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Email to Ask Melanie

Dear Melanie,
It was great to meet you at Petit Le Mans this year - you are such an inspiration to both my kids! It was great that you took the time to talk with everybody at the autograph session - that is rare to see these days. Our company just started a business initiative around racing this year and it has been better than we expected, so we will definitely be back next year. I have a question though..we were watching from the Esses and saw your car come back on the flatdeck - what happened? it was a shame to see your team out of the race so early.
Peter K, New York, NY

Hello Peter,
Thank you for the email. I am glad you and your kids had an enjoyable weekend. Unfortunately ours was cut short as our car tangled with a Porsche early into the race. Michael Lewis, the team owner, ended up being spun around and impacted the turn one concrete wall at approximately 130 mph. The car was destroyed and Michael escaped with only a broken collarbone and some cracked ribs - which is a testament to the safety of these cars. It was a huge disappointment for the whole team, but that is racing and the team will rebuild for Sebring.

Dear Melanie,
We are NASCAR fans who have learned to appreciate & love sports car racing also, having lived in Sebring for 10 years.
The growing popularity of road racing is amazing, thanks to the courageous contributions Don Panoz has made with his ALMS series. We sure do admire your great driving talent & your accomplishments leading women into racing. We've seen you race several times and after having met you at Road Atlanta, we think it's so neat to root for Melanie Paterson in that P900! What's it like to race a P900? ALMS is much more fan friendly with great drivers & really exciting action on the track. We live close to Road Atlanta now (Dawsonville) & look forward to seeing you again in June. Good Luck in 2004!
Mack & Joy, Dawsonville

Hello Mack and Joy,
Thank you for your email. It is nice to hear that we have converted NASCAR fans to sportscar racing! It's the fans that really make this series so great! As far as what it is like to drive an LMP900, it is a great experience to be in such a powerful machine. It has great aerodynamic downforce and strong power which allow the cornering speeds to be higher. The gravitational forces really act on your body in that situation and it is important to have good lateral support on your seat. Race cars all have pretty similar characteristics, but it is just a matter of getting used to the small details (like pit-stop routines). You also get "velocitized" quickly and change the way your eyes scan ahead through the corners. All in all, it is a great car to drive and I am hoping to do it again very soon! Thanks for your support and I look forward to seeing you at Road Atlanta.

Good evening Melanie,
I have just returned from Christmas with my family and am trying out some of the new skills that I have learnt. I bought myself a PC for a Christmas present to myself and for use during my retirement. Unfortunately at my age things seem to come a little slower and I have had to wait until I see my son in law before getting a real hang of things. He was kind enough to set me up with this address, and then my Grandson Callum showed me how to search on the internet. Although he is only 7 yrs old he loves cars of all sorts. He was so impressed that he found a site of a racing driver and also, even better one from a foreign country to the UK.

Now I am home I am trying out the new skills to make sure I don't forget. I have e-mailed all my friends, but as I see them regularly this seems a little boring. Your name came to mind as it seemed rather exciting to try and contact someone I didn't know. I have never been out of the UK for even a holiday so to send an e-mail to Canada does seem rather ambitious. I hope it actually gets through to you.

What I was wondering would be if you could send my little lad a signed picture of yourself, He absolutely loved your blue car and spent most of my last day in London telling his Mum and Dad all about it. He would be so thrilled if his grandma was in touch with a real racing driver and it would be even better if I could get him a picture. I would be rather a 'cool' grandma I think, and it would certainly show the family that computers were not beyond me. I rather think that they consider my purchase a waste of money.

Thank you for taking the effort to read this letter, and for humouring an old lady with nothing better to do. I hope that you have had a lovely Christmas and that the New Yr is good and extremely prosperous for you in your chosen career.
Best wishes, Myra Bergen, UK

Hello Myra,
That is such a great story! I am very impressed with your computer prowess, for a rookie! I will most definitely send a package to Callum so that he will know that his Grandma is "cool"! Happy Holidays!

