watch out for this old woman on the track - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

2ilvia · 06-24-2007, 10:20 AM

this may be common knowledge on the west coast but i just seen this.

Senior citizen sizzles at the speedway

By BILL HUTCHENS - McClatchy Newspapers
Updated: 06/20/07 3:20 PM

Race time. Flame-retardant racing suit: check. Racing gloves: check. Racing helmet: check. Gold wire-rimmed granny glasses: check.

"Sometimes it takes awhile to work the glasses into place underneath my helmet," Evelyn Schmitt confessed before a recent practice run. "But I've got to have them."

The 76-year-old Lakewood, Wash., grandmother was strapped into her race-ready Nissan 240SX, minutes away from hitting the road course at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash.

Schmitt is anything but the little old lady holding up traffic. At an age when some seniors are content just driving to the grocery store and back, she's a regular on a track where speeds easily exceed 100 miles per hour.

"I love it," she said. "I love every ounce of it. It's so exhilarating. It really gets your adrenaline going. And it keeps me young."
Schmitt has always had a love for fast cars. That passion is "hard to explain to anybody my age," she said. "Most women just want a key to turn on the motor. Other than that they don't care."
Spend some time at the races, though, and "You get bit, and that's it."

Schmitt had watched her son, Doug Smith of Tacoma, Wash., race for a few years before her own need for speed became irresistible. Smith owns Fairlady Motors and UPGarage in University Place and decided to transform one of his old cars into a road racer for his mother. She's been unstoppable ever since.
Schmitt enrolled in classes at ProFormance Racing School, a business at the Kent track that teaches novices how to become race drivers. The silver-haired senior passed her courses with flying colors and learned how to navigate the challenging, winding 2.2-mile road course. The track's 10 turns take drivers through 125 feet of elevation change, 100 of which occurs in a half-mile stretch between two of the course's most treacherous curves.
"It's a tricky course," Schmitt said, "but I love it. There are turns I like better than others, but overall it's a great road course."
Lapping Days are big events for Schmitt. They give her and other drivers the opportunity to take their cars out on the course, work out any kinks and prepare for races.
"The needle pegs out at 110," she said after one session. "I'm sure I'm going faster than that."
Her goal all along has been to work her way up through different International Race Drivers Club driver classifications to become a certified race driver.
"Evelyn is such in inspiration to all of us," said Don Kitch Jr., owner of ProFormance Racing School. "And she sends out such a great message that this sport really is for everybody."

All of Schmitt's training led up to her first real race day in late May, when dozens of drivers brought their vehicles of various classes to the track for some competitive driving.
Schmitt had driven the road course with other drivers before, but this event would have about 20 drivers going all-out for 30 minutes, passing at high speeds as opportunities presented themselves.
After a morning of car inspections and drivers' meetings, Schmitt was ready to hop into her race car.
"I'm a little nervous," she said. "But that's good."
Her son, who had stayed up until 3 a.m. the night before making last-minute required adjustments to the car, helped her with her helmet and glasses.
Evelyn squeezed into the driver's seat, a task more suited for a contortionist given the placement of the bars for the protective roll-cage.
Smith helped his mom strap into the seat, wished her good luck and watched her drive off toward the starting area.

"There's nobody who can convince me that they can't do this," said Smith, watching his mom join about 20 other cars at the starting line. "I think we all have the right perspective on this now."
Schmitt started near the back of the pack, but it took several laps for the faster front cars to catch up to her and lap her. With about 10 minutes left, a yellow caution flag came out (standard procedure), and the cars were bunched up again for a restart - with Schmitt at the front of the pack.
Schmitt finished near the back, but the day wasn't about being the fastest car on the track or winning a race. It was about experiencing true race driving.
Schmitt pulled her car back into its maintenance paddock after the race and got out to receive hugs from her son and cheers from her fans.
"I have never in all my life experienced anything like that," she said.

**ThatGuy** · 06-24-2007, 10:26 AM

This thread is worthless without pictures of the old lady and her 240sx.

Cool story though.

2ilvia · 06-24-2007, 10:43 AM

yeah i knew someone would say that- but i cant find any

C. Senor · 06-24-2007, 12:18 PM

it is a very good story....but we need some pics....lol. seriously. that's pretty wicked nonetheless.

