Four Bay of Plenty women will take part in the first-ever Women in Motorsport display at CRC Speedshow this weekend.
The line-up covers a range of motorsports and related professions including international guest Jessi Combs, along with this country's high profile motorsport mechanic, Frances Buckley, and event organiser Deborah Day.
Jessi Combs from South Dakota, USA, is currently the world's fastest woman on four wheels. She will share the stage with drift driver Jodie Verhulst of Omanawa; speedway enthusiast Kirsten Vermeulen of Pyes Pa; stockcar girl Caitlin Hayward of Omokoroa; and circuit racer Christina Orr-West of Edgecumbe.
All four Bay of Plenty representatives will help celebrate the contribution and achievements by females in motorsport.
Jodie Verhulst, Omanawa, Tauranga Jodie Verhulst, 27, has only been drifting for four years, and says "we need more girls in motorsport!" Drift Motorsport was started in this country by 2007 Jodie and her partner, Drew Donovan.
Drifting is a driving technique where the driver intentionally over steers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels or all tyres, while maintaining control from entry to exit of a corner. A car is 'drifting' when the rear slip angle is greater than the front slip angle, to such an extent that often the front wheels are pointing in the opposite direction to the turn.
For example, a car is turning left; wheels are pointed right or vice versa, also known as opposite lock or counter-steering.
As a motorsport discipline, professional drifting competitions are held worldwide and are judged according to the speed, angle, showmanship and line taken through a corner or set of corners.
The couple's company, Drift Motorsport NZ, creates opportunities for people in this country to try drifting by providing affordable fun events, catering for both experienced drivers and absolute beginners. Jodie was the first female to compete in the Pro Am championship, and the first female to place in the D1NZ series.
Her vehicle to be displayed at CRC Speedshow is a 1993 Toyota Supra, with its extensive tube framing both front and rear. It houses an L98 (LS2 V8) engine, racing cam, 350kw at the rear wheels, BC adjustable suspension, custom designed steering components, link ECU (extreme), link dash, TBC Jet 6 wheels, with Westlake semi-slick tyres.
The car has been built up over the last five years by Jodie and her team and it's her sole competition car. Her ultimate goal is to finish in the top five of D1NZ.
She says the work has taught her much about car set ups and competing at top level. In his vehicle she was placed third overall in the 2013 Pro Am Championship season.
Kristin Vermeulen, Pyes Pa, Tauranga Kristin Vermeulen is not only has a degree and is a certified life coach but she's also pretty fast around the track in a super saloon.
The 23 year old has been driving in motorsport events since she was 11 years old in mini-stockcars, and graduated to super saloons only five years later.
A super saloon is a four-door saloon car which has been upgraded with a more sporting or performance basis, and is also used to describe a racing car, which is based on a road going family car. New Zealand has a super saloon car racing series.
This year Kristin achieved Baypark Speedway's highest overall points in a super saloon, and has previously qualified in the top 20 finalists of the New Zealand Super Saloon Championships.
Her dream is to race internationally and win a New Zealand Super Saloon Championship title.
Kristin will be at CRC Speedshow with the vehicle she has raced for the last four years. It has a Corvette body style with a 411 Chev motor, powering out with a massive 808 horsepower.
Caitlin Hayward, Omokoroa, Tauranga Caitlin Hayward is a 20 year old girl racer and the stockcar circuit is where the action is. She started racing ministocks in 2007 at 12 years old.
Caitlin Hayard. Photo/Supplied
"I grew up to the smell of race fuel and dirt; I guess it got in my blood from a young age. So of course I took the opportunity to race when it came up. Those who say girls don't belong in the sport have always motivated me to keep doing better," she says.
Her beloved vehicle will be on display at CRC Speedshow, and it's the one she began racing in three seasons ago. The car has a Kuriger chassis running a ZF gearbox and a Toyota Hilux diff, with a 4L Holden V6 engine. "I've achieved all of my results so far in this car," she says.
The car has allowed her to compete in all the major Speedway NZ Championships over the past two seasons. She was a NZ Grand Prix qualifier last season and came third in the Bay of Plenty Championship.
The girl whose favourite motto is, 'never say never' hopes to make it big in her sport, and get placed in the top placings of a New Zealand Championship.
Christina Orr-West, Edgecumbe, Eastern Bay of Plenty Christina Orr-West from Edgecumbe, aged 27, took to the wheel at age five in go-karts at the local track. In 1999 she became the youngest female in the world to race an open wheeler, and at 12 years old was honoured with a standing ovation at Manfield Racetrack in a Formula First race.
He favourite motorsport quote, 'drive it like you stole it,' must be the thinking behind her impressive array of wins, including finishing first in class at the Australian Bathurst 12 Hour, an international endurance race for GT and production cars.
She's competed in karting, Formula First, Formula Ford, Formula Holden, the Toyota Racing Series, Indy Lights, NZV8 Touring Cars, Ssangyong Utes and two Bathurst 12 Hours events although her ultimate goal is to race in the V8 Supercars series.
Her vehicle on display at the show will be a Ssangyong Actyon Ute. Its engine is a 2.3 litre four-cylinder Mercedes-Benz petrol rear wheel drive, with five-speed manual gearbox. The suspension has been lowered and fitted with adjustable coil over dampers. It runs a control tyre, suitable for both wet and dry conditions.
The ninth annual CRC Speedshow takes place at Auckland's ASB Showgrounds over this weekend. Tickets are available at the gate and the show website www.speedshow.co.nz - which has the latest news, competitions and show activities to entertain the whole family.
This year will be a spectacular celebration of the finest, fastest and coolest new and classic cars and motorcycles, as well as race cars and bikes, motor sport celebrities, wild hot rods and other custom creations from around New Zealand and the world.