Hi Melanie,
Congratulations on your second place finish!!!
I had attended the Trois Rivieres race this week end with my daughter, as guests of Imation. it was her first experience in the field of motor sport. I would like to thank you and your parents for the gracious and friendly hospitality . I learned a lot about the American Lemans series and look forward to attending again next year. My daughter took great pride in the shirt you autographed for her and hung it up in her closet right away for safe keeping. As you can imagine, a 12 year old does not usually hang up many clothes - proof of how special it was for her.
Thanks again for a memorable afternoon and I look forward to next years race.
As you signed on Meaghan's shirt,
GO FAST!!
John and Meaghan, Montreal

Hello John and Meaghan,
Thank you for your email. It was a pleasure meeting you at the track. I am glad you had a good time. We had a good performance and result at Trois-Rivieres and I am happy that the whole group was there to see it. Now that you know more about the series, you can watch our Mosport race next weekend on NBC and then watch the Petit Le Mans on October 18th on SPEED Channel! You will be experts soon! Hopefully we will see you again next year at Trois-Rivieres!

Dear Melanie,
I am writing on behalf of my son Liam. He has been sending you e-mails, which I am impressed to note you are replying to. I would like to thank you for your kindness to him. He has been really chuffed to be in contact with a racing driver. So many drivers don't seem to be bothered by their fans...unless they are massive corporate ones!! Anyway you sent an e-mail to Liam, but unfortunately his e-mail has now gone out of action. As a computer illiterate then it is taking me time to get it sorted. Anyway he was disappointed that he couldn't reply to you to thank you himself. I said therefore that I would do it for him once I got things turned around. Getting a little late here now, but thought I had better do it or risk the wrath of my son tomorrow. Thanks again Melanie. You really have taken some time to keep my lad happy, a fact that I do appreciate.
Kind Regards, Jack, Bristol, UK

Hello Liam and Jack,
Thanks for the email. I really enjoy hearing from race fans all over the world - I especially enjoy chatting with aspiring racers! I encourage you to get in contact with the sanctioning body of your regional kart series and I am sure there is an avenue that Liam can start in karts. Liam, an important skill for a good race car driver is a good brain - so make sure you work hard at school - it will pay off later! It is also important to get good marks if you want Dad to buy you a go-kart (hint hint).

Hi Melanie,
I just discovered your website and was thrilled to read about your progress in our sport.
I had the honour of riding with you in the CART Pace Viper at the Molson Indy a couple of years ago and - when you found out that I was a marshall (blue flag) for 7 years and had several fast laps under my belt(s) - gave me the best hot lap I've ever had!
After that day, I questioned CART via their website about why they didn't include a segment there for you ladies who provide extra excitement to so many fans at CART events. I never heard back but have since discovered racerchicks.com and from there your site.
Thanks again for a wonderful (although way too short) time and perhaps I'll be lucky enough to join you again.
My very best wishes in your racing future.....I'll be cheering for you!
Bruce, Markham, Ontario

Hello Bruce,
I am glad you found Racerchicks.com and I am glad you found my website. It really is a thrill for me to give those Pace Car hot laps! I have seen many different reactions from my guests - crying, screaming...marriage proposals...you name it, it's happened! It is quite humorous to see these tough guys get in the car, look at me like "it's a GIRL???" and then figure they are in for a Sunday drive. They soon pull their elbows in the window as we exit to the wall. Anyway, I am glad you had fun and hopefully you will get another opportunity soon!

