Cars X Girl

I get a bunch of hits from searches for the terms “car” and “girl,” mostly together in some fashion. Yes, that was on purpose… When I decided to create a real car blog with a title that I knew I could stick with, putting “car” and “girl” in the title was just about a requirement.

Why was I such a stickler? Because I knew the image I wanted to portray. I take a lot of pride in showing that girls can get down and dirty and play rough just like the boys can, and I can build a car with the best of them. I wanted to capture anyone’s attention who was remotely interested, to show that cars and girls means more than a scantily-clad model splaying herself over some exotic.

It is what it is, no?

What I wish is that thinking of a “car girl” didn’t conjure up images worthy of adult magazines. That it didn’t mean bikinis or going braless. That, for me to have any hopes of getting any attention whatsoever, I’d have to forgo the clothing I find so comfortable.

There’s part of me that wishes I was “car model material.” I’d like to think that it’s normal for any girl to wish they were model material. That they could be whisked away, glamorous photo shoots for work and no worries about logging hours behind some desk. You know, a somewhat luxurious life. (Please don’t try to argue against that, okay? It beats a lot of jobs.)

But why is it always that way?

And I get that most “car girls” are only there for as much show as some cars exist for. Some are pretty, some are just nasty and others are downright whores. There’s classy and then there’s trashy… To me:

Trashy — most magazines that I see, which makes me stay away from them hardcore.

Classy — it’s always pin-ups here that set the bar. That will always be endlessly classy to me, and I’m thinking about getting a pin-up girl tattoo sometime in my future.

But there’s the small overlooked female population that are true gearheads. We don’t exist solely to prey on car guys, rather we see them as buddies who share a hobby important to us.

Girls can build nice cars too, like this Civic that made it to Super Street. (Which I found on Car Domain, but the girl behind the car is actually rather nice, or at least that’s my impression from talking to her once.) Oh, and of course there’s the other female blogger on my blog roll and her CTR.

Here's my personal exhibit for a nicely built girl's car. Most people don't argue.

We’re out there. We exist. Yet our existence seems constantly in denial from guys who aren’t willing to search. Or those who just won’t take the time to teach a girl who’s willing to learn but might not be open about it.

Funny enough, from my experience guys who don’t know a bunch about cars are more willing to talk to me about it than another guy. Some just don’t realize how much I know, others are more comfortable admitting that they aren’t super smart about it and want to chat with someone on their level, or who won’t make fun of them for it. Works for me, honestly, because the friends that I have who are levels above me take their time to teach me things or correct me when I’m wrong.

Why can’t…

It be okay for a girl to be more than a pretty face? For a girl to know how to drive better than a guy? For a girl to know more about a car mechanically than a guy?

Why does every girl associated with cars have to be wearing next to nothing, just to be noticed? (I wonder this period, not just when it comes to cars, actually…)

I just be me, and be praised for being a girl who’s model size but not necessarily dressed like a slut?

I feel okay with being me and not dressing like that… :/

I’ll be alright with the fact that I’ll probably never be a model, never garner a bunch of attention or ever feel pretty enough.

But hey, at least I can drive, right?

Meg

In 2007, Meg began learning about cars. Two years later, she had a very modified '97 Miata and a '90 240SX project car, as well as the Rookie of the Year autocross title. Life now completely revolves around cars and she wouldn't have it any other way. CarsxGirl is her way to encourage others to get into racing (it's not horribly expensive!), to document & share her car builds, an outlet to share & improve her automotive photography skills and to show that real car girls do exist!

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2. Most girls just don't get cars.