Women Shifting Gears with Amanda Busick

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Season 3, Episode 41 - The Women Behind the Woman - Betty Skelton - Pam Miller, Lindsey Mandia and Cindy Sisson Apr 06, 2022

Show notes

She was boundless. She was Betty Skelton – a woman left behind until three determined women worked tirelessly to uncover her story. Producers Pam Miller (8-time Emmy award winner and NASCAR on FOX producer), Lindsey Mandia (Vice President of Production at FOX Sports), and Cindy Sisson (CEO of GSEvents LLC) are the women behind the woman in this first installment of the docu-series “Left Behind” that was recently released on FS1’s Race Hub.

Skelton was a land speed record holder and aerobatics pilot who set 17 aviation and automobile records. She was known as "The First Lady of Firsts", and helped create opportunities for women in aviation, auto racing, astronautics, and advertising – yet very few knew much about her… until now.

The women behind Betty Skelton’s story are the first guests in Season 3 of our Women Shifting Gears Driven by Hemmings podcast. They share their story of perseverance in discovering her history and how there’s a little bit of Betty in all of us.

We should all take a lesson from Betty Skelton…. A woman who pushed the boundaries for women – with great poise and grace. While her opportunities were limited, she discovered ways around those limitations to create her own destiny – one that is now celebrated, thanks to the hard work of three dedicated women.

Betty would be proud.

Season 2, Episode 40 - Part 2 - Renée & Christina Brinkerhoff Take on Antarctica Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

In Episode 15 of our Women Shifting Gears Driven by Hemmings Podcast, we first introduced you to Renée Brinkerhoff and her Project 356 World Rally Tour. At that time, she had raced in six of the seven continents. In last week’s show (Episode 39), host Amanda Busick, along with Renée and her daughter Christina, set the stage as they made their way to Antarctica. In this new episode, Renée and Christina, along with their Valkyrie Racing team, take on the elements and all that goes with sub-zero temperatures.

While they finished the last chapter of their Project 356 World Rally Tour, their mission in the fight against child trafficking is far from over. We just may see the “Polar Porsche” continue to race against the elements and continue to fight the fight. They’re not done.

Bundle up and enjoy the ride.

Season 2, Episode 39 - Part 1 - Renée & Christina Brinkerhoff Go To The Edge in Antarctica Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

They had accomplished six out of seven continents in their quest to end child trafficking with their Valkyrie Racing Project 356 campaign. The last leg was a cold reality… literally. Even though there had been months (and a COVID year) of preparation, this final journey to Antarctica did not go off without a hitch. The mother-daughter team of Renée and Christina Brinkerhoff share the unexpected hurdles that they had to overcome in the days leading up to their final Project 356 chapter and the sobering moment when they wrote their “death letters” to their loved ones in case they didn’t come home.

This Brinkerhoff duo loves going to the edge. It’s in their blood. While they are family, they’re also teammates who are willing to risk their lives for a cause they are determined to eliminate. While these two brave women and their small but mighty team faced the cold conditions, this story will surely warm the hearts of our listeners. Renée and Christina Brinkerhoff share the days leading up to the start of their final 356 miles with host Amanda Busick in Part 1 of our 2-part series.

Bundle up. This is a good one.

Thank you, Covercraft, for supporting our podcast.

You can also enter to win a replica of the Valkyrie Racing Porsche 356 A with a giveaway through Omaze. When entering use promo code: WomenShiftingGears150. Contest ends March 5th.

Season 2, Episode 38 - Jessica Fickenscher - Chief Experience Officer at Speedway Motorsports Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

It’s all about the fan experience. This week’s guest, Jessica Fickenscher, is the Chief Experience Officer for Speedway Motorsports and makes it her daily mission to ensure race fans at their eleven premier NASCAR facilities have an experience of a lifetime.

Speaking of experiences, Jessica has experienced a lot in her 25+ years at Speedway Motorsports. She first entered the doors as an intern and will probably exit those same doors when she walks into retirement. Her fans-first initiatives have delivered best-in-class fan experiences and she continues to create ways to make their attendees happy and coming back for more.

