There's no question I get accosted by strangers far more often these days than formerly and I know it's not because of my good looks. Frau Blüecar introduced me to a very interesting person today.

I had to stop into town to pick up a few things for dinner this afternoon. As I drove up through the parking lot, a slender woman with short blond hair stepped off the curb and flagged me. I rolled down the passenger side window and she asked (as so many have before), "How do you like your car?" I told her that so far, it was the best car I've ever owned.

She said, "They're great little cars. I race these."

Now, this was a jog in a different direction. "Would that be SCCA Class H?", I asked. I was clutching at straws. I know virtually nothing about SCCA racing but I'd spent a hour or so scanning result sheets on line a couple of weeks ago and recalled that MINIs are kicking butt in Class H, formerly the preserve of Honda Civics.

She said, "Yes, as a matter of fact." I asked her name and and she said, "I'm Sam Kline."

I remembered that I'd read her name in the winning column of a recent race and told her so. She was completely amazed that I'd heard of her. We started talking a little bit about MINIs and racing but by this time people were glaring at me for sitting in the middle of the right-of-way so I pulled over and got out of the car.

We talked for ten or fifteen minutes -- about racing MINIs, her racing career (she's been at it a while) and a whole spectrum of things. She gave me a calendar of dates for WDCR/SCCA Solo II races but no places or times so I guess I'll have to spend some time on the SCCA site puzzling it out.

The MINI certainly makes life interesting!

 

wow, what a neat story! A female racer! Now when people ask about the car, I simply hand them my card. Another sale. :smile:

 

Greetings,
There are quite a few female racers today, especially in SCCA Solo II.
South Florida is blessed with a few female hot shoes!
Best Regards,
Ron

 

Out of pure curiosity, and not to start a new war here - is she driving an MCS's or MC?

 

I wonder if he got her telephone # ? Some guys have all
the luck

 

Well, neither actually. She drives other people's MINIs at events -- can't afford her own at the moment. She was driving an old VW Scirocco yesterday and told me she's got a first-generation MR2 at home (You'll find mention of this car if you search the results under "C Street Prepared" on the SCCA site).

And yes, I did get her phone number

 

Danp,

You couldn't resist opening up a can of worms! (LOL) It was great meeting you agin this past Sunday. I am glad you made it home ticket free!!

 

Daniel1...things haven't spiraled out of control...yet

 

dandp -- Apparently, she does the local events and then enters the championships wherever they're held.

I gather that she has driven in a lot of different types of races throughout her career -- not just Solo II (autocross). She told me that she used to to a lot of road racing and I'm guessing a bunch of oval track. Here's one thing she said (based on my best recollection):

"You know, there never used to be a separate division for women. I had hair down to here [pointing to her lower back] at one time but when I had on my Nomex and helmet, I looked just like everybody else. When I'd get to the winner's circle after the race and take off my helmet [she mimes shaking out her hair], the guys would stare at me and say, 'I had no idea I was bein' passed by a girl out there'!"

Oh, another thing she told me: Apparently an old autocrosser died recently at the age of 81. She said he was out on the course and on his third run at the time. "That's the way I want to go. Of course," she added hastily, "I intend to make it to at least 90!"

She is a fun lady and I hope I can meet her again. A few minutes in a parking lot showed me that she's got more spark than 90% of the people you meet in a lifetime.

_________________

Frau Blüecar -- MC IB/W. Motoring since 3-10-2003

 

>>And yes, I did get her phone number :smile: :smile:

 

Never underestimate a woman driver... someone was telling me a story about how a woman showed up to an autoX event with a stock camaro and killed everyone. Turns out she was a professional race car driver.

I would have loved to see the look on all the modified cars getting beat by a stock camaro.