Women Take The Driver’s Seat At This Year’s Heels And Wheels Car Event

Due to the fact its inception in 2011, the Heels and Wheels all-ladies travel function has grown into a West Coast fixture, showcasing autos from prime suppliers, feminine market figures, and lots of chances to mingle. This calendar year marks the event’s 10th anniversary, a milestone for founder Christine Overstreet, who gravitated toward the concept after a occupation in PR. The to start with Heels and Wheels event she arranged took place in Palm Springs a 10 years in the past, bringing no extra than 30 individuals with each other to talk automobiles in a safe and sound room that felt worlds away from conventional motor vehicle events. Rather of specs and horsepower, the Heels and Wheels gatherings turned all about the dialogue that arose when all-feminine audiences shared what they wanted out of a vehicle.

Utilised to witnessing girls fade into the qualifications at male-dominated car or truck exhibits, Christine went out on a limb and structured an occasion exactly where fashion, practicality, and speed could co-exist. Steering clear of catering to stereotypes of what a woman who requires a car or truck appears to be like like, Christine asks manufacturers to pick the automobiles showcased with no enter on her aspect. When some featured models prioritize packability and operate, other people (like the convertible Volvo unveiled at 1 of the 1st Heels and Wheels events) embrace unique life. In Christine’s words and phrases, females have a tendency to look at automobiles in another way than men do—and not necessarily simply because they’re driving an full elementary faculty soccer group to a Saturday match. At this year’s Heels and Wheels, it was distinct that operate and aptitude could meet up with devoid of overpowering a single another—and that the celebration has cemented its place in the hearts of California auto enthusiasts.

I arrived at Santa Barbara’s Mar Monte Hotel on September 21st, immediately after a scenic drive up Freeway 1. Whilst Christine enjoys returning to selected unforgettable locations to host the event, she also tries to spice items up by going throughout the west coastline calendar year by calendar year. The areas she chooses are greatly based mostly on fleet sellers, close by lodging and the fantastic venue, which is how this year’s event came to Santa Barbara.

Following settling into Mar Monte, I attended Heels and Wheels’ opening reception sponsored by Jeep. The reception played host to the media company and feminine reps of each and every vehicle maker supporting at the celebration. Alongside with other visitors, the upcoming day I attended a presentation sponsored by autos.com that analyzed the links amongst electric car possession and gender, a very appropriate topic that provided some meals for imagined. It was nonetheless pretty early, so I put in the next hour accomplishing the automobile walk all around, exactly where reps of just about every organization shared data about the vehicle their brand name chose to bring to the party. This short introduction served me established my sights on which vehicles I certainly experienced to take a look at generate later that working day.

Following heading to close by Presqu’ile Winery (the host location), my team and I were being in a position to pick motor vehicles to try out out at our leisure, courtesy of the event’s organizers. A quick thirty minute driving loop showcasing winding roadways, scenic views and some street time on Freeway 101 was a fantastic harmony of motion and serenity, making it possible for each driver to practical experience the complete range of their auto. I exam drove the Lexus RX, Volvo C40 ReCharge, confined product Alfa Romeo Guila and the Aston Martin DBX, which I then drove all the way back to Santa Barbara. Tranquil, awesome and gathered, the Volvo, Alfa and Aston flew to the major of my list as I accomplished my examination drives. Hiding a 4. L Twin- Turbo V8 Engine, the 2022 Aston Martin DBX is the initial SUV the entire world-renowned organization has created in its century-spanning career. The Volvo C40 ReCharge was another pioneer, using the title of the company’s really very first purely electric powered SUV. The crossover in types only included to the automobile lineup, reiterating the position that not each individual woman has the exact thought of what constitutes a desire car or truck.

Following a community-ingredient centered lunch from Chef Julie Simon, I attended a further reception, this time sponsored by Honda, followed by evening meal (courtesy of Infiniti). By then, it was time to wrap up my Heels and Wheels encounter and mirror on the long lasting significance of an all-female push occasion. In my job interview with her, Christine brought up the energy of recognition and networking—two variables that participate in a enormous role in rising female visibility in specialized niche automotive circles.

By bringing jointly feminine market specialists, lovers and all the gals in involving, this year’s Heels and Wheels was, undeniably, a results. Even much more importantly, the celebration did not for a 2nd really feel contrived, or like it was designed to cater to a slew of requires attributed to females. It was, 1st and foremost, a generate exhibit. That authenticity, coupled with proficient reps, palms-on exam drives and opportunities to mingle, is what retains the dialogue flowing amongst the event’s attendees, yr right after 12 months.