July 10, 2025 • 17 mins
Do you love old trucks road rally racing, inspiring others and general Maker Shop Talk?
If so, join Tamara Robertson (Mythbusters, Seekers of Science) as she revs up the fun in this all new mini-season dedicated to the Hemming's Great Race and the amazing team of Trailblazing Creators assembled by Riley's Rebuilds!
As a shout-out to Race Sponsor Auto Krafters Inc., this episode kicks off with a Tech Talk about Steering Systems before Tamara sits down with Navigator, Trailblazer and Maker Extraordinaire Audrey ( @AudreysQuadries )!
Topics they cover include (but are surely not limited to):
- Social Media
- Collaborating with the #CreatorRace Team
- Steering Systems
- Autokrafters
- 66 Fairlane
- X-Cup Division
- Mooresville, NC
- The Hemming's Great Race
- Finding Community in Car Enthusiasts
- Working with Riley's Rebuilds
- Navigating for the First Time
- Being labeled a Trailblazer
- Jessi Combs and the Jessi Combs Foundation
- The Fastest Woman on Earth Documentary
- Inspiring Older Generations
- Audrey's Advice for new Racers
.. and so much more
As we dig into Season 3's 32nd episode of Tinkering Belles you're surely not going to want to miss it!
So join in on Tamara's adventure as a Maker as she works to amplify the BAMF Females Behind the Builds one interview at a time!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you enjoyed the show join in on the Maker adventure with Tamara and her guests on the Tinkering Belles Instagram page.
You can follow Audrey's adventures here, here, and here:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/audreysQuadries
Skills Sharing on Riley's Rebuilds - https://www.instagram.com/rileysrebuilds/
Skills Sharing with Complete Performance - https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14EVMsTiMeW/
Music for this Episode was provided by Bill Trowell Music. Visit BillTrowellMusic.com to hear more and to subscribe to Bill's Patreon, where he covers favorite showtunes, movie themes, classic rock and jazz, as well as requests from Patron's.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Tamara Robertson (00:00):
Greetings, shopmates, and welcome to
Tinkering Belles, a show aboutDIY, design, and all things
hands-on.
The sky's the limit as we talkprops, metalwork, cosplay,
woodwork, leather, electronics,and so much more.
I'm Tamara Robertson, yourhost, so strap on your tool
belts because we're about to getinto some skill sharing, y'all.
(00:24):
Today, I'm going to be joined bya maker who's keeping us true
and precise on the great race.
I don't want to give away toomuch, but at a very young age,
this maker is sharing her skillsto help spark more interest for
trades and motorsport.
So if that doesn't make youwant to stick around and hear
more, then you might be at thewrong podcast.
(00:49):
But first, let's go ahead andhave our tech talk of the day.
So we're going to be talkingall about the Hemming's Great
Race and all the parts thatbrought our fair lane back to
life.
Thanks in a big way toAuto Krafters, who supplied
everything from seats,seatbelts, and carpet to a new
gas tank, brakes, and steeringcomponents.
So let's back it up.
(01:10):
Where did steering systems gettheir start?
Early automobiles used tillarsteering.
Yep, similar to a boat rudder.
Steering wheels didn't evenbecome common until the early
1900s.
Now, vintage cars like our 1966Fairlane often had manual
(01:35):
steering boxes, so no powerassist on this one, which made
parking and slow turnsespecially difficult compared to
today's electric racks.
Now, power steering was firstintroduced in the 1950s using
hydraulic systems driven by theengine to reduce turning effort.
(01:56):
Classic Ford steering oftenuses recirculating ball
gearboxes, which can feel looseor vague compared to rack and
pinion systems unless fullyrebuilt.
Hence why every bussing, tierod, and joint matters.
Thanks to Auto Krafter's fulllineup of reproduction Ford
(02:16):
parts, we were able to restorethe handling and keep the
original character while givingour arms a little bit of a break
on the curves.
Well, that's it for your techtalk.
As always, you can join in onthe conversation with my maker
friends and me on the TinkeringBelles Instagram and X pages.
Just search for BellesTinkering, hit follow and share
your DIY adventures togetherwith us.
(02:38):
Have a tool you want to learnabout?
Let me know.
