EXHIBITION OVERVIEW
Women in the Winner’s Circle is a traveling exhibition that recognizes the past history, the growing achievements, and the future growth of women in racing. The exhibition is organized by The Henry Ford in collaboration with automobile racing legend Lyn St. James and the Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation.
Women have been competing in the world of motor sports since 1901, when Camille du Gast entered the great Paris-Berlin motor race. At a time when it was socially unacceptable that a woman would replace her chauffer as a driver, du Gast was rewarded in the race with 19th place in the heavy class and 33rd overall out of 47 finishers. While du Gast and later Helle Nice, were the pioneers of women in motor car racing, today women have broken into the male-dominated world of professional racing. Drivers like Danica Patrick, Ashley Force and Sarah Fisher are leading the pack and saying “Here We Are!”
The Women in the Winner’s Circle exhibition will:
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Engage viewers, and inform them about, the history of women in motor sports
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Raise awareness of the growing women’s presence and leadership in the sport
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Provide role models for the power of determination and positive thinking
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Showcase racing as a gender-neutral sport, where men and women truly compete together and against each other without handicaps; in effect demonstrating that racing is a “true example for society.”
When physicality is the defining element of competitive performance, ultimately men win because they are stronger. However, motor sports combines physical, mental, and emotional components of an athlete, so women are able to compete on an equal basis as long as they have the talent, experience, equipment, dedication and resources to do so. Women racing champions are role models for the power of determination and positive thinking.
DESIGN
The design of the Women in the Winner’s Circle exhibition, under the direction of Jackson Dawson, is visually stimulating, interesting and informative. The exhibition will be modular and expandable for such venues as museums, galleries, libraries, trade shows, racetracks, and auto shows. It includes graphic panels (with text and images), media, photographs, and personal memorabilia. Exhibit components also includes an interactive module featuring a database of both historic and contemporary women race drivers. When possible the exhibit will include real race cars along with appearances by women drivers. Supplementary educational materials highlighting connections in science and math will also be available, including a partnership with HOPSports.
The target audiences for the exhibition are motor sports enthusiasts, general audiences (including non-enthusiasts), intergenerational groups, and international audiences, with an age target of teens and up.
PARTNERSHIP
Women in the Winner’s Circle Founder, Lyn St. James and The Henry Ford are working in collaboration to develop the traveling exhibition. As a component of the project, The Henry Ford is developing an archive featuring women in racing, which will also be used to develop a highly experiential permanent American Auto Racing Exhibit for Henry Ford Museum.
Following its premier at the Daytona 500 Experience during Speed Weeks in February 2010, the exhibition will travel to approximately 10 American venues.