Sport: Snowmobile Drag racing | Activity: Driver
Even though she started out with oval track racing, Courtney saw that hardly any girls were drag racing, so she took this as a challenge to prove that she could, and took her 2008 Yamaha Nytro Snowmobile drag racing. Fortunately for this self-confessed ambassador to women racing, she got beat in her first race. I say fortunately because this made the Twisted Princess find Yamaha mechanic Patrick Bingham (T&R Yamaha), who tweaked the snowmobile a little and turned it into the winning vehicle it is today.
While snowmobile drag racing is a popular sport (in the US), Courtney was and is constantly frowned upon for being a female in a traditionally male sport. Instead of listening to the guys telling her she shouldn’t be doing it, she became even more determined to do better, and go faster, and beat those critics.
3 years ago Courtney stepped up her snowmobile to an Arctic Cat Turbo and joined the Stilson Race team. Nick Stilson and Howard Hackk look after this 350+ horsepower beast, while Courtney focuses on her racing, preferring to share her time between racing in the 600 and 700 class on the Yamaha – now with a new and improved turbo – and Promod or Outlaw in the Arctic Cat. Her first outlaw race will be this January at one of the biggest races of the season.
Just like all other forms of motorsport, snowmobile racing has its own risks, whether it’s being worried about slipping up on the podium with your snow encrusted tennis shoes (Courtney prefers them to heavy snow boots) or crashing out during practice. Courtney remembers what was supposed to be a simple practice day on a ski hill when out of no-where she hit a bump. Going up wasn’t a problem, but when she landed the snowmobile on her ankle the force threw her forward causing her to crack a couple of ribs. You would think this would slow the princess down, but oh no, she finished the day racing. This is one tough lady.
“If someone tells you that you can’t do something, work that much harder to prove that you can.”
In addition to racing at least once or twice a month, Courtney helps out with the snowmobile club safety classes, and she is also organising a charity snowmobile run. Staying on the theme of being an ambassador for women, Courtney is raising funds for Breast Cancer by hosting a Bikini Radar Run. For more information about the run, pop over to TNT’s Ride Like a Girl to Save the Girls Bikini Radar Run.
Apart from her family (Mum, Dad, and Uncle) being her biggest supporters and staging area helpers, Courtney would also like to offer up a huge thank you to Stilson Racing, NIX Contracting, Arctic Cat, H&H Performance, Bentley Graphics, BiteHarder, TNT Lady Sledders, Michigan Sled Chix, Motor City Sledheads, TG Plumbing and Heating, Tim’s Tire and Offroad Center, T&R Yamaha, Ultimax Belts by Timkin, East Jordan Snowmobile Club, Typhoon Helmets, World Motor Sports Breast Cancer Foundation and Arctic Cat Trail Riders.
Follow the Twisted Princess at https://www.facebook.com/twistedprincess15
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