Motorsport Women in Motorsport

Vickie Morris. Marshal, driver, commentator

What is interesting me about motorsport....

I liked cars prior to motorsport. They always made me feel good. Whether it be the feelings of safety and togetherness being in the family car on excursions, the thrills of doing handbrakeys in a Renault 12 or donuts in whatever piece of crap your mates drove as teeneagers or the freedom to roam and explore. I wasn’t too mechanically knowledgeable past studying the catalytic convertor at high school or the essential chemical compound knowledge I needed to get my science degree but I did know what motors I liked to look at....European cars, especially Porsches.

The Grand Prix came to Adelaide in the 80s; when I experienced the atmosphere the circus brought with it I was hooked. My cousin bought a Porsche, my dad had other German varieties and a boyfriend chauffeured me in an Alfa. Seeds had been planted at an early age. Fast forward 30 years and a finally bought a Porsche which opened me up to the wonderful world of PCV and the opportunity to drive fast legally. (Many would debate my concept of fast).

I started with attending social runs and events. Members were very encouraging and welcoming. I joined the social committee as I like contributing, then blurred the lines with marshalling. I didn’t actually know what marshalling meant but with the support of our track volunteers I learnt quickly. It’s a great way to meet people, discover more aspects of track days and do passenger laps in a beautiful mechanical specimen controlled (hopefully) by slightly crazy drivers. Interviewing people at The Sandown Regularity enabled me to find out more about what being a track driver entailed and in 2019 I took the plunge and entered Entree.

Motorsport is interesting - that’s what is interesting to me. It covers the full spectrum of emotions, thoughts and behaviours and if you want it to, it teaches you so much about yourself, people and the environment we are so fortunate to participate in. I very much appreciate my connection to PCV and the Motorsport world it has illuminated for me.

Natalie Jordan Driver

My first drive with PCV was at Winton in 2018 in entrée class. My Husband Pete and I owned a 997 911 at the time but she was too good to race. One day Pete came across a little black Cayman listed for sale on Gum tree. It seemed too good to be true. But Curiosity got the better of us, and we went to check it out! We flew up to Sydney and ended up driving her home. That little black Cayman started it off for us.

Starting out in Entrée allowed me to receive some fantastic coaching and track experience before progression to competition class and being a lady amongst all the gents, I honestly thought that I’d be treated very differently but the PCV community has been super supportive of me ever since that first race in Winton. Four years on, both Pete and I had one of our best races ever at the recent Broadford event and I am really excited to keep learning, improving, and pushing for some more PBs and points!

Janet Kane Entrée Driver, first outing

I had the best time at Broadford last Sunday. It was my first time entering the Entree Class and had never seen the Broadford track before. I still have the smile on my face as an adrenalin focused kid who has just come off the ‘Mad Max’ ride for the tenth time looking for the eleventh!!

I felt super welcomed from the get go.

From the registration, to the organisers, to the Marshals and all other drivers and spectators, I felt welcomed and supported. Many checking in on me during the day to see how I was going. My mentor James Moyle was amazing. He sat passenger for 3 of my 4 sessions. (I wanted to give one a go solo) So encouraging, warm, comforting and yet such a knowledgeable capable speed demon who helped me get the most of my first experience on a track I had not seen.

I improved each session. Loved it to bits. I cannot wait to book in for the next day.

Sessions were organised with such professionalism and consideration to drivers and their experience. With a capping of only 8 cars in the Entree class, it meant space on the track to learn skills without hectic traffic or fear of being either too slow and holding others up, or even too fast and being held back. Brilliant planning.

In what is a typically male dominated sport, and yes I was only one of a few women there, yet I never once felt like a minority.

Rather I felt more empowered to experience all that my amazing Porsche is capable of.

I would love to see many more women giving it a go, because seriously, having an amazing Porsche is one thing, but learning how to drive it is quite another; and I am so thrilled I am.

Kayleen Mahony Driver

My first track day drive with PCV was at Phillip Island in 2019.

Belucci and I decided to share the Cayman GTS as I wanted to get a feel of the speed and freedom behind the wheel. My mentor taught me about the race lines and corner apexs in order to ensure that I was capable of going solo. That particular day was a success and I knew I was hooked.

Sharing the car was not optimum and it became difficult when the car was becoming faster with each modification. Then we all had to deal with COVID. I put my track time on the back burner whilst we waited for NORMAL to return. The positive was Belucci upgraded to a race car and I was offered the Cayman GTS as my own designated track car. Let the fun begin.

