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Personally, I know little about cars beyond the fact that when the gauge hits “E,” it’s time to fill up at the gas station. I am a slow, cautious driver who has been honked at many times for driving under the speed limit.
But even I can appreciate the excitement of a Formula 1 race. My husband and I had the good fortune to attend our first F1 race last October at the Aramco United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. The adrenaline steaming from the track and the stands was palpable.
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I found myself drawn into the action, even though I knew nothing about car racing and the intricacies of the sport. Something about seeing the races up close and conversing with true fans, many of them female, made me want to learn more.
I was also fascinated by the fans themselves who were so varied. Some came dressed in full racing attire, there to support their favorite team. Others seemed more invested in attending the spectacle itself and being a part of this live event.
After a few hours, my husband thought I might want to head back to the hotel. But instead, it was me who said I wasn’t ready to leave just yet. My enthusiasm surprised my husband since I have never shown an interest in cars before.
I am not the first woman to feel it.
Carol Cassara, 71, grew up when hot rods were everywhere on the road.
“I grew up during the time of Jan and Dean, the Beach Boys,” she said. “They were all driving around in sports cars.”
Cassara bought her first sports car while in her 40s.
“It was a Mustang and that car had some engine! It went very fast without me even trying. I only owned it briefly before I got three moving violations and realized I needed to sell the car,” she said.
“During the pandemic, I started watching (the Netflix series) Formula 1: Drive to Survive,” she said. “I watched it (virtually) with a lifelong friend who is on the East Coast. He knows a lot about cars and the sport of car racing. He was able to explain it to me, and now I love it.”
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