038 | Women in Motorsports: Building Careers, Community & the Future of Racing with Meredith Burns
About this episode
Meredith Burns joins Chris at Willow Springs to talk about Women in Motorsports North America and how to widen career pathways beyond driving. They discuss what draws women into racing—big events like NASCAR, plus Formula One’s growing younger fanbase through docu-series. The conversation also covers how modern F1 cars sound compared with 20 years ago, and how Women with Drive Summit and its case competition connect students to real team roles. Along the way, they share personal motorsports connections, including Meredith’s 300ZX.
In this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, Chris heads to Willow Springs Raceway to sit down with Meredith Burns, President of the Southern California Chapter of Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) and Editor of Performance Racing Industry Magazine.
Meredith shares how women are becoming increasingly involved in every aspect of motorsports—from racing and engineering to business leadership and media. The conversation explores how organizations like WIMNA are creating opportunities, building connections, and helping shape the future of the racing industry.
They also discuss the growing influence of Formula 1, NASCAR, motorsports networking, career development, and why racing has never been more accessible to the next generation of fans and professionals.
Whether you're a lifelong gearhead, an aspiring motorsports professional, or simply curious about the future of racing, this episode offers an inside look at one of the fastest-growing movements in the industry.
Connect with Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA)
Women in Motorsports North America is dedicated to advancing, connecting, and enabling women throughout the motorsports industry through mentorship, networking, education, and career development opportunities.
🌐 Website: Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA)
🏁 Women With Drive Summit: Women With Drive Summit
📸 Instagram: @womeninmotorsportsna
Connect with Cool Cars with Chris
Website: CoolCarsWithChris.com
Subscribe for more conversations about cars, racing, automotive culture, and the people who make the automotive world exciting.
#CoolCarsWithChris #WomenInMotorsports #WIMNA #Motorsports #Formula1 #F1 #NASCAR #Racing #AutomotivePodcast #WillowSprings #CarCulture #PerformanceRacing #MotorsportCareers
00:00 🎙️ Introduction
01:48 👋 Meet Meredith Burns
03:54 🏎️ Formula 1, NASCAR & New Fans
05:36 🎬 The F1 Movie & Motorsports Culture
06:23 🚀 Women in Racing Careers
08:00 🏆 Favorite Racing Events
09:19 🚗 Cool Cars at Willow Springs
10:14 👏 Outro
Porsche Speedster
"“Where's that little Porsche Speedster? That one right there. It's white.”"
A Porsche Speedster is a Porsche model style that’s usually open-top and feels more lightweight and “old-school” than a regular coupe. People love them because they look classic and drive like a real sports car.
A Porsche Speedster is a specific Porsche body style/trim concept known for an open-top layout and a minimalist, lightweight feel. It’s typically associated with classic 356-era and later Porsche Speedster variants, and it’s popular with collectors because it blends vintage styling with Porsche’s sports-car dynamics.
JDM
"“But our family, we're all big JDM fans.”"
JDM means “Japanese Domestic Market.” It’s a term car fans use for Japanese cars and parts that were made for the Japanese market, and it often points to a certain look and culture around those vehicles.
JDM stands for Japanese Domestic Market. It refers to cars and parts that were originally sold in Japan, and it’s become a shorthand in the enthusiast world for that style of vehicles and aftermarket support.
Nissan 300Zx
"... it seems to have been close to my heart. I had a 300ZX when I was back in college, and you know, seeing ..."
The Nissan 300 ZX is a sports car made by Nissan. It’s a two-door car designed to feel fun and quick to drive. People bring it up because it’s a well-known model that many drivers remember from earlier years.
The Nissan 300 ZX is a classic Japanese sports coupe known for its stylish design and performance-focused driving feel. It’s often discussed by enthusiasts because many owners remember it as a memorable “college-era” sports car—something that made everyday driving feel more exciting. In a podcast context, it’s a natural pick when the host shares personal history with the model.
Zs
"and you know, seeing some of those, as well as just all of the Zs. I always say, like, everybody's had like a Z in their life."
“Zs” is a nickname for Nissan’s Z lineup of sports cars. When someone says “all the Zs,” they usually mean multiple generations of that same model family.
“Zs” is shorthand for the Nissan Z-car lineup (cars like the 240Z, 280Z, 300ZX, and later Z models). In enthusiast culture, it’s a quick way to reference the whole family of Nissan sports cars rather than one specific model.
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