Edgar · 06-24-2007, 12:41 PM

I want to see pics of her car lol

Wykydtron · 06-24-2007, 01:06 PM

Legendary =] haha, I've read this story before. Congrats to Doug and his mother.

dmragecm · 06-24-2007, 02:14 PM

OHH SNAP GRANNY ROCKS THE SR!!! lolol. you think she'd get her hood popped in cali?

Granny's love the chuki!

BustedS13 · 06-24-2007, 02:55 PM

so what'd she place?

civilized_drifter · 06-24-2007, 03:39 PM

i wish that was my grandma

Z_Spool · 06-24-2007, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by civilized_drifter

i wish that was my grandma

Hehe, My grandmother drove a GS-R, and drove the hell out of it. Very cool story.

bimmerlover · 06-24-2007, 03:59 PM

haha that's fucking awesome. looks like she's having a good time

nissan240syan · 06-24-2007, 04:10 PM

HAHA shes even got Bride seats. Thats crazy , ONLY IN AMERICA

sw20>>s14 · 06-24-2007, 06:18 PM

fuckin hardcore...

IIIXziuR · 06-24-2007, 06:27 PM

Thats awesome. So awesome

0100 · 06-24-2007, 07:39 PM

That is awesome! Not really amazed at the age because I have no doubt I will be racing into my 80's. It's that she is female and this age that amazes me. Good stuff.

xblack240x · 06-24-2007, 07:49 PM

Shes tight, I wish my grandma still drove, she used to drive a 240z... Too bad that got wrecked... Damn, she rocks an SR and those tires look pretty wide... You think she would consider drifting?

Just a thought...

wonkuuzenki · 06-24-2007, 08:39 PM

thats sick as fuck.
Mad props to her for doing what she loves at that age.

J-Style · 06-24-2007, 08:50 PM

Wow! This is an amazing story! I have been looking for video's on her, but I haven't come across any...yet. I will post them if I can find them.

don henley · 06-24-2007, 09:57 PM

The dude she's hugging looks like a famous actor..

LB.Motoring · 06-24-2007, 10:02 PM

OMG,

shes fucking awesome

djkowai · 06-24-2007, 10:36 PM

NA-T SR 7psi, Monza coilovers, Vlsd, ABS, AC, 180sx brakes, lighten flywheel with an up garage clutch disk, ARC intake box, ARC intercooler, ARC bov. Thats it. She also has her SCCA driving license

theres some info on whats done to the car, gotten off of here
http://northwestnissans.com/board/sh...ad.php?t=57001

yeah thats incredibly awesome, thats a pretty well known shop around here as well.

!Zar! · 06-25-2007, 09:40 AM

An lady old as dirt with a car built better than half the kids on zilvia.

Hilarious.

steve shadows · 06-25-2007, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by !Zar!

An lady old as dirt with a car built better than half the kids on zilvia.

Hilarious.

probably whoop 90% of the asses on here

azndoc · 06-25-2007, 12:10 PM

That is pretty cool. My grandma just cooks, but she's very good at it and my stomach thanks her everyday.

**S13SilviaGirl** · 06-25-2007, 12:25 PM

HELLYEAH! That is gonna be me! ( I hope!)

arkive43 · 06-25-2007, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S13SilviaGirl

HELLYEAH! That is gonna be me! ( I hope!)

hahahahaahaha

0100 · 06-25-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S13SilviaGirl

HELLYEAH! That is gonna be me! ( I hope!)

^What a cook?

I kid... I kid...
Thank god this is the internet and you can't reach over punch me.

You had better still be holding it down well into your 80's.

bamaboy · 06-25-2007, 02:40 PM

that's is awesome.

*exitspeed* · 06-25-2007, 02:44 PM

I would date her.

