Welcome - Needing Women Young and Old
Welcome to the blog for LIA Magazine, Ladies in Autosports. My name is Julia Aschenberg and I am the proud owner of LIA Magazine. The reason for this blog is to find a common interest between women in the field of Autosports. Therefore, this forum is for women, young and old, to communicate with each other about their particular interest, history, or background in Autosports. Men who want to share anything about a lady in their life are also encouraged to participate.
I want to begin this blog by communicating with all of you my background history in the world of Autosports. John, my husband, handed me my first introduction to drag racing. Years ago when we were both single, he asked me out on a date to go with him to the NHRA U. S. Nationals at Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. John was very patient with me that day explaining the concept of drag racing in the various categories. My husband also introduced the world of photography to me that day. John had a camera with him, which he intended to take pictures of the day's happenings, however, he didn't photograph much that day since he was busy sharing with me his love of drag racing. I ended up picking up his camera to capture the events for the day. Therefore, that day began my love for Autosports as well as photography.
After a few years of attending the NHRA U.S. Nationals, with camera in hand snapping the day's happenings, I was able to pick out the media for the magazines covering the event. One year I approached a staff member to ask what it would take for me to freelance for the magazines. After a lengthy discussion of all the cons, he soon realized that I wasn't discouraged from trying my hand at freelancing. The staff member was nice enough to give me his phone number to make contact with him in a few weeks to receive an assignment. This job would be the deciding factor if I would or wouldn't like doing event coverage, along with shooting car features for magazines. In 1990 I was given my first assignment. I am proud to say this past year made my nineteenth year of freelancing for the magazines. Therefore, yes I loved all aspects of the job in 1990 and still do today. Going to the shows through the years gave my husband and I many things that we couldn't get in any other job. We truly respect the many people we have met through the years. They unselfishly shared their love of Autosports along with the vision they have for creating their own automotive art. We respect their art as many have respected my vision in photographing their masterpiece. Through the many years of freelancing, we have acquired some great friendships across the world that might not have been possible had we not done the work for the magazines.
Over the course of nineteen years, I have seen many changes take place in the Autosports industry. When I first began freelancing for the magazines I never gave any consideration that I was delving into an industry that was a male dominated sport . Little did I realize that I could be making history for other women in the future wanting to do the same line of work. Some might possibly call me a pioneer in the field of freelancing for the Autosports industry. Similar to Shirley Muldowney, and Judy Lilly in drag racing or Lynn St James and Janet Guthrie in Indy cart racing to name a few. During those nineteen years, there were times when I began back at ground zero. Reproving myself to the magazines again that I am quite capable of doing the job! Just like many of you women and men, I have had my heartaches; however, there were angels along the way who helped me out by giving me breaks.
This brings me back to my reason why I'm doing LIA Magazine - Ladies in Autosports. The time has come for women in the industry of Autosports to get recognition for their accomplishments that go unnoticed. We also need to band together so other women coming into this great sport do not repeat our mistakes by sharing our valuable information. Please help me to get the word out about LIA Magazine. Let me know the kind of things that you would like to see in the online magazine. My hope is that by the sharing of your ideas from all walks of the automotive industry this will help us to shape the best direction for the online LIA Magazine. It will not only help us to put out a quality classy infotainment magazine, but you the viewer or reader will benefit from the valuable content available to all. Come on ladies lets make this magazine one class act for all of us. This is the 21st century!
Talk to you on the blog!
I want to begin this blog by communicating with all of you my background history in the world of Autosports. John, my husband, handed me my first introduction to drag racing. Years ago when we were both single, he asked me out on a date to go with him to the NHRA U. S. Nationals at Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. John was very patient with me that day explaining the concept of drag racing in the various categories. My husband also introduced the world of photography to me that day. John had a camera with him, which he intended to take pictures of the day's happenings, however, he didn't photograph much that day since he was busy sharing with me his love of drag racing. I ended up picking up his camera to capture the events for the day. Therefore, that day began my love for Autosports as well as photography.
After a few years of attending the NHRA U.S. Nationals, with camera in hand snapping the day's happenings, I was able to pick out the media for the magazines covering the event. One year I approached a staff member to ask what it would take for me to freelance for the magazines. After a lengthy discussion of all the cons, he soon realized that I wasn't discouraged from trying my hand at freelancing. The staff member was nice enough to give me his phone number to make contact with him in a few weeks to receive an assignment. This job would be the deciding factor if I would or wouldn't like doing event coverage, along with shooting car features for magazines. In 1990 I was given my first assignment. I am proud to say this past year made my nineteenth year of freelancing for the magazines. Therefore, yes I loved all aspects of the job in 1990 and still do today. Going to the shows through the years gave my husband and I many things that we couldn't get in any other job. We truly respect the many people we have met through the years. They unselfishly shared their love of Autosports along with the vision they have for creating their own automotive art. We respect their art as many have respected my vision in photographing their masterpiece. Through the many years of freelancing, we have acquired some great friendships across the world that might not have been possible had we not done the work for the magazines.
