REAL GIRL TORQUE - Delayed International Women's Day Post!

Apologies for the delay!
I was meant to do this on the 8th for International Women's Day to match with my Instagram post but I completely forgot!

I've received harsh criticism in the past for my "lack of supporting females in the car world" - which is MASSIVELY wrong.
I grew up reading Vicky Parrott's Autocar road test reviews, watching Sabine Schmitz absolutely annihilating the Ring on Top Gear and throwing around the Ring Taxi, watching old footage of Michele Mouton killing it in Group B rallying, Vicky Butler-Henderson presenting Fifth Gear, keeping up to date with Leena Gade's team (like becoming the first female race engineer to win Le Mans!)
Then recently we have seen Tatiana Calderon get a seat in F1 testing for Alfa Romeo, Amna Al Qubaisi driving in Formula 4 & testing in Formula E, Abbie Eaton making moves on The Grand Tour setting INSANE lap times and racing in numerous series, Aseel Al Hamad became the first female board member of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation, and celebrated the ban on female drivers in Saudi by doing a parade lap in the Lotus Renault E20 at the 2018 French Grand Prix.
We have Nathalie McGloin the only female tetraplegic racing driver in the world, that works with the FIA and Dare To Be Different (Susie Wolff's initiative to help females in the motor sport world.)
There is also some INCREDIBLE ladies Stateside... Aimee (aka Petrolgirl on IG) has set up and hosts some of America's biggest and best car events, from Exotics on Cannery Row to managing Goldrush Rally and Fuelrun. She is one bad ass lady, and I'm fortunate enough to be invited to join some online groups Aimee has set up for female petrolheads! Then we have Amber, who is really close with Aimee - and it's nice to see two women really empower and inspire one another. Supporting and caring for each other, and promoting one another - backing each other! Anyway, Amber runs GI Automotive. I remember the first pic I saw of her, was working on a Murci (which is the pic I chose on my IWD post) and thought she was so cool! I then found out that Amber has serviced and maintained some of the worlds best cars, based in California. Also based in the US, is Stephanie Cemo who has just announced, on IWD might I add, that she's going to be racing in Super Trofeo this year which is amazing!
DRIFTING! There are some insanely talented women that drift too! We have Tessa Whittock, Michelle Westby and Lozza Hinks off the top of my head... but there are skilled women worldwide in drifting that I've seen online.
But see.... There are SO many incredible females out there - some I'm fortunate to know, some I've been lucky enough to speak to or meet, some I just admire for their determination and skill...
These are women I support and admire, driving for change, to be noticed, to be equal!
Unfortunately with being female in a male dominated industry, it can be tough! But personally, there's always a strange thrill to it. We shouldn't have to be proving ourselves because of our gender - but in some circumstances it happens. In times I've been spoken down to, or doubted, or heard "but you're a girl" there is this thing within me that just always wants to whack out some crazy car knowledge, or technical lingo to shock whichever narcissist has just taken a dig at me cause I'm female.
Things are changing for sure! But there is still a long way to go. We just need to provide that moral support to empower each other.
I've met some incredible females via Instagram - whether they drive amazing cars, or take photos of amazing cars! It's been so cool to meet like minded females and interact! Girls like:
Chloe (@chloxbaldwin) take amazing shots,
Hattie drives amazing cars (@harriet_florence_83)
Monique is one of the coolest ladies I've met, discussing when Fast & Furious came out and how the scene was in the States and how it changed due to that movie etc (@h_monique86)
then we have Women Who Spot, based in India trying to change how women are accepted in India within the car world (@womenwhospot)
(@shamotive) an incredible woman showing what it's like behind the scenes of being a clay model artist at Jaguar!
Katie, a bad ass Essex chick with an epic Cossie and love of old school cool, drivers motors! (@katie_anne_k15cos)
Another Katie (@katieharcus) working at Prestige Restoration, who shared a lovely post on IWD regarding her mum and her influence on Katie's passion for cars.
Helen is a fabulous employee at HR Owen Ferrari with a true passion and knowledge for the brand! I absolutely adore her (@hjwakerley)
Lauren works at BMW, drives a VX220 and posts loads of cars that attend track days! One very cool chick (@laurenscamps)
then the most fashionable car chick on the gram - combining shoes and cars - (@heelsnclutch) such a kind soul too!
I've had some lovely messages to say thank you for showing that it's okay for females to be into cars, it's okay to go do what the boys do with going and taking photos of cars, and people praising me for my knowledge & passion of cars and standing up against guys in this male dominated industry.
So ladies, KEEP GOING! KEEP BEING AWESOME! KEEP COMPETING! KEEP BEING STRONG!

Skully x

Let's have some "Girl Torque" - Aseel Al Hamad

Now this woman is EVERYWHERE! I mean everywhere... So let's "torque"
(Get it? Instead of talk. Anyway...)
This woman has every right to be everywhere at the moment! Female entrepreneur and petrol head Aseel Al Hamad. 

