[4pipes]

John, I was so impressed with your assistants, Eric and Karen, I decided to find out more about Karen. She is quite the accomplished person:

"Karen Salvaggio serves as Vice President for Women in Racing with the Women's Automotive Association International (WAAI), the premier organization for women in the automotive industry. As Editor-in-Chief for Thunder Valley Racing, she travels nationally to support and develop opportunities for women in racing. She is an avid racecar driver, and was most recently awarded the 2005 Regional Championship for the National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC).

Karen’s twenty-year racing career began in 1985, driving in NASCAR Winston dirt track events in California. She drove to numerous top five finishes and secured the Most Improved Driver award in stockcar racing, before making the move to road racing with the Vintage Auto Racing Association (VARA) in the early 1990’s. Over the next five years, Karen competed in endurance races in a 1959 vintage Corvette roadster. Her growing passion for racing, and a desire to develop highly refined driving skills, led her into performance driving late model (Z06) Corvettes in high and low speed events with the SCCA and National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC).

In 2000, Karen joined the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), competing in the Women's Global GT Series. Karen has also competed in NHRA drag racing events, garnering the Gardei Memorial Overall Competitor Award in 1997 (Firebird Raceway), and Top Eliminator at the Pomona Drags in 1999. She also serves as an instructor driver at NCCC, NASA, and SCCA driving school events, and enjoys working with novice drivers as they develop confidence through driving mastery.

Karen has secured more that 150 first place finishes in driving competitions, and was awarded the 2005 West Coast Region Championship for the National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC), a title she previously secured in 1998, 1999 and 2001.

Current Race Season:

Race Series: Factory Five Challenge Series (NASA FFR); Editor in Chief: Thunder Valley Racing
The 2006 season finds Karen competing in the Factory Five Challenge Series (FFR) with the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). She drives on the West Coast circuit, and will compete at the National Challenge Series level in September at Mid-Ohio. She is an instructor driver with the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) NCCC, and the SVTOA (Ford) Clubs, and feeds the competitive spirit through high-speed competition events.

Karen's goal is to bring widespread, international attention to the efforts of women in racing through her work with the dedicated teams at the WAAI and Thunder Valley Racing. Her racing goal is to compete on a national or international level with a road racing team at endurance events.

Personal: Karen served nine years in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft mechanic on B-52's and KC-135 aircraft. She had several stateside assignments, as well as tours in Japan and the Philippines. In 1985 she left the military to pursue a career in education, and used the GI Bill to secure her college education while working full time as a service manager at a motorcycle shop. She earned her bachelors degree in social science, became an elementary school teacher, and then served as a school principal for eight years.

Karen currently serves as Director of Student Support Services for a school district in Riverside, California. She holds a Doctorate in organizational leadership, and a Master's Degree in education. Her daughter Tracy, an aspiring driver herself, garnered the SCCA Novice Driver of the Year award when she was just 16 years of age, and is currently pursuing a career in education."