And it may be featured in afuture episode.
Tell us what you liked, whatyou hated, or possibly even what
we missed.
So now we're going to be gettinginto the main event.
And I'm so excited to introduceyou to our next maker.
So drum roll, please.
Presenting Audrey.
(02:58):
Audrey, thank you for beinghere.
How are you?
Audrey (03:00):
Thank you for having me.
I'm doing great.
Tamara Robertson (03:03):
Amazing.
Normally, I start these byasking my guest where the
audience can find you, followyou, and what they will find.
But I actually want to take itback a step because you actually
don't have social media.
Audrey (03:18):
No, I don't.
I don't post on social media oranything like that at all.
Tamara Robertson (03:23):
So in that case, where would you want me to
direct our audience?
Audrey (03:28):
You can find me making guest appearances, if you will,
on Riley's Rebuilds.
We have Instagram, Facebook.
YouTube.
So that's where I'm at.
Tamara Robertson (03:39):
that's how I met you, right?
Because of Riley's rebuilds.
And so I am what we call asuperhero scientist.
And as you know, or may notknow, most superheroes have an
origin story.
So I would love to start byletting the audience know your
gearhead origin story.
Where did you get your start?
(04:00):
What made you fall in love withit?
And why are you still doing ittoday?
Audrey (04:04):
Well, ever since I was little, I have loved cars, but
none of my family is into it atall.
I mean, even cousins, uncles,nobody.
And so I always loved workingwith my hands and seeing how
things work.
So when I was younger, I woulddo, you know, I'd find pallets
on the side of the road and tryto make something out of it.
(04:27):
Or if a, you know, drain gotclogged, I'd see if I could fix
it.
And, you know, I liked thatstuff, but I was never super
duper like, this is what I wantto do.
And then I, you know, it wasactually for a school project.
I went over to...
uh mr dane's house uh i go toschool with his son and i walk
(04:50):
into the garage and i was likewow like this is amazing uh this
the 66 fair lane that we'reactually taking on this race was
up on the lift and i was just iwas just amazed um you know and
so i just i got to talking withhim and i i realized that i
mean i would just i love carsand i would love to work on them
too And so that's kind of howthat relationship started.
(05:13):
And then they offered me a jobrebuilding carburetors.
And that was, I mean, I didn'teven know what a carburetor was,
but it was just amazing.
Tamara Robertson (05:25):
I love that.
And so- For those of you thatdon't know or haven't been
following along, we are inwhat's called the X-Cup
division.
So can you explain to theaudience a little bit about your
role with the team that makesus an X-Cup?
Audrey (05:43):
Yeah, so I'm going into my junior year of high school.
And the X-Cup division is forhigh school and college
students.
So for me, I'm the navigator onour team.
I just tell the driver where togo and what speed to be at.
And so, yeah, that's what I do.
Tamara Robertson (06:04):
Yeah.
And so we've been talking withall these interviews this season
about the Hemmings Great Race.
So we're actually in myhometown state right now in
North Carolina.
We had a great show in atMooresville last night as we
came across the finish line.
Had you ever heard of the GreatRace before that became where
(06:25):
the Fairlane was going?
Audrey (06:26):
I had not ever heard of it.
Tamara Robertson (06:28):
What were your first thoughts when you started
reading?
Audrey (06:31):
I was very excited about it.
I love road trips and myparents don't as much, which is
totally fine.
But, you know, having theopportunity to take a road trip,
but also a road trip in aclassic car.
I mean, that was just perfectcombination for me.
So I was yes.
Once I figured out what it was,I was just so excited.
Tamara Robertson (06:54):
And I've been hearing from a lot of the group
that has known you for a whilethat this trip has been very
transformative for you and whoyou are.
Can you tell the audience alittle bit more about that?
Audrey (07:05):
Yeah, I have just been absolutely loving it.
You know, the fair lane hasbeen giving us some issues, but
that means that I get to wrenchon it every night.
And I absolutely love that.
And, you know, also justgetting to meet all the great
people, you know, from all thesesmall towns, other racers.
I just love talking toeverybody because it really has
(07:27):
just been an amazing trip sofar.
Tamara Robertson (07:31):
I remember talking to them about whether or
not I could interview, andthey're like, wow.