Aseel has made a major statement, being a Saudi Arabian woman behind the wheel of a vehicle. But not just any vehicle, a Formula One car.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had never allowed females to hold a driving licence, until this year when they finally changed the law. But not only did Aseel finally get let behind the wheel, she fulfilled a dream in driving Renault's, 2012 Lotus Renault E20 F1 car around Paul Ricard, in a parade to mark the return of the race after 10 years away from the circuit.

I've also seen Aseel in a video that Jaguar did with her, on World Driving Day (24th June, who knew!) which was filmed in her homeland of KSA, at Reem International Circuit, where she threw an F Type around.

She is the first female member of the Saudi Arabian Motorsport Federation, and also on the Women in Motorsport Commission which was set up by the FIA.

Since the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have now allowed women to have licences, this has ended the world's last ban on female drivers.

Aseel has done many interviews and says she hopes this now opens even more doors for females in motorsport.

I think this is every females hope to be honest. I'd love to see a woman on the starting grid one day, taking on the men!
This whole thing may seem like a silly thing to most, but think about it... if the last country on our big old planet will lift a ban on women driving, that has been in place since day dot, then why can't women achieve great things in motorsport, such as appearing on a starting grid in Formula One?

Congratulations Aseel (and to the women of KSA!)

Skully x

GRID-LOCKED!!! The ban... WHY?!

So, a fellow car enthusiast I've had the pleasure of meeting at a few events and spoken to on social media posted this. Rob, of Eureka Motorsport shared his disgust at the ban on F1 grid girls. Pointing out that the grid girl he knows is a single mother, who has now just become unemployed...

I'm with him!
I'm a female and find this disgusting!
Why?! Just why?!
I can't understand why The Women's Sport Trust feel the need to ban "walk on girls" as they call them, and not just in motor sport but in cycling, boxing and darts!

They do realise they're setting women back?! Where's our freedom and rights to do what we want and what we love?!
I say we, being under the collective female umbrella - wish I had the body to do what these stunning ladies do - but really... these females are now out of work!
They're now essentially, being punished, and victimised because someone somewhere felt they weren't necessary?! The Women's Sport Trust claim  “is at odds with modern day societal norms” 
Okay... if you feel it's at odds with modern day societal norms, why not push to promote the women who are leaders and pioneers in other aspects of these sports?
Now I'm aware that "walk on girls" are in other sports but I'm predominantly focusing on motor sport.
We have women like Leena Gade - In 2011, she became the first female race engineer to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2012, she won the FIA World Endurance Championship's 'Man of the Year' award and the C&R Racing Woman in Technology Award, she's now over in the States working in Indy Car.Nathalie McGloin is the only female tetraplegic in the world to be racing cars. In 2017 Nathalie was appointed the inaugural President of the new FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission by Jean Todt. She's also an ambassador for Susie Wolff's Dare To Be Different. She co-founded the charity Spinal Track, enabling disabled drivers to enjoy track day experiences at Silverstone in a hand-controlled Golf GTI.
Women like Girl Drifter Leona Chin, going viral for scaring guys on test drives in Mitsubishi's - but she's so skilful! 
Michelle Westby, currently touring with Fast and Furious Live, another very talented driver! Has previous experience as a grid girl (her facebook page had a really good post about this topic)

WHY ARE THEY NOT FOCUSING ON PROMOTING THESE KINDS OF WOMEN?!! These women aren't at the forefront of their sports but they should be! We should be showing off what women can do behind the scenes or hidden amongst the masses.
WHY CAN'T WE HAVE BOTH BRAINS AND BEAUTY?!
(This isn't saying that grid girls don't have brains by the way...)
Allow these "walk on girls" to do what they love - stand and pose before a race, travel, make money, socialise, make guys happy with taking photos etc. Leave them to it! They aren't harming anyone - or being harmed, any female that's done this job and has discussed this on TV or social media boasts about how amazing the opportunities are!
But why can't we also show off how amazing some of the women in the motor sport world are behind the scenes?! If you want to comply with "modern societal norms" - BALANCE!
Help promote women into motorsport jobs that are more physical and more interactive. Driving, engineering, PR etc

People are saying its for "branding and profiling" reasons that they're "advancing" - taking away women's jobs and passion is advancing?! Why is it now "advancing" after so long? It's not hindered anything up until now as far as I'm aware. Plenty of brands have sponsored the outfits etc over the years.
Do you know who's opinion I would love to hear on this... JAMES HUNT! Bet he'd have a few things to say on this topic, haha.

It's caused a huge uproar and too right! It's ridiculous. The way these people look at things is so backwards! Why remove an aspect that brings in customers, attention and money to the sports? Why not just focus some time and energy into the other aspects of women in the sport?!

Anyway, that's just my thoughts on the subject. I mean, would I mind seeing some topless guys in front of a female racers car? I don't think so ;)