Racing with winners has been our goal since Race2learn’s inception, and we finally savored the sweet taste of Victory Lane, with a new “all woman race team” aptly named, DivaSpeed.  After observing them at INFINEON earlier this year, competing against Karen’s “28” team, in the Factory Five Series, I knew they were destined to race together. 

Call it fate, luck, destiny, nonetheless, Karen began a

journey with DivaSpeed, only to hit the wall, two weeks before the “6-hour Enduro” race at Buttonwillow – Bakersfield, CA .  Realizing their funding plight, Team - Race2Learn decided to sponsor them, knowing victory lane was eminent, realizing, equipment is main ingredient to winning a race.  Karen felt confident after her short practice session in DivaSpeed #52 “Little Blue” Acura Integra, Ron Carroll, MLS, and race car builder gave our ladies the best car on the track. 

Karen’s FFR team prepared to drive without her, as we raced against time preparing for the long journey from Carson City, NV – home of DivaSpeed, to Buttonwillow Raceway Park, http://www.buttonwillowraceway.com  praying we covered everything in such a short time.  We raced to update our websites, sending email announcements, and coordinating crew duties for both teams in hopes for sponsor recognition for our teams. 

Minutes before the white flag dropped, Ron, Donna and Karen were busy checking their “in car” communications; I asked God to bring them safely to Victory Lane.  Through the first 2 hours of the race, Karen’s headset was not working, so we used the “old fashioned” placards in place of radio communications, nonetheless, she remained focused, and continued racing without it, with only one thing on her mind, placing this car in a winning position, so her team mate Donna, could put her in Victory Lane. 

As I sat in Karen’s air conditioned motor home, I waited until the last 20 minutes of the race, before I proceeded to the pits again, anxious to know where we were, and astonished to know we were three laps ahead of our competitors.   What a great win for Race2Learn – DivaSpeed and Thundervalleyracing – amazing group of women racing together to win, both in business as well as on the track. 

As we gathered at Victory Lane, sharing the stage with our winning competitors, I realized I was finally living my dream, through these two dramatically driven women.   Sponsoring a winning team only solidifies my belief that women can race too.   “Thanks” to all those who supported Race2learn through all of its delays the last couple of years, and now with many new endorsements following our success at Buttonwillow, we will see you all again at our California Grassroots raceways, and onto the Nationals in Mid-Ohio in September. 

Race2learn is pleased to announce our new N.A.S.A. Proracing endorsement and look forward to working with their team of instructors promoting Race2learn through their  HPDE 1-2 classroom download meetings, mandatory after each session, hoping to bring  physics of racing to their classroom. 

Watch for exciting new addition to our website, our own “Smoking Sammy”, featured junior NHRA female driver, writing about her racing experiences and helping the kids realize their dreams can come true if you believe in yourself.  

Donna Gilio