ERINN COWELL

email me at Erinn@BluemaxxRacing.com

My interest in racing began in 1999 after I purchased a '92 Ford Mustang LX 5.0. Initially, I was interested in straight line speed and drag racing. When I saw what some of my friends were doing with their Mustangs, I decided to heavily modify my car too. After that, I was capable of low 12s in the quarter mile with my '92 Mustang pictured here.

After educating myself on the other forms of racing and hearing from Rich how much fun autocrossing and road racing was I finally decided to try my luck at making turns on the track. In August, 2000 with Rich as my instructor, I entered a PBOC driver's education at Homestead Raceway where it proceeded to rain the entire weekend. Needless to say, my '92 Mustang was NOT the most ideal for driving in the rain at over 100 mph, but I was determined to learn more about road racing so I drove all weekend in the rain. Needless to say, driving in the rain taught me a lot about handling a car. I was constantly doing four-wheel drifts through most of the turns and hydro-planing through the puddles. At the end of the day, I had had the best time of my life and I could not wait to get out on the track again. 

After that experience, I was hooked on turns and was busy almost every weekend doing a drivers education event or autocross.  Within the first year, I was signed off to run without an instructor. I even went so far as to purchase a car that can really handle, a 2000 Roush Mustang with Stage II upgrades. Even though my new car was not nearly as fast as the old green Mustang in a straight line, the Roush Stage II suspension upgrades provide for much greater handling capabilities, meaning lower lap times!   

After about a year of seat time on the track, I was invited to an Instructor's School by the Porsche Club of America. I was very honored to be chosen as an Instructor because only the finest drivers get that honor.  I instructed my first student that weekend and since then, have become an instructor in every club I run with.  Teaching other car enthusiasts the proper way to drive their car on a road course is such a rewarding experience. I know that the smile on their face will last until the next time they get out on the track. The best thing about being an instructor is knowing that these drivers will have better skills on the streets due to the skills they learn on the track.

In autocrossing (Solo II), things came to me fairly easily, winning my class in almost every event I have entered, including numerous Ladies FTD's. Among some of my most accomplished wins in autocrossing have been class wins at the famed Bay Bottom Crawl in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and then in 2004, . Then in June, 2003 I won my class at the Porsche Parade in the 996. This is by far my most accomplished win! Then, after I didn't think I could top that, I won OVERALL LADIES FTD at Bay Bottom Crawl.

Nowadays, I spend much of my time Road Racing the 996 in PBOC, PCA and BMWCCA.