I decided to commit to track days in 2022, with as many entree group days as possible to familiarise myself with each track. I already loved Phillip Island, Broadford was my next favorite followed by Sandown (after I no longer focused on the walls). Winton was an issue which I have only just come to terms with in April 2023 after a mentor day with Belucci.

This year I have focused on a personal best (PB) at each track day. I enjoy the comradeship of my fellow competitors at each event. We joke together about me trying to chase them from the rear of the group. Broadford, over the weekend, was no exception. The car in front of me was a Hyundai (not even a Porsche). I know I let the team down by not being able to pass him but the fact that I would not let him get too far in front enabled me to maintain my PB of 1:16sec.

Broadford also enabled me to be on the track with my fellow female competitors, Natalie Jordan and Deborah Lane. Even though both girls are in A1 class where I am in M1, we love teasing each other after each race regarding me letting them pass because I like them. We constantly support each other and are quick to praise with high 5’s each time a PB is broken.

PCV track days are a perfect place for everyone to get together and enjoy a hobby we all adore.

Deb Lane Driver

Early in 2022 while attending my first PCV social event, a couple of ladies convinced me (admittedly, after some cajoling), to attend Sandown Ladies Day. With trepidation, given I had never driven on a racetrack, I took my car to Sandown; a speed demon was born! Since then, I have been coached in several entrée events and recently progressed to timed events.

My experience so far is a comradery between the women on the track. To my surprise, however, is how welcoming and encouraging the men have been. What I have also learnt is nothing focusses the mind better than driving fast. At the end of each event, my adrenal glands are exhausted and I go home and that night I sleep like a baby!

Srey Sen Volunteer Marshal

“I walked into the club with my viper’s eyes. In my mind Porsche’s a boy club. Pardon my prejudice. I am still a bit of an old school type of girl. Prefer boys to have their time and space. Out of curiosity I decided to check out the website. There I found an interesting mix and stumbled across a newsletter and event’s schedules. The events’ schedule - volunteer’s (Marshalling) section caught my attention. Still not convinced, girls marshalling? Impossible, imagine those eyes rolling reactions! Keep thinking to myself....”Got to be in it to win it”! Hint the sign up and reach out to Carly who then put me through to Murray. With his enthusiasm and encouragement I never look back since. What an amazing team and thank you PCV for the experience”.

Harriet Anson Volunteer Marshal

I began marshalling soon after joining PCV in 2009, I preferred to be on corners as one is close to the action but still safe. I have marshalled at all the Victorian race tracks and in all types of weather. When Ken started racing I continued marshalling usually as starter or on dummy grid.

After having had spinal surgery, and on a clear crisp winter morning (-2 degrees C) at Winton Andrew I. came to me and said, “I have another job for you (I was to be starter for the day), “See that white fenced in building, open the gate and see that door that says Strictly No Admittance, open it, walk past timing and into the next room and the Clerk of Course will show what to do.”

That was my introduction to writing the log for the days racing. After the surgery this job enables me to sit but still keep marshalling.

Writing the log is something I enjoy though it can be challenging at times especially when two or more incidents occur at the same time.

Sally-Anne Hains Competition Driver

How I got involved in Motorsport.

Until I was in my mid-20s, and practicalities came into being, I had no interest in getting my driver license. Soon after my father-in-law thought it a great idea to gift the whole family a Murcotts Defensive Driving Day at Sandown. Everyone proclaimed that “they already knew how to drive and did not need to do it” but I did it, because it was back in the day when perhaps driver license testing was a little less stringent, and after one lesson and a dawdling drive around Carlton, I had my license, but I certainly knew little about driving! The day at Sandown was great fun, the high point of the excitement being spinning off doing an oversteer exercise. There was obviously a lot to driving, and on the track was the place to do it.

What do I enjoy about coming to PCV events;

How well organized, welcoming and varied they are. Everyone is very unified in their love of all things Porsche, and the PCV is in the possibly unique position of being able to run a whole Competition Season with just Porsches competing, so it is fascinating to see how all the different models go. But one of my favourite events was not a Competition day, but the drive day at Lang Lang held last year. Lang Lang to me had always been this mythical place with the banked “Speed Loop” behind very sturdy iron gates, and then came the opportunity, all because of the PCV, to drive there. The events are great because no matter what you do or are outside of the event days, when you get to them, you are welcomed because of the enthusiasm for all things Porsche.