Profile Story

A good friend of mine, Alyssa Ramirez, who is also a sorority sister, recently asked if she could write a profile story on my involvement in drag racing for her journalism class. I thought it was quite intelligent and well written. So, here it is for your viewing pleasure. Thanks again, Alyssa!

On March 3, Chapman University senior, Emily Williams did something a little crazy—she bought a racecar.

And not just any racecar, but a Super Comp dragster, a car that can reach 170 miles per hour in 8.9 seconds. Intense, right? Not for Williams who thrives on pushing the boundaries and maintaining a busy lifestyle.

However at first glance, no one would expect Williams to be a speed-craving daredevil. With tailored pants, a chic blouse, heels and perfectly groomed hair, she looks more like a businesswoman than a drag racer. Even her major at Chapman University is relatively safe: Child Development. And she was also Archon, or President, of the sorority Phi Sigma Sigma for a semester.

“I have never been one to fly under the radar,” explains Williams. “I love trying new things, putting myself out there and doing the unexpected.”

Williams’ racing career began in January when she enrolled in a class at the Frank Hawley School of Drag Racing at the Pomona Raceway taught by professional racer Jack Beckman. This two-day class taught the basics of professional drag racing and allowed students a chance to hone their racing skills and to obtain their professional drivers license.

“Racing that car made me feel alive,” said Williams, whose face lights up at the thought of it. “When that car launches off the starting line, and you are thrown back in your seat, it is such a thrill.”

Williams was clearly the underdog. And being the only girl and one of two students under 45 years old only made her want to work harder than the rest.

“While [the other students] were all chatting and goofing off on the sidelines, I was running through the passes in my head and mentally practicing,” said Williams. “Consequently, I was the only person in the class to license in the six runs allotted.”

She did what few achieve in the drag racing world, and Beckman was impressed.

“[Beckman] told my father that I was one of the best racers he’d seen go through the class,” said Williams. “And after that, how could we not get a car?”

However, more than being a dragster, she is known for being genuine, loveable, daring, unique and dedicated as well as for being an amazing person that many people within the sorority respect tremendously.

“I really look up to [Emily] as a role model,” said Jessy Jones, the member recruitment and vision chairman. “Last fall, when I came back from being abroad, she really made me feel at home and called me her favorite.”

Now, Williams’ only worries are graduating in May and, of course, finding a place to store her dragster. Neighbors are tired of hearing the dragster run, and the family is tired of maneuvering around the dragster in the garage. So her new slogan: “Will race for rent—for the car, not me.”

Car and Trailer Makeover – Part I

img_0433-edit.jpg The trailer has begun its makeover and I must admit, it is looking great! It returned from its paint job with a fresh coat of white paint. This was great because the previous graphics on the trailer bled through to the paint. Since the prior graphics included flames, the white coat was covered in orange and yellow streaks. The outside of the trailer looks great and it really changes the whole look of it.

Next is the interior. Chris just dropped off the trailer at Kirschner Trailers in Woodinville, WA and it will spend a little vacation there for about a week. This is good on all ends. When the trailer came back after a weekend paint job, it was received with a resounding, “It’s BACK??” Like I said before, the trailer is not a popular item around the neighborhood. Luckily, the guys at Kirschner were great and said they could install many of the items we were concerned about in the time that it there. They are going to install an E-Track along the interior walls, so that we have something to connect the bungee cords and restraints to. Since the trailer moves so often, EVERYTHING has to be secure in the trailer. But we didn’t have a great way of locking up the gas cans, chairs, air compressor, etc. They are also going to install bogey wheels at the back of the trailer. These are to help with the tail end of the trailer and it’s tendency to hit the ground if Chris has to maneuver a tough turn or hill. So, instead of ruining the bottom of the trailer, the wheels will help the car along. The roof is going to be checked out, along with the breaks, just for safety. And finally, they will be installing a winch in the trailer. This is to help Chris with removing and storing the car when I’m not around. Chris had intended on installing the winch himself, but the guy at Kirschner had some great ideas on it, so we are going to let him give it a shot. All in all, the trailer should come back with an array of new accessories and looking great!

After the trailer comes back from Kirshner it is time to work on the flooring. Chris found some great flooring at Costco for pretty cheap and will be laying it down in the next month or so. It is a snazzy looking checkered print (of course) that fits quite well in terms of sizing. Then we are going to put a metal diamond plate towards the rear of the trailer. When the car is either moved out or in the trailer, one needs to raise the front of the trailer up (thus creating an angle) and the car slides in/out nicely.img00080-edit.jpg However, there is a point in the trailer where the bottom the chassis rubs on the floor of the trailer, even when it is raised. And if it were not raised, the car would simply bottom out, making it impossible to move the car. This, over time, has ruined the flooring. Therefore, we are hoping that the metal plate will a) look beautiful and professional and b) reduce the amount of damage to the car/trailer during the storage and removal phase. And after that, the trailer will look perfect for EMDUB Racing.

