EMPOWERED WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMEN (Part 2)
Photo courtesy of Kevin McKendry
As we close out Women’s History Month, we wanted to cap it off with the second half of our commemorative article series, written in partnership with Katelyn Brozovich.
A Community Unto Its Own.
The sub-community of women inspiring other women within drifting is growing by leaps and bounds and it’s been a beautiful phenomenon to watch. As a female automotive photographer that works primarily at the grassroots level, I’ve had the unique privilege of encountering a number of organizations with women-in-drifting missions.
In 2003, Nadine Toyoda-Hsu (@driftqueen) and Yoshie Shuyama (@driftschoolusa) started Drifting Pretty in California. Throughout the years, they’ve taught women to change tires, fix cars, and even pull an engine. Drifting Pretty also runs a podcast channel you can listen to here.
Drift Kitchen, which started in 2018, has been the most widely known organization in the women’s drift community. Run by Alexis Dabilis (@initialdabilis) and Taylor Whitmore (@tay240whit_), the group primarily touched audiences in the Northeast, Midwest, and South.
As of 2024, Drift Kitchen has now evolved into the DK Ladies League (@dkladiesleague), which is still organized by Dabilis, and set up to offer information and access to women’s drift events, competitions and workshops.
“As the years have progressed, I’ve seen so many women step up to the plate and shine as drivers. My goal is to see this league incorporate chapters all over the United States, run by local women, who are confident in instructing others who want to get into this sport,” Dabilis stated.
Sparkle Motion is another drifting group for women based out of Southern California. The group was launched in 2021 by Kendal Klein (@kendal240sx) and it hosts inclusive women’s drift days and competitions at Apple Valley Speedway and Willow Springs.
Nives Arvetti (@formulawoman.nivesladydrift) is the founder of the ‘Crazy Drift Girls’ (@crazy_drift_girls) team, an Italian group composed exclusively of women involved in motorsport (more on Arvetti in Empowered Women Empowering Women Part 1).
“Now, we have 14 members, including drivers, stunt girls, mechanics, and tire dealers,” Arvetti said, noting the team is strongly focused on…
“Encouraging females to be part of a sport that is almost purely male, demonstrating that not only men know how to drive. And, inside the car, with the helmet on, there is no difference in gender.”
“Community is everything, and the community of strong women in this sport is growing each and every day,” Dabilis added, indicating she also dreams of incorporating automotive and welding workshops into the DK Ladies League trackside events to enable women drivers to have full independence. “There’s nothing to be afraid of when you can break your car and know how to fix it,” she noted.
Photo credit to Oh Shift Co
Driving Their Way To The Podium.
Of course, the number of female drivers in competitive drifting continues to tick up as well. In fact, Formula DRIFT now sports three professional women drivers, and this number is sure to expand, as more and more ladies in grassroots take their driving prowess over to the competitive side of the sport.
For instance, a driver like MacKenzie Nelson (@lilldyz_drift) (pictured above) could be next up. She frequents Interstate Raceway, which hosts competitions for ND Drift (one of FD’s newest PRO-AM licensing circuits).
“I love drifting because I like feeling like a badass,” Nelson admitted. “For me, drifting is about family. I have met my best friends through this community, and as a woman in drifting who just loves to drive, I’ve never met people who are more encouraging and brotherly.”
And, there are thousands more up-and-coming lady drifters across the world that are worth the watch (including all those mentioned in this article series).
With far too many to cover, we’ve only been able to list a few more notables below to get acquainted:
Chellee Hansen (@chelleehansen), Danica Crosby (@danicacrosby), Jordan St. John (@jordankaylaaa), Patricia Lynn Upton (@plwolf1), Candice Lancaster (@culligans13), Alex Otness (@s13chick), Celine Ofner (@austriandriftgirl), Sunny Townsend (@sunny.townsend), Kailynn Berman (@_kbad_), Becky Evans (@queenb), Nicole Whiting (@omgnicoley), Christina Vithoulkas (@christina_vithoulkas), Collete Davis (@collettedavis)…
…and of course, Chelsea DeNofa (@chelshedenofa) (yes, they DO have the same name!)