Audrey's real quiet she doesn'tshe doesn't really talk that
much and then I get heremid-race and you are you're like
you're talking to everyoneyou're like shaking the hands
kissing the babies like I wouldnot have thought of you as a
quiet person at all
Audrey (07:50):
uh at home I am actually a pretty quiet person you know
but I don't know I just feellike you know here everybody you
know I know that everybodylikes the cars you know and so
that's just I know that I cantalk to them about cars.
And so that makes it reallyeasy.
Yeah,
Tamara Robertson (08:08):
it's kind of like the first time I walked
into a Comic-Con.
I was like, oh, this is wheremy people have been hiding all
of these years.
This is where they're at.
And so, like you said, you metRiley's Rebuild through...
well, I guess Dane's son, who Ihaven't actually met, and then
through Dane, and you guys arerebuilding the carburetors and
(08:29):
obviously the fair lane.
What's the next project thatwhen you guys get back is going
to be on your desk, other thanan overhaul of the fair lane?
What's the next thing you'reexcited to build?
Audrey (08:42):
Yeah, other than doing both of those.
Both of the fair lanes.
Tamara Robertson (08:46):
There's two.
There is .
Audrey (08:49):
um yeah but at work you know i just i love to learn
anything and everything i can soi know mr dane owns one of the
little red express trucks um sowe may work on that um you know
yeah it's just really whateverhe's got going on if there's
anything that i can learn i'mmore than willing to learn and
(09:10):
even when it comes to you knowdoing the social media i'm i'm
willing to appear in theirvideos, you know, because it's
just learning.
You know, I also love learningabout the business side of our
company as well.
You know, it's not justmechanical stuff that I'm
learning about.
I'm also learning about, youknow, doing taxes and how do you
run this business and how doyou calculate, you know, how
(09:33):
your expenses versus yourprofit.
I mean, you know, it's just Ijust love it all.
So, yeah.
yeah i'm just looking forwardto getting back and and working
Tamara Robertson (09:43):
so i love that because i mean outside of like
you know, I guess with yourfirst job, you always got to
start learning taxes, but like,no, learning the business side,
like it's like, you're like inan apprenticeship on multiple
levels, you know, that's, that'sreally, really incredible.
So, okay.
Speaking of being okay withbeing on other people's
(10:03):
channels, there are a lot ofvideos of you right now on
Facebook.
Tell me about thatcollaboration and also about
your truck
Audrey (10:16):
Well, yes, it's been it is just been the most fun
appearing in these otherpeople's videos.
We've got, I believe, like 12other women here or 11 other
women.
And yeah, it is just the mostfun to be on their YouTube or
their Instagram because they allhave a different little style
(10:37):
of it.
And so it's just the most fun.
But yeah.
Tamara Robertson (10:44):
You're going to need to tell them about the
truck.
Audrey (10:45):
Oh, yeah.
You got to tell me about thetruck.
Absolutely.
I drive a 97-250.
It's a 7.3 diesel, and I justlove it more than anything.
Tamara Robertson (10:55):
And so you've actually rebuilt this truck?
Audrey (10:58):
No.
No, not this one.
We got it, and it's in prettygood shape.
I wouldn't say that it's aproject at all.
It's pretty solid right now, soI daily drive it, and it is
just awesome.
It's just a workforce.
This is the best truck
Tamara Robertson (11:14):
I love that.
So as you were saying earlier,you're our navigator, which I
mean, when you have 10 contentcreators that are going in every
direction, that's already a bitlike herding feral cats.
But now on top of it, you haveto keep us tried and true and
precise.
And that's going super slow insome areas, super fast, having
(11:35):
to wait.
Describe to me what thatexperience of being a navigator,
because this is your first timenavigating, right?
So what that experience hasbeen like for you on this
journey?
Audrey (11:48):
At first, it was definitely a little tough, you
know, because just never doingit before.
Nobody had ever done it before,you know, and I kind of knew
coming into it, I could studyand all, you know, and try to
figure it out.
But At a certain point, I justhad to do it.
So on those first couple ofdays, I just kind of had to do
it.
And now I'm starting tounderstand more, you know, and
(12:12):
everything.
