Photographer: Kristi Kemp, Beau d’Art Photography, Kimberly
Photo Location: Lindy’s Hot Rod Shop, owned by Chris Lindemuth, near Hollandtown
Back row, from left: Tracey Rymer, Jessie Van Roy, Nickie Huss, Heather Schneider
Front row, from left: Reagan May, Crystal Reffke, Jessi Ness, Kimberley Schneider, Julie (McDermid) Wedelstadt, Crystal Wood
1. Tracey Rymer, Appleton
Bracket drag racing
19 years in racing
Non-racing career: Vice President, corporate human resources, Oshkosh Corporation
How did you get involved in racing? My father, Tom Ales, raced cars at WIR (Wisconsin International Raceway) for years as I was growing up.
Then I started dating my now-husband Tim, who also had an interest in racing. I would race an old Chevy pickup truck at the track and he would race his Camaro.
When Tim would go to the Naval Reserves once a month, I would take his Camaro out to the track because it was much faster than my pick-up truck. My father saw I had a bigger interest, and fixed up an '81 Chevy Malibu for me to start racing.
How are you treated by male drivers? The male drivers treat me just like one of the guys. Sometimes I surprise them!
Why do you enjoy it? It is an adrenaline rush to go 157 mph in the quarter mile!
My entire family is involved and we make a day of it.
What has been your greatest challenge? I drive a 32 Bantam Altered race car. It has a shorter wheel base than most of the dragsters I run against. Because of this, my car can be trickier to drive, I have been told.
Usually, once I get past the launch, it is smooth sailing from there, and then I am trying to gauge if I am going faster than my dial in so I do not break out (exceed my posted time frame to complete the quarter mile).
What have been your greatest achievements? I have been in the semi-finals a few times and the finals once.
I am racing against individuals with a lot more experience and who know much more about the cars and engines than me.
To get to the semi-finals occasionally is a great accomplishment.
If you could change one thing about racing what would it be? It would be nice to see more women out racing.
Describe your most memorable racing experiences. I have two. My daughter, Morgan Rymer, is 13 and has been racing in the junior dragster category for five years now.
The first time she went down the track at 8 years old was the scariest moment of my life.
My father and I followed her on the sidelines with a four-wheeler to make sure she was safe. I kept thinking, what if she confuses the gas and brake pedals? What if she gets frightened and stops steering?
All my fears were alleviated once she finished that first time down the track safely.
My second most memorable racing experience was a few years ago. I had just completed my race and my car started to slide after the finish line at a 45-degree angle to the left at 157 mph.
I pulled my parachute and could hear the screeching of the tires as I continued to slide. I pulled my parachute a few more times and finally my car swung to the right and I was headed for the guard rail.
I was able to steer out of it, but my heart never pounded so much in my life.
The paramedics at the end of the track saw the whole situation and asked me why I raced, especially after an event like that.
I answered as I was still trembling and stated, "because it is fun to drive fast!"
What advice do you have for women interested in racing? The guys are not intimidating at the track. We are all there for the same thing: To feel the rush of speed as you go down the track.
Everyone helps each other. If you have an interest, take your car out to the track sometime. Any street car is eligible if you have a seat belt and helmet!