—we're a development hub for future champions." Heather Hadley #54. MX-5 Cup 2025. Q: How did you get started in racing? Heather Hadley: "I'm from Northern California, and I fell in love with racing at nine years old through indoor go-karting. My family had no motorsports background, but I took to it immediately. After six months of indoor karting, I had won 104 out of 107 races. That's when we realized this wasn't just a hobby—it was something we needed to take seriously. We got our first go-kart and started competing locally in California. Over five years, I won five championships." Q: What do you hope viewers take away from First to the Finish? Heather Hadley: "This is the first time my full story has been told. It dives into the struggles my family and I faced—especially during the 2008 recession—and how those challenges brought us closer. Motorsports is tough, but believing in yourself and surrounding yourself with the right people makes all the difference." Sally Mott #15 and Car Cheif Brad Little. MX-5 Cup 2025. Q: How did you first get into motorsports? What sparked your passion and led you to where you are today? Brad Little: I got into racing and motorsports when I was pretty young, starting with dirt kart racing. Like most people in this sport, I reached a point where it became too expensive to continue. So, I decided to step away and focus on school. Interestingly, I didn't study motorsports—I went into CNC design and programming. But due to an unfortunate incident, I left that field and found my way back to racing. I started turning wrenches, learning how to set up cars, and understanding what makes them handle well. Once the racing bug bites you, it never really leaves. I was lucky to get an opportunity to step back into it later, and I've been here ever since. Q: What does a Car Chief do, and what's it like working with a young driver like Sally? Brad Little: "A Car Chief wears a lot of hats. The top priority is safety—making sure the car is structurally sound and race-ready. After that, it's all about performance—fine-tuning everything to help the driver get the best possible results. Working with young drivers like Sally is incredibly rewarding. Every racer has their own driving style, strengths, and areas for improvement. My job is to make sure she has the right setup, feedback, and confidence to push her limits on the track." Q: The documentary First to the Finish gives an inside look at what happens behind the scenes in racing. What do you hope audiences take away from it? Brad Little: "I really hope people see how tough it is to stay in this sport. There are incredibly talented young drivers in this sport who work 24/7 just to keep racing. First to the Finish sheds light on that struggle, and I hope it gives people a deeper appreciation for what goes on behind the scenes." True progress for women in racing is more than just visibility—it's about creating opportunities that foster lasting change. This means boosting sponsorships, developing grassroots initiatives, and utilizing tools like sim racing to make the sport more accessible. As more women join the sport and more behind-the-scenes stories come to light, we take significant steps toward a future where diversity and equality thrive in motorsports. First to the Finish offers a fresh perspective on the world of racing, focusing on BSI Team Principal Shea Holbrook, racers Heather Hadley, Sally Mott, and the BSI Racing Team. The docuseries showcases the grit and resilience required to navigate the challenges of racing in the highly competitive Mazda MX-5 Cup, while also driving progress toward greater inclusivity and broader competition in the motorsport industry.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
First to the finish: Prime Video's new series shines a spotlight on rising female stars in racing
Motorsports fans are in for a treat as First to the Finish, a brand-new docuseries chronicling the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Cup season, is set to premiere on Prime Video on March 25. The show offers unprecedented access to one of the most competitive one-make racing series in North America, following the journeys of two young female drivers and a female team owner as they push boundaries in the traditionally male-dominated world of by Boardwalk Pictures and in association with GroupM Motion Entertainment, First to the Finish aims to capture the high stakes and relentless determination required to succeed in professional racing. The series follows three central figures: Shea Holbrook – A former racing champion turned team owner, Holbrook is leading BSI Racing through its first full season in the Mazda MX-5 Cup. After stepping away from professional racing to focus on family, she returns to the paddock in a new role, proving that leadership in motorsports isn't just about speed on the track. Heather Hadley (#54) – A rising star in her sophomore MX-5 Cup season, Hadley is balancing her pursuit of racing glory while completing her senior year at UNC-Charlotte. Sally Mott (#15) – A rookie with an unshakable belief in her own abilities, Mott enters the 2024 season after earning a coveted spot through Mazda's MX-5 Cup Shootout. Her sole focus is on proving she belongs at the top level. Beyond the thrilling wheel-to-wheel battles on track, First to the Finish offers an intimate look into the personal lives of these competitors, showcasing the sacrifices and triumphs that define their journeys. Mazda has long positioned itself as a brand that embraces the underdog spirit, and First to the Finish is an extension of that philosophy. The MX-5 Cup has been a proving ground for countless drivers who have gone on to successful professional careers, and this series highlights how it continues to serve as a launchpad for fresh talent.'The Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship is widely regarded as some of the best automotive racing on the planet and predominantly features younger drivers looking to prove themselves,' said Brad Audet, Chief Marketing Officer at Mazda North American Operations and executive producer of the series. By following the unique perspectives of these three women, First to the Finish offers a fresh take on motorsports storytelling, showcasing not only the adrenaline-pumping action but also the human side of competition. If you got hooked on Drive to Survive for the behind-the-scenes drama or felt the emotional pull of Welcome to Wrexham, you'll want to check out First to the Finish, as takes you inside the world of up-and-coming racers fighting for their big break, and while the racing action is intense, that's just part of the story. At its core, First to the Finish is about ambition, perseverance, and the sacrifices people make to chase their dreams. Even if you don't know a thing about motorsports, the personal stories will pull you in. It's raw, emotional, and genuinely compelling. First to the Finish premieres exclusively on Prime Video on March 25. Whether you're a seasoned motorsports fan or simply love a compelling underdog story, this series is one to watch. Love reading Autoblog? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get exclusive articles, insider insights, and the latest updates delivered right to your inbox. Click here to sign up now!