Hello Melanie,
Wow, what a great website. After seeing you on Good Morning Atlanta before the Atlanta Grand Prix, I checked it out. That was a good interview, but he didn't really know too much about racing did he? I am an occasional race fan and I go to a few local NASCAR races. I have never been to Road Atlanta, but I think I will check it out in October. Where can I find out more information on the cars and the race?
Charles, Mableton, Georgia

Hi Charles,
Thank you for your kind email. It is nice to see NASCAR fans coming to the "other side"!! You should make a point to come to Petit Le Mans. It is one of the best events of the year and is a great opportunity to see a wide variety of cars and drivers from all over the world. The great thing about Petit Le Mans is that you can walk all around the track and watch at many different corners. Hopefully, there will also be an "open house" on pit lane when you can walk down and see all the cars and drivers. I think you will enjoy ALMS as it is much more accessible and interactive than (ahem) NASCAR. You can find detailed event and track information at the American Le Mans Series website. Make sure you come by and say HI!

Dear Melanie,
Thank you for sending me the card. Things are going well. Yes I'm going to Silverstone this week end to see F1 testing. My friends at school don't believe that a driver from Canada has sent me an e-mail. It's really cool. I live near a race track called Castle Combe in the West of England. I've been to Silverstone to see F3 and got to sit in some of the cars and meet 2 of the drivers. I liked your silver and yellow cars. It would be great if I could have a picture of one. My printer is not good at home, so when I've tried to print one off it isn't very good. When did you start racing? I have been in a kart once in Wales. I am 8 years old and the local tracks say I am too young and too small to have a go. It's not fair. When are you going to be back in England. It would be fab to see you race and maybe to meet you.
Liam, Bristol, UK

Hi Liam,
Thanks for the email. I will send you some prints of the cars that you like. Regarding the kart racing, I am not sure how to proceed with that in England. I know in Canada, karting is sanctioned by the Canadian sector of the FIA and we are allowed to race when we are 7 years old. You and your dad need to check with the local kart clubs and the overall sanctioning bodies to find out what the rules are. As for your friends at school, you could pull up the website one time in class and show them this section with your letter on it - they should believe you then!

Hi Melanie,
My wife and I saw you race at the Chevy Grand Prix of Atlanta this weekend. We were very impressed with the time you took to answer our questions during the pit walk through! We live in Sacramento and will come and see you race in Sears Point in July. Thanks again for the autograph cards and thanks for making racing interesting for my wife, you are her hero!
Good Luck!
Darwin and Sue, Sacramento CA.

Dear Darwin and Sue,
Thank you for your email. Thank you for being such great ALMS fans and travelling all the way to Atlanta to see our race! Unfortunately, however, you will not see me at Sears Point. I had hoped to have enough funding to compete in teh complete ALMS series in 2003, however, that did not pan out. Sears Point is one of the races that I will have to skip because of the lack of funding. It is tough being an up and coming driver and trying to sell sponsorship, but I will keep working at it and the results wil come eventually. my next race will be Trois-Rivieres Quebec, for the first of our two Canadian races. Keep enjoying the races!

Dear Ms. Melanie Paterson,
My name is Jackie! I drive 385 Limited sprints, DA modifies, and 1/4 and 1/2 midgets. I stumbled onto the web site by mistake and I am addicted to it. The thing is with me I am different from all the other females on the pages, I am only 12 years old. It is very hard for me to find tracks that permit a child as young as me to drive. I'm making it though. My dad has just bought me a DA modified this weekend and I plan on running it at Mahonying Valley Speedway this season. I am just getting out of the 1/4 midgets. Guys write in papers about my age and how much they diss agree. Mahonying Valley is the only place that permits me to run. I e-mailed you because I need some tips: How do you get sponsors? I read in your profile that you started young too... Did racing affect your school work? Did you have any brothers or sisters running too? How many nights a week do, or did you race? Did you meet lots of people in you racing career? Did anyone say anything to you, being a female driver?
I would appreciate it a lot if you could please respond as soon as possible.
Thank you very much! Good Luck!

Hi Jackie,
That is great that you race and that you love it! I think it is interesting, as my driving coach is also currently working with a young boy who is 13 and races quarter midgets in Western Canada - he has the same age issues as you.