But communication is definitelykey, you know, when with the
driver and even, you know, inthe backseat.
Hey, y'all for a minute.
I got to talk to the driver,you know.
So just having that open lineof communication is so
important.
And I've definitely learnedthat, you know.
through all of this as well.
Tamara Robertson (12:34):
Nice.
Well, so as we're talkingabout, Riley basically assembled
this team of real deal womenthat we can all wrench on the
truck or wrench on the truck.
I want to be on the truck.
Can wrench on the car, can keepit going, can race it and can
talk about it and share it witheveryone.
But one of the words that weutilize a lot is trailblazer.
(12:56):
Had you ever thought ofyourself as a trailblazer before
coming and joining this team?
Audrey (13:02):
I don't think so, no.
Tamara Robertson (13:03):
What do you think it's going to mean to you
to continue to be a trailblazermoving forward?
Audrey (13:09):
I think staying in the automotive industry, you know,
despite obviously it beingmale-dominated, you know, that's
really important to me because,you know, it doesn't really
matter.
You know, if I'm going to dothe work, I'm going to do the
work, right?
So...
You know, yeah, I guess that iskind of trailblazing.
Tamara Robertson (13:29):
And so we're, you know, we're all actually
kind of, we're, we're blazingtrouble.
Really.
We're actually repeating thetread marks of a very amazing
trailblazer.
And that's Ms.
Jessi Combs, who was a grandMarshall in 2016.
And so had you ever heard ofJessi Combs prior to finding out
we were the charity partnerfoundation, or is this all new?
Audrey (13:53):
I had heard a lot of good stuff about that
documentary that had come out.
Um, and just how amazing shewas.
and just, you know, how Ireally, really needed to watch
it, you know, because that's howimportant she was and how
inspiring she was.
Tamara Robertson (14:10):
What's it been like to see the little girls
when they see us in thatvehicle?
Audrey (14:13):
It has just been the most touching thing ever.
You know, the little girls, butalso the older women, too.
You know, talking about how,oh, I wish I could have done
this when I was younger, but,you know, there was no way we
could have done this, right?
And so that...
inspires me to keep goingbecause you know for all the
women that weren't able to youknow for all the women that
(14:36):
couldn't so it's just oh it'sjust amazing to see everybody
Tamara Robertson (14:40):
That's incredible because like I said,
you're the youngest one heresurrounded by a bunch of, you
know, of all ages, you know, soyou're getting the gamut of the
pipeline of women in thisindustry and all the different
stories that we have andexperiences.
And so I have to ask if you,you know, speaking of like
(15:00):
passing the torch and, you know,this older generation of women
giving insights and we've gotthe grand marshals that have
been sharing so much knowledgewith us, If you could go back 15
days and give yourself adviceabout this event, what would it
be?
So if you met yourself in 10days.
Audrey (15:21):
I would just say listen to everybody, you know, and I
have, but listen to everybodyeven more because everyone here
has got good stories to tell,good advice, and, you know,
anybody here will help you outas well, you know, and it's just
amazing.
Tamara Robertson (15:39):
And so speaking to, you know, kids of
your generation and younger, ifthey were looking to get into
the automotive motorsport sideof it, what's some advice you'd
give them?
Audrey (15:53):
Learn in any way you can, whether it's a YouTube
video, you know, somebody, youknow, open your ears, listen,
because that's the way you'regoing to learn and you're going
to make connections as well.
You know, try to makeconnections with people because
that will go so far.
Tamara Robertson (16:14):
I love that.
And so I have one question thatI ask every guest that's on the
show.
And that is, if you were asuperhero, what would your
superpower be in a while?
Audrey (16:27):
I think I'd like to be invisible, you know, just to,
yeah, sure.
Just to be able to kind of, Ifeel like that that would be
good and helpful sometimes.
So, okay.
I got asked because
Tamara Robertson (16:39):
when people want to be invisible, like
there's, there's a couple ofdifferent reasons that could
drive that.
So are you going to be one ofthose sneaky invisible people?
Are you going to be, are yougoing to use your power for good
or evil?
Audrey (16:50):
I think good.
I think for good, you know,maybe I can sneak in all the bad
guys or something
Tamara Robertson (16:57):
like that.
