We are all the same

   This past weekend i was looking up the results of the IRL race. I didn't get a chance to watch the race so I wanted to see what all happened. Looking through I saw the Simona DeSilvestro finished fourth. A greqat run for her in only her second year. But as I read some of the comments one really got to me. It read something along the lines of "It was a good finish for a girl." What does her being female have to do with her great run for one of the underdog teams. This is an issue that I just don't understand. Why in the racing world and in the tuning world is the issue of gender a big deal? I personaly think it is great that there are women who are in the tuning scene and racing. If someone is passionate about building cars, racing cars or any way they express there love for cars, it should not matter their gender.

  Racing has seen an influx of female drivers. In the IRL you have several drivers in the series or on the verge of breaking in the series. Most all know Danica Patrick but also Simona, Pippa Mann and Katherine Legg. All have shown the deserve to be in the series and are very competitive. But you always hear negative remarks because of their gender. Granted it it becoming a smaller minority but they are usually the most vocal. Thankfully like i said thisis becoming more of a minority. Look at the NHRA where some the most popular drivers are women. Ashley Force Hood, Hillary Wiil, Erica Enders and Melanie Torxel (please forgive me if i spelled your name wrong) are round and event winners. You also dont hear a lot of the negative remarks you would hear form some IRL and NASCAR fans. Maybe oneday all fans can be more like the NHRA fans.

  I also remeber a few months back i saw an editorial in which the editor of a certain magazine disscused women ib the scene. His point was he did not want a girfriend that was into cars. Saying it was it his time alone in the garage and he didnt want for his girlfriend in there. I donmt understand this logic. I know people like to have alone time. But me personaly I would love to have a girlfriend that is into working on cars. I think it would be an excellent bonding time. Plus I don't get the whole macho I have to know more about cars than girls. If I meet someone that knows more about cars than me, wether it be male or female, I love to learn from them. The import cultrue also gives a great mix of females in the industry. Everthing from drag racing, road racing, drift, car show and models.

  I have been into cars and racing my whole life. I am one who knows how much time and dedication it takes to be sucessful. It should never matter on gender or color of skin how we precive someone. We should celbrate the sucess of people in the industry. I know for me personally I would love if my daugther or nieces of future girlfriend gets involved in cars or racing. I am still hopeful to find that right lady.