Annette
Blenkarn

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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