As far as my racing career, I started as a ski racer. While you were at the track, I was on the ski hill - and missed a LOT of school, as I skied at a high level all over the world. When I finished ski racing was when I started car racing and by then I was out of high school. I worked really hard to find teachers and schools that understood my situation and supported me. I once had a gym teacher who used to fail me because I was never at school, although I was training harder and in better shape than all of the class! It's funny how that works. I worked really hard at my schoolwork and it worked out fine - it wasn't easy, but I loved what I was doing! The principal and teachers really have to WANT to help you and if you are getting grief at school, look for another more supportive school to go to.

My type of racing is now road racing, not oval racing. We don't race at night (unless it is an endurance race) and it is hard to find local tracks to just go and practice, so I end up traveling a lot to go and "test" and usually get track time before the race at that track. I don't have anyone in my family who races cars - I just started myself, because I loved it. I didn't have any sponsorship my first year, so I worked as a mechanic for a local racing school for the summer in exchange for my racing season.

As far as being a female racer, get used to the abuse!! HA HA. Even though I have a lot of people who really respect me as a racer, there are still the "old school" (mostly older men) who don't think girls should be racing. The articles that are written in the paper by those guys are done because they are feeling threatened that one day you will kick their butts!! Just make sure you surround yourself with a great support group of people who believe in you and then it is easy to ignore the negatives!

Unfortunately, and I hate to say this, you are in a type of racing that tends to have a lot of guys with "old fashioned" views, to put it nicely. When I was racing Legends, I had a lot of stuff like that too. Now that I am road racing, the racers and organizers alike have a more open minded view of what constitutes a racer.

As far as getting sponsors, you need to sit down and figure out what local businesses would benefit from supporting you. You could offer to bring your race car(s) to some of their company events. I would see if your parents know anyone who can print you some coloured "bio cards" with pictures of you and the car on it and you can put your sponsors logos on those too - that is even more exposure for sponsors. You can sign those for fans at special events and at the track.

If you are looking to go further in racing, make sure you work really hard at school - racing is a game won by smart minds and you need all the tools you can get! Good Luck!

Dear Melanie,
I am a huge racing fan and it is great to see more women in the sport! I have a question about what you do in the off-season to keep in shape for the race season. The prototype cars that you drive now must be much more physical than Formula Fords.
Good Luck,
Josh, Chicago

Hi Josh,
That is a great question! Sportscars are much more physically demanding than formula fords. They have full downforce - as opposed to just having wings, the whole prototype car is an aerodynamic device! I work on cardiovascular training mostly - a lot of long distance running. I also do general strength training for back, arms, stomach, forearms and neck.

Hi Melanie:
Congratulations on your great drive to a solid 3rd place finish at Road Atlanta. In case you're wondering who this is writing to you, I was the guy at the race with the white hair who asked you to autograph that great photo of you taken in the Saturday morning warmup.

I was really impressed with your drive, and the final outcome. The result was well deserved, and that 3rd place finish moved you up to 11th in points. Pretty impressive considering that 56 drivers competed in the LMP 675 class in 2002. Also impressive considering that you ran in only 30% of the races.

After your team driver crashed in the first hour, I feared the worst: that the car was done for before you got your chance to race it. I was spectating near Turn 10 (just before the Suzuki bridge) and had no idea what the team was doing in the pits. I didn't know if they were repairing the car or had just decided to park it. I was really pleased to see you come around some time later with the car repaired.

I don't know if you've seen a replay of that accident. I saw it on the jumbo screen at Turn 10. Very strange. It seemed like once he got the nose of the car passed the Viper, he totally forgot the Viper was there and just moved over on it. It reminded me of a dog I used to have (a bassett hound); he knew where his nose was, but didn't have a clue where his rear end was. When he ran into a room, his behind would bash into table lamps, end tables and little kids, often knocking them over.

In the final hour of the race, I was very pleased to see you come around with the three blue lights lit on the side of the car. I don't know if there is any indication that you can see from the inside of the car, but it sure made me feel good for you when I saw them blazing away on the outside.And while finishing 3rd is a great reward, it has to be extra special to be the driver who actually takes the checked flag on the last lap.

