KELLY CONROY, ELANA SCHERR, LESLIE HANNA Discuss Women in Car Culture

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July 1, 2026

GRRL! SUMMARY:

  • KELLY CONROY’s book launch celebrated her rally racing journey to rediscover identity beyond motherhood, inspiring discussions about pursuing automotive passion guilt-free while building supportive communities.
  • ELANA SCHERR reported on drag racing rules inadvertently penalizing pregnant women, highlighting invisible barriers that still exist despite progress like crash test dummies finally representing female bodies in 2025.
  • LESLIE HANNA shared experiences facing appearance-focused comments in male-dominated spaces, advocating for matrifocal community structures emphasizing equal care and inherent belonging over dominance hierarchies.
  • Moderator MARA BALAGTAS MCILWRATH guided 100 attendees through emotional discussions on International Women’s Day, focusing on communal growth, personal empowerment, and rewriting exclusionary rules established over motorsport’s 100-year history.

UPCOMING:

  • DirtFish Women in Motorsport Summit – August 2026

LINKS TO RACER'S PROFILE PAGES:

GRRL! summary based upon reporting by Ryan ZumMallen originally appearing on raceday.substack.com