Category Archives: Strong Women

January 05

Women in the Auto Industry…and the World

Fired up by yesterday’s post, I went back through some of my prior posts on Mary Barra specifically and women in the auto industry generally, and came across a few oldies but goodies. Sharing the collection here for anyone interested: It Doesn’t Have to Be a Revolution – December 4, 2013 One Small Step for Woman – […]

January 04

Glass Ceiling: Smashed

As with everything other than work, I am behind in reading Automotive News, my weekly source of all things automotive. I just started on the November 9, 2015 edition, which includes a 128-page special section entitled 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry (shout-out to my friend Lisa Copeland for being included on this […]

December 26

Beauty on Wheels

Sigh. The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe is such a beaut. I loved the 2001-2006 generation of its predecessor, the CL Class, and the new (renamed) S-Class Coupe is even better, truly the creme de la creme of luxury GTs. This beast, the two-door version of Mercedes’ flagship S-Class sedan, features a walloping biturbo V-8 and […]

July 27

Grace, At Speed

Somewhere in the whirlwind of the last few months, a most delightful announcement took place that makes me excited for 2016, girl power, and the future of motorsports in general. Ordinarily I would have been shouting this from the heavens on the same day, but I’ve been a little behind… On May 29, 2016, the […]

May 08

Strong Women: Denise McCluggage

Late Wednesday, the car world lost a true legend. A writer, racer and adventurer, who could do all of those things while being a woman! I speak of the one, the only…Denise McCluggage. (You may remember I was thankful for Denise at Thanksgiving 2013.) I hope to be like Denise McCluggage when I grow up. […]

May 01

Pink is More than a Color

Welcome to the month of May! In IndyCar world, that means one thing and one thing only – the Indy 500! Like last year, female driver Pippa Mann is racing in the 500, in partnership with Susan G. Komen. Like last year, I wanted to get involved. Luckily, Pippa has made it easy. Last night, […]

February 20

Strong Women: Julie Dollahite

This has been a week of loss. At last count, four people I know have died since last Friday. The most personal, and recent, loss was my aunt. She passed away last night after a struggle with breast cancer. Life sure is challenging sometimes. Relevant to this blog, today I attended the memorial service of […]

September 10

Small-Car Syndrome

Today I had the privilege of spending a fair amount of time behind the wheel of the “work car,” otherwise known (by me) as the World’s Biggest Benz-o. I love driving, and I love driving all types of vehicles, including the Benz-o. But going from a MINI to Mercedes’ biggest SUV is quite the study […]

July 30

Your Ride is Here

I had a very cool and unexpected experience today (aren’t those the best kind?). My friends over at John Eagle European hosted an event put on by Austin non-profit RecognizeGood, an organization that “[illuminates] selfless volunteers, charitable acts and community service” in the greater Austin area.  Every month, RecognizeGood honors a “Legend,” someone who, to […]

July 18

Early Christmas?

If anyone would like to donate to a fabulous cause AND make one little Motorista very happy, consider this: The special pink Susan G. Komen helmet Pippa Mann wore in the Indy 500 is being auctioned on eBay, with 100% of the proceeds to benefit Susan G. Komen Central Indiana. This is the actual race-worn […]

July 11

General Motors, the Fortress

Here is an interesting Part Two to my Alternate Mary Barra Interview. I merely intended to ask the questions. My dear friend, the brave, barnstorming Ashleigh Burroughs (my collaborator on Project Keychain), decided to actively try to get answers to my questions. So she tried to track down Mary Barra. Head over to her blog, the […]

July 08

The Alternate Mary Barra Interview

You may recall my recent annoyance with Matt Lauer’s sorry excuse for an “exclusive” interview with General Motors CEO Mary Barra. Barra doesn’t give many interviews, even to the local Detroit press, and Lauer completely muffed his opportunity to ask relevant, meaningful questions of one of the world’s most powerful women, at a crucial time […]

June 26

News Flash: Woman Can Be Mother and CEO at Same Time!

