2003 & 2004 MSOKC HPV Champions
2004 MSOKC Super Can Runner Up

11 December - The St. James Treatment, Day Four

Lyn intros "The Business Of You"

Saturday, the final day of structured classes, the ladies returned to Phoenix International Raceway, the site of the on-track activities on Day One. But this time they hardly even saw the track. Instead, laptops in hand, everyone found a seat in the PIR Media Center where the morning session was shared by Mike Trotter, Executive Director of Purdue University's Department of Consumer Sciences and Retailing and Mike Prusinski, Communications Manager at PIR.

Mike Trotter presented "The Business of You", sound concepts for finding, approaching, signing and keeping sponsors. He made it very clear to the women that they weren't looking for charity but that they had significant opportunities to offer businesses and that on any level, they could provide valuable exposure and awareness for their sponsors.

Mike Trotter jokes with several new business women

Mike Prusinski of PIR explained his job as media chief and advised the group on what to expect from guys like him at other tracks. He went over the qualities of good interviews and poor interviews and backed those up with videos depicting both. He was also very clear that media relations people like him are always on the prowl for good stories and good interviewees. He gave suggestions on how to get themselves, and in turn their sponsors on television, radio and print.

After lunch, Caroline Wright took over the class and discussed media materials each women should have in their publicity arsenal. The most important of these pieces was the personal "bio" and Caroline instructed the group on what makes the most effective biography and how to get them to the media covering an event. The balance of the session was a workshop in which Lyn and Caroline personally reviewed and coached the drivers as they revised their bios on their laptops.

Lyn St. James Foundation Driver Development Program Class of 2004

Before the sun went down, group photos were staged in PIR's Victory Lane and it was there the ladies had their last exercise of the program. The "Elevator Interview" role-played a short, spontaneous, opportunistic introduction as might happen in an elevator somewhere. "Hi, I'm Dana Conlin. I race go-karts at the national level and hope to get into racing cars very soon. Your name is...?" or something like that to get a potential contact's immediate attention and pique their interest leading to an exchange of business cards.

Dinner was held in one of PIR's luxury suites. Everyone was aware that their time as an assembled elite group was drawing to a close so the socializing and bonding was at a fever pitch throughout the meal. Dr. Jacques Dallaire took control of the room afterwards. Each participant's personal results of the physical condition assessment from yesterday were distributed and Dr. Jacques carefully explained how to understand the statistics.

Lyn followed up Dr. Jacques' findings with the bottom line: That although women definitely have less muscle mass by nature in the arms, shoulders and upper body, the difference as it applies to competing in motor racing can be overcome through physical training and that their focus must be on stamina. Lyn put it simply: it is up to the women in the room to "improve the breed". The final round of student speeches were heard and then Lyn closed by presenting the Kara Hendrick Spirit Scholarship to Allison Quick, a fast-rising stock car racer that embodies all the on- and off-track qualities of the late sprint car driver Kara Hendrik that endeared her to Lyn and so many others. Congratulations and good luck Allison!

Back at the hotel the socializing between this new group of friends continued and while I certainly wasn't surprised by the bonds that were formed, I couldn't help but be amused to look everywhere around the lobby to see clusters of bright, beautiful young women, many wearing their favorite drivers' colors, engaged in passionate, animated discussions about racing. These were girls and young women that giggled and squealed just as girls and young women are supposed to do, but in between were words and phrases that only true racing enthusiasts understand and appreciate.

It was wonderful and I was happy to just sit there and soak it up.

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