I like that.
Unknown (16:58):
Okay.
Tamara Robertson (16:59):
And so we are headed to the finish line today
in Irmo, South Carolina.
We are super excited to be onour way.
This has been an amazingadventure.
Some of us like Audrey havebeen on it much longer than the
rest of us, but thank you forjoining in this journey for the
great race.
That is it for this episode ofTinkering Belles.
(17:21):
This episode is assembled andready for delivery.
Audrey, this has been amazing.
Thank you so much.
Like literally we would...
literally not get to wherewe're supposed to be going if it
was not for you and we wouldn'thave a vehicle to do it so
Audrey (17:36):
thank you so much.
Tamara Robertson (17:36):
I want to thank you for choosing tinkering
bells as your user's manual forall things maker on a bi-weekly
basis if you want to continueto hear more don't forget to
rate and review the show on yourpodcasting app of choice as
well as sharing it with yourfriends i look forward to seeing
you next week until then don'tforget to keep making
Greetings, shopmates, and welcome to
Tinkering Belles, a show aboutDIY, design, and all things
hands-on.
The sky's the limit as we talkprops, metalwork, cosplay,
woodwork, leather, electronics,and so much more.
I'm Tamara Robertson, yourhost, so strap on your tool
belts because we're about to getinto some skill sharing, y'all.
(00:24):
Today, I'm going to be joined bya maker who's keeping us true
and precise on the great race.
I don't want to give away toomuch, but at a very young age,
this maker is sharing her skillsto help spark more interest for
trades and motorsport.
So if that doesn't make youwant to stick around and hear
more, then you might be at thewrong podcast.
(00:49):
But first, let's go ahead andhave our tech talk of the day.
So we're going to be talkingall about the Hemming's Great
Race and all the parts thatbrought our fair lane back to
life.
Thanks in a big way toAuto Krafters, who supplied
everything from seats,seatbelts, and carpet to a new
gas tank, brakes, and steeringcomponents.
So let's back it up.
(01:10):
Where did steering systems gettheir start?
Early automobiles used tillarsteering.
Yep, similar to a boat rudder.
Steering wheels didn't evenbecome common until the early
1900s.
Now, vintage cars like our 1966Fairlane often had manual
(01:35):
steering boxes, so no powerassist on this one, which made
parking and slow turnsespecially difficult compared to
today's electric racks.
Now, power steering was firstintroduced in the 1950s using
hydraulic systems driven by theengine to reduce turning effort.
(01:56):
Classic Ford steering oftenuses recirculating ball
gearboxes, which can feel looseor vague compared to rack and
pinion systems unless fullyrebuilt.
Hence why every bussing, tierod, and joint matters.
Thanks to Auto Krafter's fulllineup of reproduction Ford
(02:16):
parts, we were able to restorethe handling and keep the
original character while givingour arms a little bit of a break
on the curves.
Well, that's it for your techtalk.
As always, you can join in onthe conversation with my maker
friends and me on the TinkeringBelles Instagram and X pages.
Just search for BellesTinkering, hit follow and share
your DIY adventures togetherwith us.
(02:38):
Have a tool you want to learnabout?
Let me know.
And it may be featured in afuture episode.
Tell us what you liked, whatyou hated, or possibly even what
we missed.
So now we're going to be gettinginto the main event.
And I'm so excited to introduceyou to our next maker.
So drum roll, please.
Presenting Audrey.
(02:58):
Audrey, thank you for beinghere.
How are you?
Audrey (03:00):
Thank you for having me.
I'm doing great.
Tamara Robertson (03:03):
Amazing.
Normally, I start these byasking my guest where the
audience can find you, followyou, and what they will find.
But I actually want to take itback a step because you actually
don't have social media.
Audrey (03:18):
No, I don't.
I don't post on social media oranything like that at all.
Tamara Robertson (03:23):
So in that case, where would you want me to
direct our audience?
Audrey (03:28):
You can find me making guest appearances, if you will,
on Riley's Rebuilds.
We have Instagram, Facebook.
YouTube.
So that's where I'm at.
Tamara Robertson (03:39):
that's how I met you, right?
Because of Riley's rebuilds.
