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| November 28, 2012 |
| Industry News: Jim Howe Motorsports and beatbyagirl.org Team Up to Put Gaich Sisters in Seat for 2013 |
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 | Emma Gaich (sitting far left) and Cokie Gaich (standing) watch as parents Greg and Carol Gaich complete paperwork for the girls to drive for the Indiana-based Jim Howe Motorsports kart team in 2013
(Photo: Jim Howe Motorsports) |
Columbus, Indiana-based Jim Howe Motorsports and Indianapolis-based Glass Hammer Racing are pleased to announce the signing of sisters and GHR graduates Cokie and Emma Gaich of Indianapolis to drive JHM Birel racing karts for the 2013 racing season.
Parents Greg and Carol Gaich signed papers committing the 14-year-old Cokie and 11-year-old Emma to the team for a proposed 15-race schedule in 2013. That schedule includes events with the Indy Karting Series (IKS), Southern Indiana Racing Association (SIRA), and Whiteland (IN) Raceway Park Chainbreaker clubs in central and southern Indiana.
Both girls attend the International School of Indiana in Indianapolis. Cokie is a freshman there with a 6.3/7.0 GPA with future ambitions of being a doctor of sports medicine. Emma owns a 6.7 GPA as a sixth grader and wants to be a marine biologist. Both girls are graduates of the Glass Hammer Racing kart program of Indianapolis (http://beatbyagirl.org), participating in the GHR indoor training sessions since June 2010.
“I like speed,” Cokie Gaich noted during the signing, “and I can’t wait to be in control of one of the JHM karts.” Emma Gaich was more blunt: “I’m looking forward to racing around an actual track where it doesn’t smell like a lawn mower,” referring to the indoor karting sessions whose karts sported four-cycle engines.
“I’m all about getting young talent from nowhere and teaching them what they need to know,” owner Jim Howe added. “I got a chance to watch these girls during one of their Glass Hammer Racing sessions and was impressed. I believe they have what it takes to make it big in karting.”
Cokie Gaich replaces Daniel Pearcy (14, Shelbyville, KY) in the team’s Junior Supercan entry for 2013, with Pearcy moving up to the national circuit with the renowned Motorama Kart Parts team of Indianapolis. The team has ordered a second Birel for Emma Gaich to run in the Junior Sportsman class. Both karts will sport Yamaha KT-100 engines. Testing for both Gaich girls begins in March 2013 with Howe and team driver coach Christina Driscoll of Columbus also planning off-season meetings and training sessions to begin the girls’ switch to the faster outdoor circuit.
Jim Howe Motorsports is coming off its finest season since its inception in 2000. Pearcy drove the team’s No. 62 Birel to five victories in 11 starts with ten top three finishes. He switched to the MKP team in August and JHM was inactive for the remainder of the 2012 season after that.
Glass Hammer Racing was formed in 2010 by Cokie and Emma’s dad to encourage interest and participation of young women in motorsports. The program includes on- and off-track training sessions at Fast Times Indoor Karting Center in Indianapolis with coaching by female drivers including up-and-coming USAC midget star Jessica Bean and Indy 500 driver Pippa Mann. The GHR Experience includes three levels ranging from basic car control and driving skills (Stage 1) to intermediate driving skills and introduction to racing (Stage 2) to developing competitive skills (Stage 3). For more information, see the GHR website at http://beatbyagirl.org or email at info@beatbyagirl.org.
The team is current soliciting sponsorships for the 2013 season. Check out the Jim Howe Motorsports team page on Facebook for more information. |
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