On another note, I have to hand out a big ‘Thank You’ to two of my fans. Andriana and Jesse drove out to the Bremerton track (quite different surroundings from Woodinville) for the Saturday Test and Tune. It was great to have supportive fans out there. Since we are so new to this sport, we can get so wrapped up in the mechanics and technology of it all that we do not enjoy the time at the track. We are slowly learning to walk around, meet new folks, and get a feel for the community. Therefore, it was great to have the two of them out there and Andriana took some cool pictures that I will get posted soon. Hopefully she can convince some more people that the track isn’t such a bad experience. Actually, I think she might have actually liked it by the end! Thanks for the support guys.

Update on the car coming soon!

Time and Space

Time and space, space and time. There is never enough of these two when it comes to drag racing.

Space: As fans, space was only needed for hats, sweatshirts and seating at the race. But as a participant, there is a much larger need for space. Items that need to be stored:img00066-edit.jpg Dragster, trailer, fuel, safety equipment, tools, spare parts, hitch, weather station, electronics, quad, etc. And where is all of this supposed to go? Beats me. Just for a moment, follow me through our thought process of purchasing a car just a few months ago. Car – 22 feet long, but it goes in the trailer. Trailer – 30 feet long, but it goes into storage. Tools – Inside the trailer, which again, is in storage. Storage – $80 a month, 3 miles down the road. Sounds like a plan to me. Oh, wait. We forgot that we might actually want to use some of these items when we are NOT racing.

So, Chris gets home from his 3 day drive from California to Washington with the car and after some maneuvering, gets the truck and trailer into the driveway. Now, this trailer fits. However, not much room is left for anything else that would frequent the driveway. But hey, we can make this work. Chris measures the garage and concludes that the dragster will fit in one of the spaces. Great news considering the frequent rain and freezing temperatures of the Northwest. This is where we run into our first setback. One of the largest sellers of the dragster was the fact that it was a narrow chassis built for a 5’4 female. However, I am currently in California finishing up school. So, who is going to get the car out of the trailer? Apparently the solution is my 13 year-old-brother. Scared yet? I am. My new dragster, my baby is being driven out of the trailer by my little brother who has never sat in a dragster in his life. I distinctly remember exchanging money with the Frank Hawley office in Pomona for a similar experience, but hey… Go for it, Mike. After a Austin Powers-esque turn in the driveway (nearing a 10 point turn), the car foundimg00077-edit.jpg it’s home in the garage. And it’s all in once piece, whew!

Happily ever after… right? Wrong. It’s been almost a month and the mystique is wearing off for everyone but Chris and I. Neighbors are tired of hearing the dragster run, the Homeowners Association is upset about the trailer in the driveway, and the family is tired of maneuvering around the dragster in the garage. Options? Keep subjecting everyone else to our passion, or find a location where we can work on the car and trailer that isn’t the driveway or garage. Hopefully the answer is the latter; I’ll keep you updated.

Time: I knew when we started out on this adventure that my life is insane. I thrive on a busy schedule and am constantly mapping out my day or week to keep it all organized. Those who truly know me realize that I have a bit of an obsession with organization. But it keeps my life on track and fulfilling. I am currently in my last semester at Chapman University and will graduate on May 17th with my peers. Not long after, I will pack up my belongings and schlep them back to the Northwest (ironically, in the trailer). I begin work and school in the Human Development department of Washington State University in mid-August. So, where does drag racing fit into this equation? Well, I hope to spend the time between the move and the beginning of school with the car. My goal is to enter as many Test/Tunes as possible and simply spend some time in the car and at the track. Hopefully this will prepare me for actually entering races later in the year.

Time in the car is also another important factor. It’s the nature of drag racing to keep the actual time on the track minimal. This is due to the necessity of keeping the large number of cars moving through and of course, less time on the track means a quicker elapsed time. Therefore practice is easier said than done. I spend time each day practicing my reaction time and mentally going through runs. But nothing can substitute actual time in the car. Chris and I have hunted down all of the Test and Tunes in Washington State and hope to make as many as possible. Plus, I love nothing more than sitting in that drivers seat.

New slogan: “Will race for rent (for the car, not me).”

Stick around!