Car-culture world has plenty of women who are car enthusiasts
Since I started featuring car stories here in my column eight years ago, there have been some common themes. One theme that pops up a lot is women owners, builders and those who work in the industry, and how often they hear that they are a rare creature in the carculture world.
While the numbers would agree that men are more likely to pick up a wrench or to own a custom or classic car, there are certainly plenty of women carrying their weight as true car enthusiasts — and getting under the hood just as often as their male counterparts. Historically, women have had as long a history of driving as men, and it wasn’t until the post-WWII, Atomic Family era that women took more of a back seat — or passenger side, to be more accurate.
My latest project explores the relationship women have with their rides — a book about women classic and custom vehicle owners, builders, racers and women in the auto/moto industry.
Sabina Kelley is best known for being a top-tattooed pin up model and starring as a judge on Oxygen TV’s hit tattoo reality competition show “Best Ink,” but behind the cameras and the glamour, she is actually a single mom of three kids in suburban Las Vegas, Nevada, who owns and drives an exquisite 1965 Chevy Impala.
In Gonzales, Louisiana, I shot pin up host and office manager Tashia Loots and her stunning 1966 Plymouth Belvedere II for the project, and in nearby New Orleans, I was able to shoot graphic designer and artist Julie Newkirk and her 1963 ½ Ford Falcon Spirit.
While at the Lone Star Round Up in Austin, I captured images of Texas car gals Christina McCanlies with her 1954 Plymouth Plaza, as well as Jamie Cobb, of League City, with her newly purchased 1962 Chevy C10 pickup truck.
I visited Amy “Ms Metal” Clark in Chicago, on the tail end of a blizzard as snow still blanketed the ground. An accomplished and professional metal worker, Clark is adept at everything from customizing cars to welding, iron work, custom jewelry making, and even has a Master’s degree in jewelry and metal work. Clark and her husband have collaborated on both of their respective rides — Ms Metal’s 1953 Chevy Business coupe and her husband’s 1952 Chevy two door. She does all the killer metal design and build work, and he does their beautiful paintjobs. It is a match made in customizer’s heaven.
Next on my stops is a car show in New Hampshire, where I will shoot a couple of East Coast ladies for the project before coming home to Houston to shoot more Texas women for the book.
If you or someone you know is a female owner of a custom, classic or unique ride or who works in the industry, and you would like to be considered for this ongoing project, you can contact me via email at heidi@ heidivanhorne.com.
I will continue to post images and updates about the project as it unfolds on my website and social media pages, using the hashtags #heidisnewbook, #herride, and #womenandtheirrides.