06-25-2007, 03:01 PM

gramma's got the hot poooooooonannay

06-24-2007, 10:20 AM	#1
2ilvia Zilvia Addict Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: norhio Posts: 627 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	watch out for this old woman on the track this may be common knowledge on the west coast but i just seen this. Senior citizen sizzles at the speedway By BILL HUTCHENS - McClatchy Newspapers Updated: 06/20/07 3:20 PM Race time. Flame-retardant racing suit: check. Racing gloves: check. Racing helmet: check. Gold wire-rimmed granny glasses: check. "Sometimes it takes awhile to work the glasses into place underneath my helmet," Evelyn Schmitt confessed before a recent practice run. "But I've got to have them." The 76-year-old Lakewood, Wash., grandmother was strapped into her race-ready Nissan 240SX, minutes away from hitting the road course at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash. Schmitt is anything but the little old lady holding up traffic. At an age when some seniors are content just driving to the grocery store and back, she's a regular on a track where speeds easily exceed 100 miles per hour. "I love it," she said. "I love every ounce of it. It's so exhilarating. It really gets your adrenaline going. And it keeps me young." Schmitt has always had a love for fast cars. That passion is "hard to explain to anybody my age," she said. "Most women just want a key to turn on the motor. Other than that they don't care." Spend some time at the races, though, and "You get bit, and that's it." Schmitt had watched her son, Doug Smith of Tacoma, Wash., race for a few years before her own need for speed became irresistible. Smith owns Fairlady Motors and UPGarage in University Place and decided to transform one of his old cars into a road racer for his mother. She's been unstoppable ever since. Schmitt enrolled in classes at ProFormance Racing School, a business at the Kent track that teaches novices how to become race drivers. The silver-haired senior passed her courses with flying colors and learned how to navigate the challenging, winding 2.2-mile road course. The track's 10 turns take drivers through 125 feet of elevation change, 100 of which occurs in a half-mile stretch between two of the course's most treacherous curves. "It's a tricky course," Schmitt said, "but I love it. There are turns I like better than others, but overall it's a great road course." Lapping Days are big events for Schmitt. They give her and other drivers the opportunity to take their cars out on the course, work out any kinks and prepare for races. "The needle pegs out at 110," she said after one session. "I'm sure I'm going faster than that." Her goal all along has been to work her way up through different International Race Drivers Club driver classifications to become a certified race driver. "Evelyn is such in inspiration to all of us," said Don Kitch Jr., owner of ProFormance Racing School. "And she sends out such a great message that this sport really is for everybody." All of Schmitt's training led up to her first real race day in late May, when dozens of drivers brought their vehicles of various classes to the track for some competitive driving. Schmitt had driven the road course with other drivers before, but this event would have about 20 drivers going all-out for 30 minutes, passing at high speeds as opportunities presented themselves. After a morning of car inspections and drivers' meetings, Schmitt was ready to hop into her race car. "I'm a little nervous," she said. "But that's good." Her son, who had stayed up until 3 a.m. the night before making last-minute required adjustments to the car, helped her with her helmet and glasses. Evelyn squeezed into the driver's seat, a task more suited for a contortionist given the placement of the bars for the protective roll-cage. Smith helped his mom strap into the seat, wished her good luck and watched her drive off toward the starting area. "There's nobody who can convince me that they can't do this," said Smith, watching his mom join about 20 other cars at the starting line. "I think we all have the right perspective on this now." Schmitt started near the back of the pack, but it took several laps for the faster front cars to catch up to her and lap her. With about 10 minutes left, a yellow caution flag came out (standard procedure), and the cars were bunched up again for a restart - with Schmitt at the front of the pack. Schmitt finished near the back, but the day wasn't about being the fastest car on the track or winning a race. It was about experiencing true race driving. Schmitt pulled her car back into its maintenance paddock after the race and got out to receive hugs from her son and cheers from her fans. "I have never in all my life experienced anything like that," she said.

06-24-2007, 10:26 AM	#2
ThatGuy Admin Asshole Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Retired Age: 45 Posts: 20,394 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: ThatGuy Feedback Score: 0 reviews	This thread is worthless without pictures of the old lady and her 240sx. Cool story though. __________________ "Speak softly,..." -Pres. Teddy Roosevelt "Be polite, be professional, ..." -Gen. James Mattis

06-24-2007, 12:41 PM	#5
Edgar Post Whore! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Indianapolis,IN Posts: 4,980 Trader Rating: (13) Feedback Score: 13 reviews	I want to see pics of her car lol __________________ Drift Indy

06-24-2007, 01:06 PM	#6
Wykydtron Zilvia Addict Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Skykomish, WA Posts: 909 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Legendary =] haha, I've read this story before. Congrats to Doug and his mother. __________________ @schassis.eddi

06-24-2007, 02:55 PM	#8
BustedS13 Post Whore! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Phoenix AZ Age: 40 Posts: 10,287 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	so what'd she place? __________________

06-24-2007, 10:43 AM	#3
2ilvia Zilvia Addict Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: norhio Posts: 627 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	yeah i knew someone would say that- but i cant find any

06-24-2007, 12:18 PM	#4
C. Senor Post Whore! Join Date: May 2006 Location: cali Posts: 3,488 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	it is a very good story....but we need some pics....lol. seriously. that's pretty wicked nonetheless.

