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Contact: eMail | samanthawhitfield.com
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Profile
*Not your typical girl*
Samantha is a 22 year old model from Langley.
Not only is she passionate about modeling, she also
loves to race. She went to BCIT for Auto Mechanics
and upon completion decided to keep it as a hobby,
and ended up working at the Langley airport for 3
years repairing helicopters at Heli-Welders Canada
Ltd. She owns a 2002 Harley Davidson F150 and can
be seen racing at the Mission Raceway the past few
years, getting her best ET this year of 11.35 @
120mph. Now how many woman can lay claim to that!
Further, what’s amazing is that over the
course of a year and a half she lost 80lbs by
changing her eating habits and working out 5 times
a week. Samantha loves to tell this story so that
it may inspire others and show them that you really
can look the way you want if you are willing to
work hard at it. She has had a few gals already
tell her that she was the source of their
inspiration to a better and healthier lifestyle.
For Samantha there is no greater reward.
News
Interview with Samantha
Whitfield
Canadian Samantha Whitfield loves to race. Her
pride and joy is a 2002 Harley Davidson Ford F-150
which she has been drag racing since she was a
teenager.
Samantha studied automotive services at the
British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
which she was able to put to use on her F-150,
while working as a helicopter mechanic at Langley
Airport. Samantha then began to apply her drive and
determination to her dream to become a model, which
was realised when she lost over 80 pounds and began
participating in photo shoots. This has allowed
Samantha to combine her love of modelling and
passion for cars, as well as enabled her to use her
story to inspire others. When she’s not too
busy modelling her current focus is on making her
pride and joy the fastest F-150 in the world. I had
the chance to talk to Samantha about her passion
for racing, her F-150 and ask her about what advice
she had for others chasing their dreams.
How and when did you get involved in drag
racing?
As soon as I got my drivers license I was ready
to race! I always loved to go fast when I was
growing up. Whether it was when I was riding my
horse or pedalling like crazy on my bike! I never
set out to get into racing; it was just sort of
something that happened. I was 17 years old with a
fairly stock truck (just an airaid intake box and
superchips tuner) I ran a 13.99 and although I knew
that was decent for a 5,000+lb truck I wanted to go
faster. The more times I went out the more
competitive I got and I realized this was something
I wanted to do and was very passionate about. It
became something I thought about all the time and
was constantly making lists of what I wanted to do
to the truck to make it go faster.
Did you face any difficulties getting into
the sport and if so how did you overcome
them?
I don’t think I faced anything that made me
reconsider what I was doing or wonder if it was
right for me. I knew getting into it that it’s
a male dominated sport, but I have always been
different and not your typical girl. I am very
fortunate and have many supporters and fans that
appreciate the fact I am passionate about racing
and knowledgeable on what I do. For sure there are
guys that don’t like the fact a girl can kick
their ass at the track, or that my truck is faster
than their car, but it weeds out the boys from the
men and its so true, whenever someone isn’t
supportive or tries to bring you down, it gives you
that much more drive!
Tell me a bit about the F-150 you
drive/race.
The truck has come a long way over the past 6+
years. From running a 13.99 a few years back to
running an 11.35 last year. I was extremely proud
and happy the truck managed to run a low 11 second
pass as a full-size truck, with dead tires and
crappy stock suspension, BUT it wasn’t quick
enough! After spending a lot of time approaching
companies I have been very fortunate to have many
big name sponsors and people helping me out. We are
going for a mid 10 second pass once it’s done
in a few weeks!
I understand you want to make it the fastest
F-150 in the world, how is that progressing? What
ET are you aiming for?
I am aiming for a mid 10 second pass. Because
the truck is going to be so completely different:
ladder bar setup, mini tub, new slicks, DEI triple
threat nytrex and cryo setup, 3.4 whipple, kirkey
seats etc it is hard to predict what it will do. I
am confident that not only because it will have
more horsepower, but the proper suspension to put
it to the ground, the possibilities are
endless!
How often do you race?
Currently I haven’t raced in awhile since
the truck has been undergoing the makeover, but
when it’s done I race every Friday night
street legal at the local track, Mission
Raceway.
I understand you currently race predominantly
at Mission Raceway, have you got any plans to try
some new tracks?
For sure! I love Mission Raceway and we are all
very lucky to have such a great track to race at,
in such a great location. The President and Vice
President, Ken and Brian are great people who are
just as passionate about racing as all the racers
are. I will probably travel to the US later this
year and try out a new track after getting a great
time at Mission.
What do you like most about drag
racing?
I love the adrenaline. My heart racing, legs
shaking and that rush I get when I’m seconds
away from stabbing the gas pedal makes all the hard
work and stress all worth it!
I love having lots of people come up to me at
the track and ask about the truck and be blown away
that a truck can beat a lot of cars. It’s
always nice to meet the fans that come to the track
to watch us all race.
You went from working as a helicopter mechanic
to working as a full-time model, what was the
transition like?
I sometimes really miss working on the
helicopters. It was fun to take something apart
after it was damaged and fix it up, putting it all
back together. Then to see it fly off after it was
completed.
After I lost a lot of weight through willpower
and working very hard the modelling came as
something to show others that with hard work and
dedication you can reach your goals. I love to
incorporate the modelling with the racing and the
truck. I don’t need another girl to pose in
front of my truck when I can do it myself!
How important is your BCIT qualification to
you?
Although certificates and qualifications
don’t always mean everything I believe that
being a woman in this industry it doesn’t hurt
to have a qualification for Auto Mechanics. I think
it’s good for young girls to see a woman in
this sport and the fact I went to school for it. A
lot of girls are into cars and racing but
don’t always feel they can get involved since
they are the minority. I do think it is slowly
becoming more of an equal playing field and I
don’t doubt we will see more women out at the
tracks racing.
If you could give one piece of advice to
others chasing their dreams what would it
be?
If you are passionate about what you do and
willing to work hard and dedicate yourself you
truly can achieve anything you want to. It
isn’t always easy and there are for sure bumps
in the road but it’s all the trials and
tribulations that make it all worth it when you get
to that place you have worked so hard for. Never
let anyone doubt what you are doing or try to make
you think you should do something else. If
it’s in your heart it is meant to be.
Who do you receive support from?
I receive a lot of support from my fans and
family. My boyfriend, Stefan has helped with the
build of the truck and done all the hard work from
building the ladder bars to completing the moly
cage. My Mum is a huge support and has always stood
next to me no matter what. Although I scare her and
make her worry as I’m going down the track she
is also the person screaming the loudest cheering
me on! I would like to thank my amazing sponsors
for all their support: DEI, Lethal Performance,
Mickey Thompson, Ken Herring of Texas ChassisWorks,
Mission Raceway, Harwood Hoods, Amazon Tuning
Solutions, Ricks Tanks.
Is there anything else you’d like to
say?
Please check out my website for many videos,
pictures and info to stay up to date on myself and
my Harley truck build! Thanks so much!
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