Lalita Chemello isn’t a racer—she’s the journalist who’s been telling their stories better than anyone else for over a decade, while simultaneously living and breathing motorsport from the cockpit of her own motorcycles and cars.

EARLY YEARS

Born in 1988, Lalita Chemello grew up in Detroit, Michigan—the Motor City—where the sound of engines wasn’t background noise, it was the family soundtrack. Her father, Morgan Chemello, worked with Roush and the PPG Pace Car program in the early ’90s, which meant young Lalita spent her formative years at the track with free passes to CART races in hand. She wasn’t just watching from the stands; she was absorbing the culture, the speed, the drama. Her first car was a 1992 Chevrolet Caprice Wagon—because wagons were big in her family, and road trips were a religion.

Chemello’s education reflected her dual passions: she studied Photographic Imaging at Lansing Community College in 2009, pursued Journalism at Central Michigan University, and eventually earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing: Screen & Television from Oakland University between 2013 and 2015. She wasn’t interested in just writing about cars—she wanted to tell stories that moved.

OTHER INTERESTS

Chemello’s love affair with motorsport extends well beyond the page. She owns a 2017 Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 and a 2017 Volkswagen GLI with DSG, and she’s not shy about dropping her bike (literally—at 400 pounds wet, it’s over three times her weight) and getting back on. In 2019, she bought a Honda Rebel 300, her second motorcycle, though her confidence initially slumped before she found her groove again. She credits Elspeth Beard’s memoir *Lone Rider* with giving her the push she needed to keep riding when doubt crept in.

She’s also the Chairman of Vehicle Staging for the Concours d’Elegance of America in Plymouth, Michigan, a role that puts her in the middle of some of the most jaw-dropping automotive eye candy in the country. And for three years, she co-hosted *The Extra Mile*, a live motorsports podcast with I.E. Sports Radio, proving she’s just as comfortable behind a microphone as she is behind a keyboard. She also co-hosts the *MiMoto Podcast* with Josh Pohl, exploring the history, stories, and lifestyle of cars, motorcycles, and motorsport every week.

EARLY SUCCESS

Chemello’s journalism career took off with a string of editorial roles that showcased her versatility and voice. She was a Contributing Editor for *Panorama*, the Porsche Club of America’s magazine, from 2018 to 2022. She also created, wrote, and photographed for GpGrl.com from 2016 to 2020, a platform dedicated to female motorsports stories—an early blueprint for the kind of work she’d become known for. She served as Editor of *Moxie Magazine* from 2019 to 2022 and contributed to Chevrolet’s *New Roads* magazine, proving she could toggle between consumer lifestyle content and hardcore racing coverage without missing a beat.

In 2021, Jalopnik announced her hiring as Managing Editor for their Motor City coverage. “Long time reader, first-time writer,” she joked in her introduction, though she’d been writing professionally for years. She admitted to once owning a Pontiac Aztek—a confession that endeared her to readers who appreciated her honesty and humor. At Jalopnik, she covered everything from the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona to Newman/Haas Racing’s legendary shop before it closed, bringing a deep knowledge of racing history and a fan’s genuine enthusiasm to every piece.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2016-2020: Created, wrote, and photographed for GpGrl.com, an early platform dedicated to female motorsports racers.
• 2018-2022: Contributing Editor for *Panorama*, Porsche Club of America’s flagship magazine.
• 2019-2022: Editor of *Moxie Magazine*.
• 2021: Named Managing Editor at Jalopnik, covering Motor City and motorsport with sharp, engaging writing.
• 2023: Named Deputy Editor at Motorsport.com, joining from RM Sotheby’s where she led content development.
• 2023: Club Racing News Editor for the Porsche Club of America.
• 2023-2024: Content Manager and Writer at RM Sotheby’s, producing high-level editorial content on collector cars and auctions.
• Ongoing: Co-host of *MiMoto Podcast*, exploring cars, motorcycles, and motorsport culture.

INSPIRATIONS

Chemello’s inspirations are rooted in the people who made motorsport accessible and thrilling. Her father, Morgan, gave her a front-row seat to racing from childhood, and she’s spoken openly about how those early experiences shaped her career. She’s also drawn to stories of women who refused to be sidelined—like Elspeth Beard, whose solo motorcycle journey around the world in the 1980s inspired Chemello to push through her own riding doubts. She’s curious about the human side of racing, from Roger Penske’s decades-long pursuit of a Le Mans victory to the mechanics and team members who make it all happen behind the scenes.

REPUTATION

Chemello has built a reputation as one of the sharpest, most engaging voices in motorsport journalism. She’s known for her ability to make complex racing topics accessible without dumbing them down, and for writing with a voice that’s smart, funny, and refreshingly free of pretension. She doesn’t just cover races—she covers the culture, the history, and the personalities that make motorsport worth caring about. Her work on female racers, particularly through GpGrl.com and her ongoing coverage, has made her a go-to source for stories that have historically been overlooked.

She’s respected for her versatility, too. Whether she’s writing about dirt bikes, IndyCars, vintage collector cars, or the heartbreak of dropping a Ducati in a parking lot, she brings the same level of care and craft. Her colleagues and readers trust her because she does the work, knows her stuff, and never phones it in.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

As of 2025, Chemello continues her work as Deputy Editor at Motorsport.com, where she’s developing new editorial beats and expanding coverage of underreported stories in racing. Her commitment to elevating female racers’ stories remains a central focus, and she’s positioning herself as a key voice in shaping how motorsport journalism evolves in the years ahead. Whether she’s on two wheels or four, behind a camera or a keyboard, she’s in it for the long haul.

REFERENCES

Lalita Chemello Official Website
Meet Our New Motor City Managing Editor And Former Aztek Owner – Jalopnik
Motorsport hires Lalita Chemello and Emily Selleck – Motorsport.com
PCA Club Racing News Edition 23.3
Tell Us About Your Favorite Car Moments With Dad – Jalopnik
These Are The First Cars Of The Jalopnik Staff – Jalopnik
How Elspeth Beard’s Lone Rider Gave Me The Confidence To Keep Riding – Jalopnik
A Walk Through The ‘House That Newman/Haas Built’ Before It’s Gone – Jalopnik
MiMoto Podcast – Apple Podcasts
Lalita Chemello-Kiplinger Profile – Velvet Jobs
The Creation of Curator and Collection – RM Sotheby’s
Articles of Lalita Chemello – Motorsport.com
Lalita Chemello’s Profile – Muck Rack
Lalita Chemello Public Records – Radaris