06-24-2007, 02:14 PM	#7
dmragecm Zilvia Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: nawff jerrrsey Age: 38 Posts: 779 Trader Rating: (6) Feedback Score: 6 reviews	OHH SNAP GRANNY ROCKS THE SR!!! lolol. you think she'd get her hood popped in cali? Granny's love the chuki!

06-24-2007, 03:39 PM	#9
civilized_drifter Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: spring hill, TN Age: 36 Posts: 584 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i wish that was my grandma

06-24-2007, 03:59 PM	#11
bimmerlover Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Belmont, CA Age: 38 Posts: 360 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	haha that's fucking awesome. looks like she's having a good time __________________ United Parcel Service® Employee 1832572 - Fucking up your packages since 2005

06-24-2007, 04:10 PM	#12
nissan240syan Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: philly Posts: 398 Trader Rating: (6) Feedback Score: 6 reviews	HAHA shes even got Bride seats. Thats crazy , ONLY IN AMERICA

06-24-2007, 06:18 PM	#13
sw20>>s14 Post Whore! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: bay area Posts: 5,656 Trader Rating: (19) Feedback Score: 19 reviews	fuckin hardcore... __________________ s14\| y34\| 911 gts\| exige s\| 600rr\| r3\| 250r\| 85 girlfriend

06-24-2007, 06:27 PM	#14
IIIXziuR Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Left Hand Path Posts: 2,655 Trader Rating: (22) Feedback Score: 22 reviews	Thats awesome. So awesome

06-24-2007, 07:39 PM	#15
0100 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New England Posts: 1,581 Trader Rating: (12) Feedback Score: 12 reviews	That is awesome! Not really amazed at the age because I have no doubt I will be racing into my 80's. It's that she is female and this age that amazes me. Good stuff.

06-24-2007, 07:49 PM	#16
xblack240x Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bay Area Posts: 555 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Shes tight, I wish my grandma still drove, she used to drive a 240z... Too bad that got wrecked... Damn, she rocks an SR and those tires look pretty wide... You think she would consider drifting? Just a thought...

06-24-2007, 08:39 PM	#17
wonkuuzenki Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: rio rancho, NM Posts: 312 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	thats sick as fuck. Mad props to her for doing what she loves at that age. __________________ *Function. Form.* Step Up Drift Club/Upper Limit!

06-24-2007, 08:50 PM	#18
J-Style Zilvia Addict Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: St. Helena, CA (707) Age: 35 Posts: 609 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Wow! This is an amazing story! I have been looking for video's on her, but I haven't come across any...yet. I will post them if I can find them.

06-24-2007, 09:57 PM	#19
don henley Banned from the Marketplace Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ORANGE COUNTY CA Age: 42 Posts: 1,040 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	The dude she's hugging looks like a famous actor..

06-24-2007, 10:02 PM	#20
LB.Motoring Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SòCal♥ Age: 38 Posts: 5,840 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: LB.Motoring Feedback Score: 1 reviews	OMG, shes fucking awesome __________________ Robby Leuer

06-24-2007, 10:36 PM	#21
djkowai Leaky Injector Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: tacoma, WA Age: 38 Posts: 132 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	NA-T SR 7psi, Monza coilovers, Vlsd, ABS, AC, 180sx brakes, lighten flywheel with an up garage clutch disk, ARC intake box, ARC intercooler, ARC bov. Thats it. She also has her SCCA driving license theres some info on whats done to the car, gotten off of here http://northwestnissans.com/board/sh...ad.php?t=57001 yeah thats incredibly awesome, thats a pretty well known shop around here as well.

06-25-2007, 09:40 AM	#22
!Zar! Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: North Korea Posts: 14,579 Trader Rating: (27) Feedback Score: 27 reviews	An lady old as dirt with a car built better than half the kids on zilvia. Hilarious. __________________

06-25-2007, 12:10 PM	#24
azndoc Post Whore! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles Age: 43 Posts: 9,487 Trader Rating: (47) Rides Gallery: azndoc Feedback Score: 47 reviews	That is pretty cool. My grandma just cooks, but she's very good at it and my stomach thanks her everyday.

06-25-2007, 02:44 PM	#29
exitspeed aWingThing.com Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI Age: 45 Posts: 20,900 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I would date her. __________________ What I do for a living...www.mhrussell.com

06-25-2007, 03:01 PM	#30
ixfxi Guest Posts: n/a	gramma's got the hot poooooooonannay