So the issue presented by Pippa Mann the other day created a lot of lively discussion. It was very educational to see the different viewpoints presented. I don’t agree with a lot of the viewpoints as I feel like there are many who “jump on the band wagon” just to be heard and to re-state what Pippa articulated, and those that just want to “be heard” and agree to agree. I really appreciate the opinions that don’t always agree with the post author.

In a grander scale, I feel like part of the problem with affecting change, attitudes and acceptance of women in motorsports is that we tend to focus on what “we want” instead of looking at “how do we all come together” to make change happen.

I agree that “segregation” of competitors – i.e. the “W Series” vs. the traditional ladder system within the European system of racing – is not necessarily the solution nor does it help as you split funding and thereby dilute the power of the dollar that is spent to promote the different racing series and drivers. However, there are a lot of great things that are occurring for women because of the “W Series” model. Now, the question for me is, how do we take the best of these different systems, integrate those things in a way that is beneficial for competitor, series, sponsors and women as a whole?

Lots of questions, very few answers at this point. I will say, though, it takes leaders like Pippa Mann, Lyn St. James, Beth Peratta and Catherine Bond Muir (to name a few) to affect change. We need women like this leading the charge, and each and every one of them has volumes of experience and wisdom to draw from and to utilize. But, more importantly, we need people (men and women) willing to follow their lead and to actually get involved, become advocates in their own way, and stay focused on the main goal of improving the equality, the equity, the funding and the opportunities for women in motorsports. There are not enough voices out there being heard. There are a lot of followers and people who say the agree, but very few who are willing to actually take the time to start making a difference. And, sometimes, all it takes is a person’s willingness to monetarily support a young lady at the grass roots level, or to spend $100 to become a member of the “Shift Up Now” program. But do something. Stop being a parrot. Be a leader.