Several international ladies are taking their turns basking in the limelight as well. To name only a few, Hunter Taylor (@huntertaylor760) (wife of FD PRO driver Fredric Aasbo) and Formula D Japan driver, Masayo Minowa (@masayo.minowa) are two international ladies worth looking up and following.
Arvetti, whom we’ve already introduced you to, also recently announced, “I'm super excited to be one of 50 girl drivers - and extremely proud - to be representing Italy in the international race of Formula Woman Nations Cup in December in the Middle East!”
Of course, we aren’t even scratching the surface here, as there are literally a gazillion more notable lady drivers out there, working their way up through the drifting ranks. Drift Enthusiast Magazine looks forward to the opportunity to share more about these talented and ambitious ladies over time.
Photo credit to Oh Shift Co
More than the Drivers
The ladies who drive are, of course, the shining stars of the progress of women in drifting. However, there’s a lot more to every drift event than just the drifting.
We're seeing a lot more female partners, sisters, mothers, daughters, and friends of drivers attending and working events. And, they aren’t just sitting in the paddock all day with a book, or watching their phones. They’re jumping in to help fix things that break on the track, change tires, and clean the car to ensure it looks good out there (we media thank you!)
If you look around at any drift event - grassroots or professional - you too, will see more and more women participating. And, an increasing number of women are also volunteering (for more than the ‘umbrella girl’ job!) They staff events, announce for competitions, run the grid, flag, spot for drivers, run merchandise booths, and the list goes on and on!
There are also women like myself, who spend their time at drift events capturing professional media material. In fact, in only five years of doing this, I’ve seen a significant increase of fellow ladies at the track with me, taking photos and videos. It’s great to connect with other women that share a mutual interest in cars and drifting, as well as those with a creative eye.
Certainly, there are other motorsport events that need our media help, but the drift community is where we feel safe and welcomed as a woman covering a motorsport.
Photo credit to Emanuel Ormonde
“Women can absolutely thrive in motorsports simply by being creative. I think my femininity helps me think outside the box and come up with solutions when things go wrong at the track,” stated Dabilis (pictured above).“There’s no better feeling than getting out there doing what you were once scared to do and helping others achieve the same!”
As far as advice to the up-and-comers from other great women influencers in the sport, this is what several of the ladies we interviewed this year had to say.
Sceriffo’s FD crew chief, Simona Veizi (@simonaveizi_), offered, “If you have found your passion, believe in it, believe in yourself! No one else can push you like only you can, it won't be as simple as all life's goals, but at the end of the battle, it will be worth it.”
Professional FD driver, Zandara Kennedy (@zeedrives), addressed all drivers interested in pro drifting. “It’s hard for everyone, regardless of what your gender is, but you just have to put yourself out there. The people that love this sport will support anyone that loves it the way they do. It’s a really welcoming community. You just have to show up and people will respect you,” she said.
Finally, Shanna Habich (@firstairmotorsports), the mother and crewmate of one of FD’s newest PROSPEC drivers summed it all up with this great comment:
“Drifting seems like the most welcoming branch of motorsports, and if I did have a daughter who wanted to race, I would encourage her to drift. The vibe here is different. Drifting is more about collaboration and competition than secrecy and winning.”
***
Want to get involved in drifting, but don’t know how? Even if you don’t currently have a car - or you’re just interested in them but don’t want to drift - there are many other ways to be part of this awesome community. You can join one of the groups we’ve mentioned above or you can also look into your local drift club or circuit to see if they have anything posted about staffing or how to apply for media. If they don’t, slide into those DM’s!
(and if you know of more opportunities, please add them below in the comment block)
We’d also love to shout out a few upcoming all-girls drifting events in the United States:
Ladies Open Drift at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, CO on April 20th
Ladies Weekend at USAIR Motorsports Raceway in Shawano, WI on April 27th-28th
Girls Gone Drifting at Kil-Kare Raceway in Xenia, OH on June 14th
Club Loose is hosting a DK Ladies Day at Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ on August 11th
