I imagine the loyal readers of Cars for Girls have been wondering who I am and where I came from, and it’s really a rather simple answer. I’m a member and moderator on the forum known as OctaneGirls.net, the brainchild of Erin Bartoszek, who opted to fight the male stereotypes the auto industry often pushes onto society, and in its third year, Octane Girls has become a hub for female auto enthusiasts.
 
In 2007, Bartoszek was new to the automotive hobby and found it extremely difficult to be taken seriously.  She wanted to learn from others but also felt she was being put down simply because she didn’t know everything there was to know about cars or the automotive industry in general. 

Says Bartoszek:

“I’m sure it didn’t hurt that I was female either.” 

So, what makes the Octane Girls such a unique community?  According to Bartoszek, it’s because the forum caters to a female audience, without limits to vehicle brand, and it strives to help forum members grow in their automotive hobby.  The forum has a good mix of members, which includes car show champions, racers and mechanics.  Not only does the site have a very diverse group of ladies, males are also allowed on the site – but only with prior approval from Bartoszek.    

What does the future hold for the Octane Girls forum?  Bartoszek, who says she’s very “people” focused and always looking for ways to assist her fellow forum members, hopes to someday be able to coordinate Octane Girl events across the country, and to partner with additional vendors to provide valuable discounts on parts and merchandise.

Although Bartoszek relies solely on member donations and partnerships to run the site, she says every Octane Girl is a personal inspiration:

“Every member inspires me in a way that keeps me motivated and wanting to move forward. I wanted a place to learn new things about my car(s) without being insulted or judged for my level of knowledge.”  

Octane Girls promotes a variety of interests, including legal racing, auto modification, attending and participating in car shows and more.  Interested?  Check out the Octane Girls forum on the net by clicking here.

Tags: Advice, General // 2 Comments »