I would hope that your excellent finish plus your position in the points standing will encourage sponsors to support you strongly next year. All the best in signing on sponsors for next year.I'll watch your website during the winter to see what your plans are for next year. And keep me posted.
All the best,
Doug

Hello Doug,
Thanks so much for the email. I have been so busy that I am only now getting to answer my emails from the race - my apologies. I'll tell you, it was a great race and our crew worked their hearts out! I also thought we were done after the crash. My coach came to see me and said "sorry, I think we're done". I was so pleased to hear them call me to get my gear on as they scrambled to repair the car. After about 40 minutes in the pits, we made it back out. The floor and the front splitter were torn up pretty badly and it was dragging on the track under braking, but we were racing again!

You must have been glad to get the photo during warm-up, as the race photos have racing tape flapping all over the nose! Thank you for your support and I will definitely keep you posted. There is a chance I may run the Daytona 24 Hours, but the start of my season will be at Sebring. Take care.

Hello Melanie,
This is Brian & Natasha. We saw you racing at the Grand Prix last weekend at Mosport. It was our first car race ever.Congratulations again on your second place winning. We learnt alot about racing from your mom at the Imation tent. Please thank her again for us. Keep up the good work, after 3rd place came 2nd place and it can only mean 1st place is next.
Thanks again for a great day!!!!!!!!!!! We will send you pictures.
Regards, Brian & Natasha (Your youngest fans!!!)

Hello Brian and Natasha,
Thank you so much for your email. I am glad you had fun on Sunday and I am glad you came to our race! My mom and I really enjoyed meeting you. Now that you know so much about racing, you will both have to come back and cheer me on next time! Thank you for being my fans and I look forward to seeing your pictures!

Hi Mélanie
Its Michel in security at the Trois-Rivieres Grand Prix. Just didn't know until now that you had a site, so I thought that i should drop a few words ! I'm so happy for you for your 3rd position on the podium in trois-rivières last week-end. By the way i'm still waiting for my box of Hot-Rod's (just kidding) But seriously , could you send my 9 years old son Jean-Christophe some stuff signed by you so he will be able to put it into his collection of racing souvenirs anything that have to do with racing. By the way the front portion of your yellow car that break in the curve near the arch that your collegue was looking for was pick up by me , and i was going to have it signed by you to put on my sons wall into his room but it seem that that part was crucial for you to be able to race into the final race so i did give it back to your crew member , too bad !

If you got some broken body pieces that you could spare and signed it , he would appreciate it a lot ! By the way could you spare some signed pictures for myself and some of my collegue from the Grand-Prix.By the way my friend Jonathan send his regards too!

When your's next race ... , where you have the chance to go on the podium ... I was so happy to be able to see you again at the Grand-Prix this years hoping to see you next years (on the top step of the podium this time !)
Michel

Hi Michel,
Thank you for your help at Trois-Rivieres. I appreciate that you returned the body part. That piece held the 2 dive planes that were crucial for rebuilding the nose for the race. I know everybody likes to have a souvenir of the race cars, although, as you found out, it is important to check with the teams first to see if they still need the parts, as it is hard to find replacements on the weekend. We would have really struggled if we didn't get that piece back.
I will definitely send some photos for you and Jean-Christophe and your friends. Take care and great job to you and your Security team at Trois-Rivieres!

Dear Melanie,
I was watching you on the Speed Channel this past weekend and they kept saying you were Canadian, yet you had an American flag on your race car. Why is that?
Kathleen, Calgary,AB

Hello Kathleen,
That is a very good question and thank you for your email. The American Le Mans Series is a very international series with teams from all over the world. The ALMS rules state that the car must display the flag of the ENTRANT, which means the team prepping the car. In my case, that is Essex Racing, who are an American outfit. So, when you see those flags, they just mean the race team is from that country, not necessarily the drivers.