And so I am what we call asuperhero scientist.
And as you know, or may notknow, most superheroes have an
origin story.
So I would love to start byletting the audience know your
gearhead origin story.
Where did you get your start?
(04:00):
What made you fall in love withit?
And why are you still doing ittoday?
Audrey (04:04):
Well, ever since I was little, I have loved cars, but
none of my family is into it atall.
I mean, even cousins, uncles,nobody.
And so I always loved workingwith my hands and seeing how
things work.
So when I was younger, I woulddo, you know, I'd find pallets
on the side of the road and tryto make something out of it.
(04:27):
Or if a, you know, drain gotclogged, I'd see if I could fix
it.
And, you know, I liked thatstuff, but I was never super
duper like, this is what I wantto do.
And then I, you know, it wasactually for a school project.
I went over to...
uh mr dane's house uh i go toschool with his son and i walk
(04:50):
into the garage and i was likewow like this is amazing uh this
the 66 fair lane that we'reactually taking on this race was
up on the lift and i was just iwas just amazed um you know and
so i just i got to talking withhim and i i realized that i
mean i would just i love carsand i would love to work on them
too And so that's kind of howthat relationship started.
(05:13):
And then they offered me a jobrebuilding carburetors.
And that was, I mean, I didn'teven know what a carburetor was,
but it was just amazing.
Tamara Robertson (05:25):
I love that.
And so- For those of you thatdon't know or haven't been
following along, we are inwhat's called the X-Cup
division.
So can you explain to theaudience a little bit about your
role with the team that makesus an X-Cup?
Audrey (05:43):
Yeah, so I'm going into my junior year of high school.
And the X-Cup division is forhigh school and college
students.
So for me, I'm the navigator onour team.
I just tell the driver where togo and what speed to be at.
And so, yeah, that's what I do.
Tamara Robertson (06:04):
Yeah.
And so we've been talking withall these interviews this season
about the Hemmings Great Race.
So we're actually in myhometown state right now in
North Carolina.
We had a great show in atMooresville last night as we
came across the finish line.
Had you ever heard of the GreatRace before that became where
(06:25):
the Fairlane was going?
Audrey (06:26):
I had not ever heard of it.
Tamara Robertson (06:28):
What were your first thoughts when you started
reading?
Audrey (06:31):
I was very excited about it.
I love road trips and myparents don't as much, which is
totally fine.
But, you know, having theopportunity to take a road trip,
but also a road trip in aclassic car.
I mean, that was just perfectcombination for me.
So I was yes.
Once I figured out what it was,I was just so excited.
Tamara Robertson (06:54):
And I've been hearing from a lot of the group
that has known you for a whilethat this trip has been very
transformative for you and whoyou are.
Can you tell the audience alittle bit more about that?
Audrey (07:05):
Yeah, I have just been absolutely loving it.
You know, the fair lane hasbeen giving us some issues, but
that means that I get to wrenchon it every night.
And I absolutely love that.
And, you know, also justgetting to meet all the great
people, you know, from all thesesmall towns, other racers.
I just love talking toeverybody because it really has
(07:27):
just been an amazing trip sofar.
Tamara Robertson (07:31):
I remember talking to them about whether or
not I could interview, andthey're like, wow.
Audrey's real quiet she doesn'tshe doesn't really talk that
much and then I get heremid-race and you are you're like
you're talking to everyoneyou're like shaking the hands
kissing the babies like I wouldnot have thought of you as a
quiet person at all
Audrey (07:50):
uh at home I am actually a pretty quiet person you know
but I don't know I just feellike you know here everybody you
know I know that everybodylikes the cars you know and so
that's just I know that I cantalk to them about cars.
And so that makes it reallyeasy.
Yeah,
Tamara Robertson (08:08):
it's kind of like the first time I walked
into a Comic-Con.
I was like, oh, this is wheremy people have been hiding all
of these years.
This is where they're at.
And so, like you said, you metRiley's Rebuild through...
well, I guess Dane's son, who Ihaven't actually met, and then
through Dane, and you guys arerebuilding the carburetors and
(08:29):
obviously the fair lane.
What's the next project thatwhen you guys get back is going
to be on your desk, other thanan overhaul of the fair lane?
