"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.
This week: Read Kathy’s behind the scenes story.
Wow! It was quite an empowering panel discussion at the Wheels of Wellness (WOW) event to benefit the Wellness Community-Arizona. Danica Patrick, the first woman to win an IndyCar race and 2009 IndyCar Series Champion Dario Franchitti were among the racing celebrities who participated in the Legends of Motorsports Panel.
The panel discussion, with Lyn St. James at the helm as moderator (Lyn was the first female Indy 500 Rookie of the Year) was a hit. Not only did 400 people turned out for the panel discussion and vintage car showcase, but they had a rare chance to hear about the experiences of female race car drivers within a primarily male oriented sport. Danica spoke extensively about mentorship and how Bobbie Rahal and Lyn St. James were important mentors to her as she rose in the ranks of the male dominated racing world.
Danica (who is pictured above at the WOW event with Wellness Community Board of Directors member Terry Corcoran and his fiancée Jessi Schaub) won her first race in 2008, becoming the first woman ever to cross the finish line first in an IndyCar event. She began her pro career in 2005, and was named Rookie of the Year after finishing 12th in the IndyCar Series championship.
By the way, Danica, now a world famous personality also revealed a surprising detail about her private life. One of her favorite ways to relax is by ironing!
The interesting and lively discussion also included female racing luminaries Denise McCluggage, Desiré Wilson and Justin Bell, son of the celebrated racing driver Derek Bell. The celebs donated their time for the event to help raise funds to support programs provided by The Wellness Community – Arizona for teens with cancer and families impacted by cancer.
Patrick is a professional race car driver and competes in the IndyCar Series. She won her first race in 2008, becoming the first woman ever to cross the finish line first in an IndyCar event. She began her pro career in 2005, and was named Rookie of the Year after finishing 12th in the IndyCar Series championship.
Bob Hardison in his 1958 Echidna Sports Racer
Many dedicated volunteers such as Bob Hardison, a member of the WOW steering committee and former board member of the Wellness Community have helped this grassroots event grow into an annual success.
Danica’s appearance at the event significantly helped “fuel” the success of this year’s fundraiser. It’s the 4th annual benefit on the porch and lawn of the Wellness Community’s homey Phoenix location which draws racing luminaries, car aficionados and the Wellness Community’s supporters.
The one acre campus in downtown Phoenix is nestled in a uniquely restored 1908 Craftsman-style home.
Danica Patrick and Lyn St. James
This year’s WOW showcased American-built racecars featured examples of U.S.-built sports racers from the ‘50s and ‘60s, including the rare and beautiful Scarab. Built by Woolworth heir Lance Reventlow, the Scarabs beat the best sports cars from Ferrari, Maserati and Jaguar across the U.S. in the late 1950s.
Car enthusiasts admiring the replica tribute to the 1951 Hudson Hornet
The authentic replica tribute of the 1951 Hudson Hornet “Twin H Power” Stock Car and rare, vintage motorcycles were also on display, including a ’91 Ducati/Cagiva Elefant 900. Built entirely from scratch, the Ducati/Cagiva Elefant won the Pharaohs ’91 rally of Egypt and placed second overall in the ’92 Paris-Dakar-LeCap Rally. It was featured in the Guggenheim’s Art of the Motorcycle exhibit, which traveled worldwide from 1998 to 2000.
The Wellness Community is a vital and successful national organization that provides more than 100 free programs monthly to cancer survivors and their families.
Danica Patrick poses with a group of Wellness Community teens
Wheels of Wellness is the brainchild of a small group of Phoenix and Scottsdale business executives who are avid vintage car collectors and drivers, and whose lives have been touched by cancer.
Kathy Shayna Shocket is a Phoenix based writer. If you have a good item for The AZ Insider, you can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
