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Birth
Wednesday morning at 10:36, I entered this vast world unaware of its potential. This day marked the beginning of several journeys I will commence upon throughout the years. When they come together like puzzle pieces, they complete the picture of who I am. This specific timeline reflects merely one aspect of my life and what I have learned from it. -
The Passion Begins
Not quite old enough to leave the driveway, Dad found other ways for me to follow his passion. At less than a year, I learned the fundamentals of any gearhead's passion - driving. Unfortunately, I'm a bit to short to reach the pedals quite yet! -
Lounging in Lamborghinis
Here, a family friend visited with his Lamborghini Diablo, introducing me to the world of supercars - a world of refined beauty I will shape my goals around. -
Rinse, Lather, and Repeat
After receiving a pink Barbie Jeep for my third birthday, I eagerly christined it in white suds. This marks the first time I took part on a solo mission. After watching the process for three years, this natural progression instilled in me a desire to care for any automobile, hence responsibility. -
A race against the clock
In Brooksville, Florida, Dad showed off his newly acquired autocrossing skills, bringing me into the world of racing. My first time as a passenger, Dad spun across the finish line and into the grass. Realizing we weren't dead, I cheered gleefully. I was hooked! -
Corvette Museum trip
While I continued to grow in the ways of the gearhead, Dad did as well. After learning about autocrossing a few years back, he embraced the sport immediately. He purchased a 2008 Corvette Z06 from the factory to join him on the track. Eager to welcome my new sister into the family, I named her Rabbit. This trip taught me that hard work and dedication in the workfield can allow you to embrace a passion fully. -
Learning how to drive
At eleven, Dad felt it was time for me to take the wheel (and the pedals). We spent the afternoon in the Edison Community College parking lot, and I became comfortable with the basic requirements of any driver. Excelling with his automatic Tundra, he let me try my hand at a manual - Rabbit. Until I turn fifteen, I will continue to practice in my neighborhood. This bolsters my confidence tenfold - both regarding driving and life in general. -
Pit Crew in Training
Racing now an integral part of Dad's and my lives, we learned the art of wrenching. This day, I learned to change my first tire. Because I wasn't strong enough to lift it with my arms, I fell into a puddle of water. My kryptonite became my stronghold, because I learned how to apply creativity and ingenuity to problems. I simply lifted the tire with my legs, guiding it onto the wheel studs. -
I am the Grease Monkey
With tires in my wheelhouse, I learned the next basic maintenance skill - changing oil. Dad guided me throughout the whole process, and after a few assisted changes under my belt, I will be able to do this with my eyes closed. Having this knowledge at thirteen will help me immensely in future years, especially because I learn how to work with various tools. -
Lamborghini, we meet again
Thirteen years after our first encounter, I met the elegant Lamborghini Aventador. Dad and I had been Koenigsegg hunting, and when we visited Naples Motorsports, it was like a gearhead's paradise. Filled with Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and McLarens alike, I could not hold in my excitement. I realized how far I had come from my first Lambo encounter and had high hopes for the future. -
My turn to take the wheel
First Autocross
Now fifteen, I got my first lap behind the wheel. With Dad guiding me every step of the way, I managed to place 15th out of 33 drivers. I set a personal goal to catch up to Dad. Driving put a whole new perspective on the sport, and I fully aprpeciated how it improved my driving on the road. -
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Skittles' Creation
Miata Build
In the months before my Junior year, I put my automotive knowledge to the test by building a Miata. While this lengthy project taught me several new wrenching skills, I also learned patience and precision. I grew to love this car as if it were my child, and when he started for the first time, the rumble of his four cylinders brought me to near tears. After this project, I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. -
Skittles is Born!
First Start
On my sixteenth birthday, my Miata "roared" to life. While he still needed some final touches, Skittles showed much potential, and I was proud to be his mom. -
Meeting Rabbit
Rabbit
While Rabbit and I had known each other for several years now, this marked my first day behind her wheel under racing conditions. Now with an adequate amount of racing experience under my belt, I took on the challenge of racing with Rabbit - a beast with twice the power of anything I had previously experienced. After coming close to hitting a tree, I learned that the car doesn't make the driver; everything has its limit. -
Welcome, Toothless!
BRZ AutocrossBRZ Reveal
Just shy of December, I became a mother of two. This black Subaru BRZ, sporting four cylinders like his older brother, would become my daily companion. Resembling the Night Fury from How to Train Your Dragon, I named him Toothless. He will become my test of responsibility in the coming years. -
Solar Go Kart Championship
Sprint Race
The STEM team's second Go Kart race, we came home with the overall championship. In all of my other automotive ventures, I had worked alone. This race taught me how to work as part of a group. Because we mimicked a real race team, I also caught a glimpse of other aspects of the automotive industry. -
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Internship at Prestige Foreign Car Repair
The month before my Senior year, I interned with a local repair shop. The owner was full of knowledge and eager to share it with me. I worked on a variety of different cars learned the basics of how engines, differentials, and clutches work. He taught me to look at problems differently and how to hone my sense of torque accuracy - a vital skill in the work industry. -
The student becomes the master...
Right before my senior year started, my good friend started looking for a car. Because both she and her mother knew little about cars, they turned to me for advice. When she finally bought a Toyota Solara, I taught her how to wash and wax it. I plan to teach her basic skills, and, if she'll let me, how to drive a stick shift. While I continue to learn new things, I enjoy being able to pass what knowledge I do have to others.