What's the next thing you'reexcited to build?
Audrey (08:42):
Yeah, other than doing both of those.
Both of the fair lanes.
Tamara Robertson (08:46):
There's two.
There is .
Audrey (08:49):
um yeah but at work you know i just i love to learn
anything and everything i can soi know mr dane owns one of the
little red express trucks um sowe may work on that um you know
yeah it's just really whateverhe's got going on if there's
anything that i can learn i'mmore than willing to learn and
(09:10):
even when it comes to you knowdoing the social media i'm i'm
willing to appear in theirvideos, you know, because it's
just learning.
You know, I also love learningabout the business side of our
company as well.
You know, it's not justmechanical stuff that I'm
learning about.
I'm also learning about, youknow, doing taxes and how do you
run this business and how doyou calculate, you know, how
(09:33):
your expenses versus yourprofit.
I mean, you know, it's just Ijust love it all.
So, yeah.
yeah i'm just looking forwardto getting back and and working
Tamara Robertson (09:43):
so i love that because i mean outside of like
you know, I guess with yourfirst job, you always got to
start learning taxes, but like,no, learning the business side,
like it's like, you're like inan apprenticeship on multiple
levels, you know, that's, that'sreally, really incredible.
So, okay.
Speaking of being okay withbeing on other people's
(10:03):
channels, there are a lot ofvideos of you right now on
Facebook.
Tell me about thatcollaboration and also about
your truck
Audrey (10:16):
Well, yes, it's been it is just been the most fun
appearing in these otherpeople's videos.
We've got, I believe, like 12other women here or 11 other
women.
And yeah, it is just the mostfun to be on their YouTube or
their Instagram because they allhave a different little style
(10:37):
of it.
And so it's just the most fun.
But yeah.
Tamara Robertson (10:44):
You're going to need to tell them about the
truck.
Audrey (10:45):
Oh, yeah.
You got to tell me about thetruck.
Absolutely.
I drive a 97-250.
It's a 7.3 diesel, and I justlove it more than anything.
Tamara Robertson (10:55):
And so you've actually rebuilt this truck?
Audrey (10:58):
No.
No, not this one.
We got it, and it's in prettygood shape.
I wouldn't say that it's aproject at all.
It's pretty solid right now, soI daily drive it, and it is
just awesome.
It's just a workforce.
This is the best truck
Tamara Robertson (11:14):
I love that.
So as you were saying earlier,you're our navigator, which I
mean, when you have 10 contentcreators that are going in every
direction, that's already a bitlike herding feral cats.
But now on top of it, you haveto keep us tried and true and
precise.
And that's going super slow insome areas, super fast, having
(11:35):
to wait.
Describe to me what thatexperience of being a navigator,
because this is your first timenavigating, right?
So what that experience hasbeen like for you on this
journey?
Audrey (11:48):
At first, it was definitely a little tough, you
know, because just never doingit before.
Nobody had ever done it before,you know, and I kind of knew
coming into it, I could studyand all, you know, and try to
figure it out.
But At a certain point, I justhad to do it.
So on those first couple ofdays, I just kind of had to do
it.
And now I'm starting tounderstand more, you know, and
(12:12):
everything.
But communication is definitelykey, you know, when with the
driver and even, you know, inthe backseat.
Hey, y'all for a minute.
I got to talk to the driver,you know.
So just having that open lineof communication is so
important.
And I've definitely learnedthat, you know.
through all of this as well.
Tamara Robertson (12:34):
Nice.
Well, so as we're talkingabout, Riley basically assembled
this team of real deal womenthat we can all wrench on the
truck or wrench on the truck.
I want to be on the truck.
Can wrench on the car, can keepit going, can race it and can
talk about it and share it witheveryone.
But one of the words that weutilize a lot is trailblazer.
(12:56):
Had you ever thought ofyourself as a trailblazer before
coming and joining this team?
Audrey (13:02):
I don't think so, no.
Tamara Robertson (13:03):
What do you think it's going to mean to you
to continue to be a trailblazermoving forward?
Audrey (13:09):
I think staying in the automotive industry, you know,
despite obviously it beingmale-dominated, you know, that's
really important to me because,you know, it doesn't really
matter.
