Radio Interview

Racing Diva Radio

Racing Diva Radio airs live on Tuesdays from 6-8pm central on blogtalkradio.com . On Racing Diva Radio we cover all types of talent within the many different racing industries. If you miss a show, you can always go back and listen, we archive them. We are also on iTunes, facebook, and twitter. 

Here is the link to my radio interview with hostess Tiffany Welch: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/racingdivaradio/2013/05/28/girls-race-2-with-blogger-liz-opatic

My Reason For Becoming a Race Fan

I met my husband Jim when I was 16 years old and a sophmore in high school. Jim was a senior basketball player and I was a cheerleader. Cheerleading was my passion. Jim loved basketball but his passion was racing. That summer I was able to watch him race a time or two. He was racing karts out at East Lansing Kart Track, in East Lansing, MI. He also raced a street race in Indiana that I went along to with his family. Of course I cheered him on but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Jim had a life long dream of racing midgets. He finally had an opportunity to buy and race a midget. We all traveled to Grundy Speedway just outside of Chicago every weekend. Jim's racing was self-funded so it was extremely stressful and expensive. He was doing well but he was over his head mechanically with the car, and a few costly crashes made it difficult for him to be able to continue financing his racing career. Racing would have to be on hold in our lives.

We got married in 2002. Jim raced a couple of kart street races after that but mostly we just went about normal life without racing. We had our first child Ashlee in 2005. I was so excited to have a girl! I would have my little cheerleader. In 2008 we welcomed our 2nd daughter Aubree. Jim had hope that one of his girls would like racing. To my dismay both of my girls have interst in racing, not cheerleading. In 2012 we began our racing journey again. My oldest daughter Ashlee and my nephew Kyle both started their racing careers in kid karts and Aubree is looking forward to starting in 2013. I have whole heartedly embraced this journey. I am after all a cheerleader at heart right??? Who better to cheer for than my girls (my nephew) and other girls out there racing? I have poured my heart and soul into this blog hoping that it can be a resource for other parents and girl drivers out there. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Sincerely,

Liz Opatic

Our Story

My husband has had a passion for racing since he was 9 years old. He began his racing career in go karts then as a young adult raced midgets for a while. When we got married and had children racing was on the back burner. We have now 2 girls Ashlee & Aubree. Ashlee is 6 and loves to play dress up, work on art projects, and play with her friends. She was the last kid that we thought would love to race. My husband has dreamed of having a child that races. He purchased a go kart with hopes that at least one of them would like to try it.

The first time he put Ashlee in the kart we expected her to sit in it and maybe put around the parking lot a lap or two. We just didn't think she would like it. Boy were we WRONG! She loved it. She was so excited to get in that go kart again. After one practice in the parking lot my husband decided to throw her in it and try a race. She's 6 and kids as young as 5 were allowed to race so she should be fine. I was a nervous wreck. She could barely ride her bike without falling off how was she going to keep the kart on the track.

Her first race was the first experience she had ever had at a race track period. She was so nervous between learning the meaning of flags and getting experience in driving the track. She was so slow. I'm talking turtle slow. She was lapped 3 or 4 times by the other kids. She didn't let that bother her and finished the race. She was a little disappointed she was so far behind, but not defeated.

Her second race she improved, 3rd there was improvement, and the trend continued as the season has gotten underway. She has finished 1st and 2nd in heat races and 1st and 2nd in feature races. She never ceases to amaze me with her improvement. I am so proud that she is working so hard at this and she wants to excel. She and her father share this passion. My youngest who is almost 4 can hardly stand waiting for her turn. She loves to drive her little power wheels at home and takes every opportunity she can to sit in her sister's go kart and try to reach the pedals.

The purpose of this blog is to show that girls can race too. Whether it be go karts, stock cars, sprint cars, midgets, etc. Unfortunately most of the racing gear and accessories are all masculine looking. When I went to try and find something with just a little pink or purple there weren't any options. Just because my girls race with boys it doesn't mean they want to look like boys.

I want to build my blog to celebrate girl racers. We want to give girl racers a place to find products they will like, highlight their successes and talk about their challenges.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!!

Liz