If the fan experience responsibility wasn’t enough, Fickenscher also facilitates capital improvement and property development projects across the company’s facilities and oversees their relationship with food service partner, Levy Restaurants. In addition, she leads business operations as the senior executive for company subsidiaries U.S. Legend Cars which consists of the world’s largest producer of fun and affordable race cars, and SMI Properties, a souvenir production and merchandising division.

Fickenscher is the managing director of Speedway Children’s Charities national chapter and serves as a board member for the Charlotte chapter. Speedway Children’s Charities is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides funding for non-profit organizations in the Charlotte community that meet the direct needs of children.

Jessica chats with host Amanda Busick about how she juggles so many responsibilities while maintaining a family life – something that is important to not only Jessica, but to her employer as well.

Special thanks to our friends at Covercraft for sponsoring this podcast.

Season 2, Episode 37 - Jamie Little - FOX Sports NASCAR Pit Reporter and Play-By-Play Announcer for the ARCA Menards Series Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

TV personality Jamie Little is a woman of many firsts… the first female pit reporter for the Indy 500 and the first-ever female pit reporter to cover both the Indy 500 and Daytona 500 for network TV’s live flag-to-flag coverage in the same year. Most recently, she became the play-by-play voice of the ARCA Menards Series, making her the first woman in history to call TV play-by-play for a national racing series.

Little has been a NASCAR pit reporter for FOX Sports since 2015 and is now in her 21st year as a broadcaster.

Jamie joins host and fellow FOX Sports reporter Amanda Busick as she takes us through her broadcast journey, why her support team is vital to her success and how her “what’s next” question led her to add that answer to her list of firsts.

Simply put, she’s amazing.
This podcast is sponsored by Covercraft.

Season 2, Episode 36 - Brittany Force - NHRA Top Fuel Drag Racer Jan 26, 2022

Show notes

She comes from motorsports royalty. With a racing father in John Force, Brittany Force and her sisters grew up at all the tracks she’s now racing. She feels quite at home at these tracks where her team is also her family – a family that she enjoys celebrating the highs with and learning from their lows.

In just five seasons, Brittany Force went from rookie to Top Fuel World Champion by securing the 2017 NHRA Top Fuel world championship. She was only the second woman to hold the world title in Top Fuel and the first in 35 years. Now Brittany holds both ends of the Top Fuel national records.

Brittany has 11 Top Fuel wins; 32 Top Fuel No. 1 qualifiers and her time and speed records include 3.623 seconds at 338.17 mph!

Force chats with host Amanda Busick about life on and off the track and how she turned a terrifying wreck in 2018 into proof that she has heart, desire and love of drag racing to continue the championship hunt in a sport that she’s known literally her entire life.

Enjoy the ride.

Season 2, Episode 35 - Laura Wontrop Klauser - Sports Car Racing Program Manager for GM Jan 19, 2022

Show notes

Laura Wontrop Klauser is the Sports Car Racing Program Manager at General Motors overseeing the Corvette C8.R, Cadillac DPi-V.R, and Camaro GT4.R cars that race globally. Her responsibilities from prior Cadillac and Camaro GT4.R Racing Program Manager roles have carried over with the additional responsibility for Corvette C8.R program and all future sportscar racing programs.

Laura started working at General Motors as a summer co-op student then hired full-time in 2008 after graduation from RPI. Prior to her racing program manager roles, she held various positions on different platforms including advanced design on the Corvette C7, releasing suspension parts for the Cadillac CT6, and noise and vibration on the Chevrolet Cruze, Buick Encore, and Chevrolet Spark.

At only 35 years of age, Klauser is already considered a GM veteran. She chats with host Amanda Busick about how she handles the responsibility of being a young female leader in a male-dominated field. A self-proclaimed “confectionery creator”, Laura shares how sweet her life is on and off the track including the development of a recipe for success at the 2023 Le Mans as Cadillac returns to the 100th anniversary of the race.

