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Women in Motorsports


            
             Women were always present in Motorsports throughout the history of racing. In the beginning women played largely the role of the "pretty girl" handing out trophies or just hanging out with the racers. Women had no place at the race track other than that and very few were allowed to run errands or help in a diminutive capacity. This did not stop women from being interested in racing and breaking the male dominance in this field. Legendary women like Lyn St James, Janet Guthrie, Denise McCluggage and Danica Patrick opened up a new world for women in racing. Their contributions in racing had a lasting impact on the world of motorsports and how women are perceived in this field. .
             The History of Women in Motorsports.
             Motorsports gained interest in Europe around 1887 and was originally called racing. The history of racing has a unique and varied back ground. Racing comes in many forms today with rules and cars far surpassing its humble beginnings. The main objective yet remains the same; cross the finish line before your opponent. With the evolvement of engines like the combustion engine developed by Karl Benz (Hylton 2009) the sky was the limit in creating better and faster automobiles. Any new development in car technology also had a huge impact on the sport of racing. Going faster and faster got people hooked on the sport. The first car race organized took place in Europe in 1887 and the magazine Le Petit Journal arranged for the first recognized race from Paris to Rouen (Hylton, 2009). The cars and rules today have changed but the enjoyment and excitement of racing has stayed the same and has gained a faithful following since.
             With Europe leading the way the United States was slower to join the racing craze. The Sports Car Club of America ( SCCA) was formed in 1944 ( Hylton, 2009) by wealthy white men. Their passion for the sport was the foundation of the Club, but they also wanted this Club to be exclusive to the wealthier men so few were asked to join and then only if they were able to contribute substantial amounts of money.


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