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This 24 year-old Aldergrove, British Columbia
native's racing “career” started at a
tender age. While her father worked on a racecar
crew, she was just learning how to walk—in the
pits! She claims that her obsession with racing
cars was ignited by all the track excitement in
those early days.
She finally jumped into the seat of a Quarter
Midget car at nine years old ... and never looked
back.
Annette ran Quarter Midgets for six years and
with each season she moved up in track positions
and in racing classes. In 1996, her final year
running in the Midget Series, she captured the
Monza Championship.
Annette made the transition into 1100cc Mini
Sprint racing throughout the Northwest. For the
next 2 years, she burned up dirt tracks in the Mini
Sprint Series earning one championship after
another.
The 2000 racing season found Annette forced to
the sidelines with a serious neck injury deeming
her unfit to compete. The next year Annette was
back on the circuit with a vengeance, setting
record times in almost every event. Her passion was
further fueled by her participation in the
celebrated Lyn St. James Driver Development
Program.
She moved into closed wheel racing in 2003. The
transition was a success.
Annette earned an unprecedented six podium
finishes out of nine events, taking home the
Confederation of Autosport Car Clubs (CACC)
“Rookie of the Year Award”, placing third
in the CACC Championship.
Karting is her current addiction. With only
three kart races behind her, Annette earns a podium
finish at her first Snap-on Stars of Karting event
in British Columbia. She is primed to run in the
premier karting event, ASN-FIA Canadian
Nationals.
When she’s not on the podium, Annette is
searching out opportunities in stock car racing,
indy car racing and champ car racing.
Visit Annette Blenkarn’s web site at
www.annetteracing.com
 or
E-Mail
About Annette
Annette Blenkarn is a young driver who is
anticipated to be making her professional debut in
2004 with the Menards Infiniti Pro Series. She
began her racing career at the age of 9 in 1990
with Quarter Midgets. Since then she has acquired
much experience with different forms of racing, and
has earned many awards, wins, and podiums along her
journey to becoming a professional race car
driver.
Driver development is the focus of Annette's
2004 season. The driver development will consist of
racing karts in the Pacific Northwest, racing a 410
Sprint car in the Indianapolis area, racing a stock
car in Washington, and Infiniti Pro Series testing.
The race events for Annette's anticipated
professional IPS debut will consist of California
Speedway October 2nd, and Texas Motor Speedway
October 16th.
Off the track, Annette is involved in creating a
program with Junior Achievement called "Dream Big"
which guides high school students to define and
pursue their dreams. This year, she will also be
involved with their "World of Choices" event as a
speaker on the Entrepreneurial Spirit panel.
Another organization Annette is involved with is
Esteem Team, which sends professional athletes into
communities and schools to speak to elementary
school children about creating smart goals to reach
their dreams. Annette also volunteers with Pacific
Riding for the Disabled, where she primarily helps
children in therapeutic horseback riding lessons.
Recently, she earned recognition for her community
efforts and racing accomplishments by receiving
Langley's Sports Women of Excellence award.
Related Issue:
Women
Racers
Directory,
Women
in Racing,
Women
Racers,
More
Women in
Racing,
Race
Schedules,
Notable
Women
* * *
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©1996-2023 by of Gordon Clay
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