Season 2, Episode 34 - Victoria Thomas, Chief Financial Officer and Owner at Kelly-Moss Road and Race Jan 12, 2022

Show notes

Victoria Thomas is the CFO & owner of Kelly-Moss Road and Race, a Porsche-centric brand specializing in custom Porsche builds, along with over 30 years of on-track success.

In addition to managing the fiscal end of a team producing over 100 podiums and 4 National Championships in 2021, Victoria oversees the brand vision and marketing strategy for the company.

2021 saw the launch of the KMR Online Racecar Driver Academy, a vision Victoria had during the pandemic to bring racing knowledge to anyone from the comforts of their own home. The most compressive online training in the industry, the Driver Academy has over 70 online lessons on racing so drivers can be laser-focused when they arrive on track, boasting a promise to save time, save money and increase on-track satisfaction.

With a managerial accounting background, Victoria’s focus has always been on healthy growth and Kelly-Moss has grown over 350% in her tenure. Victoria is passionate to increase awareness surrounding the opportunities for women in motorsports and thrilled to be in a position to bring more female drivers, engineers and technicians to the industry.

Victoria’s passion is infectious. Her desire to get more females hired in the industry is applauded. Enjoy the show.

Season 2, Episode 33 - Sharon Brawner - President & CEO of the National Corvette Museum Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

Are you scared of taking a leap of faith? If so, this is the podcast for you.
Guest Sharon Brawner recently took that leap of faith in a career change that makes for a perfect full-circle story. From growing up around cars and racing, to her 20 years with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville all the way to her new role as President and CEO of the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky, it’s a story of meant-to-be moments that will surely touch your heart.
A self-proclaimed “car chick”, Brawner shares her journey for the love of cars, especially the Corvette, and how she is the perfect choice to take the National Corvette Museum to new heights. She’s ready for the challenge, especially with her dad proudly looking down on her.
Brawner’s story is one of true inspiration. Enjoy the show.

Season 2, Episode 32 - Taylor Hagler - Professional Racer Dec 29, 2021

Show notes

After spending 10 years in equestrian show jumping competition, Taylor Hagler traded in the horse for horsepower in 2018. This was a natural progression, as Taylor and her father have been lifelong sports car racing fans. Taylor moved into Spec Miata in NASA Texas and has proven to be a quick study in sports car racing. In her first season of competition, Taylor worked up to 5th place of 69 drivers in the NASA Texas Spec Miata championship. She was also awarded the Rookie of the Year by the NASA Texas organization for the skill and growth that she exhibited throughout the season.

In the latter part of 2018 and early 2019, Taylor made another big step in her racing career and collected her first win at Road Atlanta with the SCCA and her first pole position at MSR Houston with NASA. These strong performances caught the eye of the X-Factor Racing team who was plotting a return to professional racing. With this deal, Taylor began testing in the potent Honda Civic for her professional debut at Circuit of the Americas in March of 2019.

In her debut weekend in TC America, Taylor was able to earn her first podium finish in front of family, friends, and a home crowd at Circuit of the Americas in Elroy, Texas. She followed up her early season success with another podium finish and her first career pole position at Watkins Glen. As a result of her consistent improvement throughout the year, Taylor finished her debut season in professional racing in 5th place in the TC America TCA Driver’s Championship.

For the 2020 season, Taylor signed with Honda Performance Development (HPD) to drive in the IMSA TCR series under LAP Motorsports and LA Honda World Racing. She and co-driver Ryan Eversley captured one podium finish and five Top 5 finishes during the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season. Taylor also captured the pole position for the second event at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course during a break-out weekend in 2020.

Taylor joined Michael Lewis in the number 77 Hyundai Veloster N TCR for Bryan Herta Autosport in the 2021 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge where they finished the season at the top of the podium as champions of the series. Hagler became the first-ever female to earn the championship title in the TCR category and is the second female champion in IMSA history.

Hagler was also named the 2021 SRO GT World Challenge America Rookie of the Year.

All of this in just four professional racing seasons. Wow.

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