Hurry quick, someone get Matt Lauer some impressive journalism award! The Pulitzer, perhaps? Granted an exclusive, one-on-one interview, Lauer got this juicy bombshell from Mary Barra: General Motors’ first female CEO can be a CEO and a mom. At the same time. Holy crap. Stop the presses. Because, good to know, right? That’s definitely the first […]

June 14

Motorista Goes Aerial

I have rappelled 478 feet down a 38-story building and lived to tell the tale. The end. Ha – not quite. In fact, there is a tale. It involves skyscrapers, ropes, kids with wishes, family, friend, babies, dogs, duct tape and more. First, the scheduling gods smiled upon me such that almost my entire family (all […]

May 25

Motorista Presents: the Indy 500 Pink Watch Party!

We came, we saw, we had a great time! For those of you who may be new to the scene, I decided to host a “pink” watch party for the Indy 500 to support driver Pippa Mann, who was sponsored by Susan G. Komen and drove a pink car in the race. Read more background […]

May 21

New Gig: Guest Blogging

I was excited and honored to receive an invitation from Lisa Copeland, General Manager of Fiat of Austin and all-around badass auto industry gal, to contribute to her website, Buying Cars Her Way. My first post is now up, so click on over to BCHW to read more about the Red MINI’s recent brush with the law, […]

May 21

The Indy 500 Pink Watch Party!

All right, friends. The Indy 500 Pink Watch Party is moving full speed ahead! For those in the Austin, Texas area, here are the details: Date: May 25, 2014 Time: 11 a.m. Place: Blackfinn Ameripub (in the Domain) We are going to cheer on Pippa Mann and her pink Susan G. Komen car! Wear pink […]

May 17

Speed Sisters – A Story That Should Be Told

Have you heard about the only female motor racing team in the Middle East? You’re about to. Director Amber Fares’ documentary about five Palestinian women who compete against men on makeshift tracks in the West Bank is currently in production and seeking funding to reach the finish line. Regardless of your feelings on the Israeli-Palestinian […]

May 12

Think Pink!

You may have noticed that the title of my blog has turned pink. That’s because we’re thinking pink for the month of May! As I mentioned recently, I am so excited to see driver Pippa Mann partnering with Susan G. Komen for the Indy 500 on May 25. What a great way to raise funds […]

May 02

Race with Pippa

Racing and breast cancer – the first I love a lot, but don’t have much first-hand experience with; the second I hate, hate, hate and know all too well. Put them together, though, and you get this. Pippa Mann is a British driver who became the first female to win a pole at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. […]

April 25

Why Jean Jennings Rocks (Also More NY Auto Show)

I’ve talked plenty about Jean Jennings, including how she inspired me and how I’ve gotten to do such cool things with her Jean Knows Cars team (including writing about the 2014 Detroit Auto Show – here and here!). But now you have a chance to see for yourself why Jean is so good at what she […]

March 29

Let Them Drive…Still

Today, in conjunction with President Obama’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Saudi women again protested the ban on women driving by getting behind the wheel. Organizers are focused not just on obtaining the right to drive, but on increased democratic reforms and human rights in Saudi Arabia You may remember me writing about this topic here, […]

January 21

Do the Job You’re Doing

A little insight into GM’s new CEO, Mary Barra. And a useful perspective for all of us, no?   P.S. If, for any reason, you can’t see the embedded video above, click here.

January 02

Fiatissimo!

Kudos and accolades to my friends over at Fiat of Austin! Word on the street is that they are the “winningest” Fiat dealer of all time, having sold over 2,100 cars since the Fiat brand returned to the U.S. in 2011. If you live in Austin, this is easy to believe. You can’t sneeze in […]

December 24

Strong Women: Cindy Olson Bourland

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the strong women in my life. The women who lead by example, who mentor me (whether knowingly or not), whose lives and choices provide me with a daily reminder that opportunities should be grasped, setbacks make you wiser, and limitations are in the eye of the beholder. As my life […]