You know, if I'm going to dothe work, I'm going to do the
work, right?
So...
You know, yeah, I guess that iskind of trailblazing.
Tamara Robertson (13:29):
And so we're, you know, we're all actually
kind of, we're, we're blazingtrouble.
Really.
We're actually repeating thetread marks of a very amazing
trailblazer.
And that's Ms.
Jessi Combs, who was a grandMarshall in 2016.
And so had you ever heard ofJessi Combs prior to finding out
we were the charity partnerfoundation, or is this all new?
Audrey (13:53):
I had heard a lot of good stuff about that
documentary that had come out.
Um, and just how amazing shewas.
and just, you know, how Ireally, really needed to watch
it, you know, because that's howimportant she was and how
inspiring she was.
Tamara Robertson (14:10):
What's it been like to see the little girls
when they see us in thatvehicle?
Audrey (14:13):
It has just been the most touching thing ever.
You know, the little girls, butalso the older women, too.
You know, talking about how,oh, I wish I could have done
this when I was younger, but,you know, there was no way we
could have done this, right?
And so that...
inspires me to keep goingbecause you know for all the
women that weren't able to youknow for all the women that
(14:36):
couldn't so it's just oh it'sjust amazing to see everybody
Tamara Robertson (14:40):
That's incredible because like I said,
you're the youngest one heresurrounded by a bunch of, you
know, of all ages, you know, soyou're getting the gamut of the
pipeline of women in thisindustry and all the different
stories that we have andexperiences.
And so I have to ask if you,you know, speaking of like
(15:00):
passing the torch and, you know,this older generation of women
giving insights and we've gotthe grand marshals that have
been sharing so much knowledgewith us, If you could go back 15
days and give yourself adviceabout this event, what would it
be?
So if you met yourself in 10days.
Audrey (15:21):
I would just say listen to everybody, you know, and I
have, but listen to everybodyeven more because everyone here
has got good stories to tell,good advice, and, you know,
anybody here will help you outas well, you know, and it's just
amazing.
Tamara Robertson (15:39):
And so speaking to, you know, kids of
your generation and younger, ifthey were looking to get into
the automotive motorsport sideof it, what's some advice you'd
give them?
Audrey (15:53):
Learn in any way you can, whether it's a YouTube
video, you know, somebody, youknow, open your ears, listen,
because that's the way you'regoing to learn and you're going
to make connections as well.
You know, try to makeconnections with people because
that will go so far.
Tamara Robertson (16:14):
I love that.
And so I have one question thatI ask every guest that's on the
show.
And that is, if you were asuperhero, what would your
superpower be in a while?
Audrey (16:27):
I think I'd like to be invisible, you know, just to,
yeah, sure.
Just to be able to kind of, Ifeel like that that would be
good and helpful sometimes.
So, okay.
I got asked because
Tamara Robertson (16:39):
when people want to be invisible, like
there's, there's a couple ofdifferent reasons that could
drive that.
So are you going to be one ofthose sneaky invisible people?
Are you going to be, are yougoing to use your power for good
or evil?
Audrey (16:50):
I think good.
I think for good, you know,maybe I can sneak in all the bad
guys or something
Tamara Robertson (16:57):
like that.
I like that.
Unknown (16:58):
Okay.
Tamara Robertson (16:59):
And so we are headed to the finish line today
in Irmo, South Carolina.
We are super excited to be onour way.
This has been an amazingadventure.
Some of us like Audrey havebeen on it much longer than the
rest of us, but thank you forjoining in this journey for the
great race.
That is it for this episode ofTinkering Belles.
(17:21):
This episode is assembled andready for delivery.
Audrey, this has been amazing.
Thank you so much.
Like literally we would...
literally not get to wherewe're supposed to be going if it
was not for you and we wouldn'thave a vehicle to do it so
Audrey (17:36):
thank you so much.
Tamara Robertson (17:36):
I want to thank you for choosing tinkering
bells as your user's manual forall things maker on a bi-weekly
basis if you want to continueto hear more don't forget to
rate and review the show on yourpodcasting app of choice as
well as sharing it with yourfriends i look forward to seeing
you next week until then don'tforget to keep making
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