Over the course of nineteen years, I have seen many changes take place in the Autosports industry. When I first began freelancing for the magazines I never gave any consideration that I was delving into an industry that was a male dominated sport . Little did I realize that I could be making history for other women in the future wanting to do the same line of work. Some might possibly call me a pioneer in the field of freelancing for the Autosports industry. Similar to Shirley Muldowney, and Judy Lilly in drag racing or Lynn St James and Janet Guthrie in Indy cart racing to name a few. During those nineteen years, there were times when I began back at ground zero. Reproving myself to the magazines again that I am quite capable of doing the job! Just like many of you women and men, I have had my heartaches; however, there were angels along the way who helped me out by giving me breaks.
This brings me back to my reason why I'm doing LIA Magazine - Ladies in Autosports. The time has come for women in the industry of Autosports to get recognition for their accomplishments that go unnoticed. We also need to band together so other women coming into this great sport do not repeat our mistakes by sharing our valuable information. Please help me to get the word out about LIA Magazine. Let me know the kind of things that you would like to see in the online magazine. My hope is that by the sharing of your ideas from all walks of the automotive industry this will help us to shape the best direction for the online LIA Magazine. It will not only help us to put out a quality classy infotainment magazine, but you the viewer or reader will benefit from the valuable content available to all. Come on ladies lets make this magazine one class act for all of us. This is the 21st century!
Talk to you on the blog!
Your LIA Lady
Julia Aschenberg
liamag@mindspring.com
LIA Magazine-Ladies in Autosports
Hey Julia,
I would like to hear about how other girls got started doing whatever it is that they are doing in the car world. Where they encouraged or discouraged by family and friends when they made the decision to be part of the car world?
Michelle
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When I began freelancing for the automotive magazines I totally had the support of my husband. In the beginning I didn't let any of the rest of my family on my side or my husband's side know what I was doing. The reason why I didn't tell them was because I didn't want to be told that I couldn't do the freelancing. One of my brothers, who worked for a heavy construction trailer company, had different states that he covered for the said company. On one of his visits out to Iowa he went to a dealer, which happened to be in to street rodding. This gentleman was going through a magazine that had one of my early car features. He stated to my brother that he really liked the style of this photographer. After my brother looked at the article real good he started chuckling. The dealer asked him what is so funny? My brother told him you're not going to believe this, but that photography was created by my sister. When he got back home he gave me some slack about him traveling 8 hours to a dealer of his to only find out that I was freelancing for car magazines that he used to look at when he was a kid and still does today. Needless to say he was quite surprised as was the rest of the family. Once the families found out what I was doing I have always had their support. So, now that I think about it I'm very fortunate to have the backing of my immediate family and the extended family as well.
Your Lia Lady -- Julie
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Julie,
As you know we have been friends for many years, we have attended many car shows in town and out of town.
Julie is a very strong women and with no doubt she will see this through for
women to have something that never has been published before for women to learn and hear about other women in motor sports.
I was introduces to the "car world" through my husband also, before that it was just some type of transportation to me. I know now it can bring many great ties to meeting new friends and have fun in the warm months of the year. I have come to learn and respect the time and talent the men and women put in the restoring the show cars. It is a art in itself. I was also introduced to the Nascar World through my husband, we enjoyed going to the races at the Brickyard for 8 yrs. We even enjoyed seeing some of the race out of town. We have a son who is very much got bitten by the bug of the car world also.
I have a brother-in-law that is in drag racing and he to has introduce his wife and daughter the world of auto sports.
I would like to see stories of restoration of show cars, along with story lines for the different like of auto sports. I find it interesting how people get there breaks into the this world of cars.
Good Luck and Best Wishes with LIA.
Jan Gillam
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Jan,
Thank you very much for your support. Looking forward to this coming car season. As in the past years John and I look forward to meeting up with you guys at the local cruise ins, shows, and out of town shows. Please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested in LIA Magazine - Ladies in Autosports
Again, thanks for your support.
Your LIA Lady - Julia
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julia,
this is a great idea....i can't wait to see how all of this works out for you and john....my future wife has shown some major interest in cars..i can't wait to get her a project, so that we can both start wrenching on it together...good luck with this awesome endeavorer!!!!
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Thanks for the support. I am glad for you, Scott, that you have someone who shares your love of cars. Looking forward to talking to both of you about your future wrenching project. See you both at the shows.
Your LIA Lady - Julia
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I think what you are doing is awesome....you are showing that there is a different side to the automotive world other than stinky old smelly men working out in the garage...I know I'm looking forward to having my own project in the near future...GOOD LUCK!!!!
