By Bobby Waltrip

Focusing on Teamwork

Girls-n-Gears was conceived to help young ladies expand their horizons beyond normal school or recreational activities. The primary focus of this program is to help teach skills such as mathematics, engineering, teamwork and self-esteem in the real world environment of motorsports.

To accomplish these goals the sport of Kart Racing was determined to be the most feasible, easy to understand and practical of the racing genre. Prior to arrival at an event, our teams of scouts first design the look of their machine.

 At the event itself the girls apply their decal package and begin to understand the basics of gear ratios, weight distribution and basic mechanical skills. This program is very much "hands on" as the participants get fitted in to the racer they designed the graphic package for. Installation of gears and tires help with the mechanical aspect and then listening to the officials explain the rules of which they must abide.

Another phase has the ladies try their hand at public speaking while being interviewed over the public address system. Once the spectrum of career opportunities have been discussed, the really fun part begins. The girls are fitted with the latest safety equipment, get some instructions from veteran competitors and take to the speedway to show their skills behind the wheel of a modern racing kart. This program was not designed to find the next superstar driver, but to make an environment where the focus is about what’s available individually but more importantly collectively as team players encouraging one another to be the best they can be.

The greatest benefit we have seen so far is the boost in self-esteem and confidence. We have every reason to believe that your group will experience the same life changing benefits that have been witnessed so far. 

Girls-n-Gears is operated under the not for profit (501 c3) umbrella of the Gear up for Life organization allowing for any contributions to be tax deductible. This is just a brief over view of a very exciting, entertaining and life-changing program that we are proud to offer to your troop.

For more information contact Bruce C. Walls at Action Enterprises, Inc. or Bill McCutcheon at the American Kart Racing Association 704-764-8138.