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Hey Karla,
This is exactly what I'm looking for out there with you women and gals. Wanting your own garage projects so you can get into the thick of things yourself, while still having fun learning and creating your masterpiece is what we like to hear from all of you.
You go girl!
Your LIA Lady - Julia
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I also think this is a great idea. I have been a true hot rod gal for over 30 years not only wreching on my own rides but driving across the country each year to different shows and events. I currently have two 1947 Oldsmobile convertibles, one done and one a project waiting in the wings for his turn. I would be honored to share my event coverages in your publication. I attend approx 30 events each year and write Big Olds "adventure stories" to go along with my photos.
I'm sorry we didn't meet at the Detroit Autorama as I was there for 4 days but I had no idea at the time such as online mag was being created.
Feel free to contact me via email. I look forward to seeing what's next in your world.
Your topless cruzn pal, Denise
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Denise,
Yes, we were there at Detroit from Thursday on spreading the word about LIA Magazine-Ladies in Autosports. The Detroit Autorama was the launching of the magazine. If you didn't find out about the magazine up there in Detroit then where/how did you find out about the e-zine? Also, are you one of the Lipstick Gals? If you are, we believe we met you in Louisville I believe in 2001.
I appreciate that you want to share your event coverage with LIA Magazine. Since this magazine is brand new we have very limited funds to pay for freelance work at this time. I would love to meet you at a show and sit down and talk with you about any and all of your ideas. You can call or email me if you like or just feel free to respond right here on the blog. Be sure to go to the LIA Magazine website and tell any other women that is in the automotive industry about the e-zine.
Thank you for your support and I look forward to talking to you in the future.
Sincerely,
Your LIA Lady
Julia Aschenberg
765-497-3735
liamag@mindspring.com
http://www.liamag.com/
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Denise,
Just found out from a very good friend that you two know each other from the H.A.M.B. Bob Anderson. You also knew another very good friend of ours, Bill Drake. Saw the picture of you and him from Goodguys Joliet 2007. After receiving an email from Bob Anderson we definitely need to meet and talk about the LIA Magazine. After freelancing for the last nineteen years I've met many people and so your name rang a bell, however, I couldn't put a face with your name. After Bob sent us the picture we realized who you were and probably spoke in the past at some show. Talk to you Later.
Sincerely,
Your LIA Lady
Julia Aschenberg
765-497-3735
liamag@mindspring.com
http://www.liamag.com/
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Julia,
Thank you so much for your efforts here! Getting the word out that girls can play with cars, too, is going to plow the way for our daughters to enjoy this sport as openly as our sons do!
My husband has been a gearhead since he was a boy. He introduced me to the world of street rods when we met and I was hooked! We began to involve ourselves even further in the automotive ethusiast community by starting Shiny-Hiney.com. I tell folks that he's the brains and keeps the business alive while I just work on the website and make things "pretty". I have to say that it's more than that, though. My gearhead husband involves me 100% and encourages me to let me creative juices flow.
More and more men seem to respect the woman in the garage, too. Most guys like gal and cars -- but it seems that more are accepting the fact that the girl can be under the hood as easily as on the hood!!
This is a good thing, Julia! I'm proud to be a woman in this industry and to spread the word around about "Ladies In Autosports". I will for sure add your link to Shiny-Hiney.com!!
Blessings!
Karla Crise
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Karla,
First of all thank you so much for the email, your support, and adding our magazine link to your website.
Yes, I believe gals can be involved with the cars right along beside the men. It is immportant for us to share the tribal knowledge with one another so the women coming into this sport will benefit from our mistakes.
It is very ironic that your husband introduced you to the world of street rodding. My husband is the reason why I'm obsessed with cars, drag racing, photography, working under the hood, etc. He also introduced me to this world. Our first date was the drags. He had tickets for the final day and didn't know who he'd take with him. Little did he realize I was waitig for him to ask me to go with him again. Needless to say he didn't ask me, however, when he found out I loved the racing he knew I was a gal he didn't want to let me get away. So, lets just say the rest is history.
It sounds like your husband respects you being in the garage, as does my husband. I know that many men have told my husband they'd kill to have their wife involved. And guess what they are getting involved. So I agree that more are accepting of the fact that a gal can be under the hood as easlily as on the hood. (I love that saying and just might use it if it's okay.)
I need to know from you women what kind of articles, features, what at the events, etc. that you gals would like to see in the online magazine.
Again, thank you for spreading the word about LIA Magazine-Ladies in Autosports. And thank you for adding the link to your website.
Looking forward to meeting you this summer.
Sincerely,
Your LIA Lady
Julia Aschenberg
765-497-3735
liamag@mindspring.com
http://www.liamag.com/
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