July 15, 2025 • 33 mins
When Ella Wu Heilman climbed onto her first PW50 motorcycle at just two years old, no one could have predicted the remarkable journey ahead. Now fifteen and speaking with the wisdom of a veteran racer, Ella shares her extraordinary thirteen-year motorsports journey that's taken her from backyard dirt tracks to competing on a Kawasaki Ninja 400.
The Pacific Northwest teenager reveals how her father's passion for dirt bikes sparked her own enduring love for racing, creating a foundation that would carry her through multiple disciplines of motorcycle competition. From early days riding in fields to her current racing schedule that spans Washington and Oregon, Ella articulates the unique progression that's shaped her identity both on and off the track.
What stands out most in this conversation is Ella's profound understanding of what makes motorsports special: "The community is so strong. You learn so much from other people and their experiences... it creates this bond with people that you can't find in everyday life." This sense of belonging drives her forward even when balancing the demands of high school, friendships, and competitive racing becomes challenging. Her thoughtful approach to managing these competing priorities demonstrates a maturity that belies her fifteen years.
Particularly fascinating is Ella's experience as often the only teenage girl competing against adult men in their 20s and 40s. Rather than being intimidated, she's embraced the challenge: "I keep up with them. There's been times where I've beaten them." This quiet confidence, coupled with her grandmother's trackside support (leading to a heartwarming story about beating another grandmother's grandson), showcases the changing landscape for women in motorsports and the intergenerational connections racing can foster.
Subscribe to hear more inspiring stories from women changing the landscape of motorsports, and follow Ella's journey on Instagram as she continues breaking barriers on two wheels. What racing memories have shaped your own journey?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Melinda Russell (00:02):
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Because gratitude builds greattracks.
Hello everyone, this is MelindaRussell with the Women's
Motorsports Network podcast, andmy guest today is Ella Wu
Heilman, and that's sweet.
(01:53):
She just waved at all of you,so if you're listening to it,
I'll just tell you she waved andsaid hi, she's such a sweet,
sweet young girl and I'm excitedto hear about her story in
motorsports.
But first, ella, I want towelcome you to the show and I
would like you to share a littlebit about yourself, your pets,
what other sports you do, allthose kinds of things that
(02:14):
people want to know about you,yeah.
Ella Wu-Heilman (02:16):
I'm Ella, I'm 15.
I live in the Pacific Northwestin Washington.
I've been riding motorcyclesfor 13 years now.
I've tried plenty of othersports like soccer and karate,
but none of them have justcalled my name, unlike racing.
And I have three pets right nowand I just got out of school
(02:40):
and life's been great.
Melinda Russell (02:42):
So you're out for the summer.
Ella Wu-Heilman (02:44):
Yes, I just got out two days ago actually.
Melinda Russell (02:48):
Oh wow, so you guys go a long time then.
Ella Wu-Heilman (02:51):
Yeah, we had a lot of power outage days.
Melinda Russell (02:54):
So, make those up.
And then, when do you startschool?
After Labor Day or before?
Ella Wu-Heilman (03:01):
I start school in the middle of August.
Melinda Russell (03:04):
Oh yeah, so that was a long, a long year,
wasn't it?
Ella Wu-Heilman (03:07):
Yeah, very long .
Melinda Russell (03:09):
Yeah, it's going to be a short summer, so
you got to make the most of itfor sure.
So you're 15 years old andyou've been riding motorcycles
for 13 years, so you started asa little tiny girl.
Ella Wu-Heilman (03:22):
Yes, I did.
Melinda Russell (03:23):
Wow, so we'll get it.
We'll get into that a littlemore.
You have three pets.
What kind of pets do you have?
Ella Wu-Heilman (03:29):
I have two cats and one dog.
I'm a big cat lover, I wouldsay, but I also do like my dogs.
Melinda Russell (03:36):
Okay, all right , and do you have any siblings?
Ella Wu-Heilman (03:40):
I don't.
I am an only child.
Melinda Russell (03:42):
Okay, all right , so there's nothing wrong with
that.
Ella Wu-Heilman (03:45):
Get all your mom's attention.
Melinda Russell (03:46):
Right, that's great For sure.
So, ella, tell me, how did youget interested at two years old,
to ride motorcycles, and nowyou're involved in motorsports.
Ella Wu-Heilman (03:59):
My dad had grew up in eastern Washington and
around there it's all farms andall of that.
So he grew up riding ATVs anddirt bikes and tractors and all
that and he loved riding dirtbikes all the time and it
continued with him into hisadult years.
And then I came along and hewanted to put that passion
(04:19):
towards me and, you know, reallyset me up to know learning how
to drive in the future and howlearning of dirt bike or a
motorcycle may help with that.
And I started off, you know,riding around in like little
fields on like a little PW 50and him just learning me and
then eventually going to, youknow, dirt tracks and stuff like
(04:40):
that.
Melinda Russell (04:40):
Yeah, yeah, and it just gets in your blood,
doesn't it?
You go to the track and thenyou're Dad.
When are we going back to thetrack?
I can hear you saying that tohim for sure, yeah.
So, ella, what's your favoritething about being involved in
motorsports?
Ella Wu-Heilman (04:56):
The community.
The community is so strong.
You learn so much from otherpeople and other people's
experiences and you know it'slovely finding other people that
really love the same passion asyou and it just creates this.
You know strong bond withpeople that you can't find you
know in everyday life like Ihave friends in school and stuff
(05:18):
like that.
But that bond is way differentthan the bond I have with people
who race, and you know I alsoI'm a big adrenaline junkie, so
the adrenaline that comes withit is also like you can't find
that anywhere else either.
Melinda Russell (05:33):
No, that's true , and you know I often ask kids
how their classmates or friendsyou know when they're off doing
something else on the weekendand you're like no, I can't, I'm
racing.
They don't get it, but but it'ssuch, if you're passionate
about racing, you're not goingto miss racing to go to the
movie.
I'm sorry, you can watch it onTV later or whatever.
(05:56):
You can't redo the race, and sothat's.
That's something that I think alot of people who are not
involved in mother sports don'tunderstand about all of us that
are, because we are seriousabout not missing out on
whatever it might be that we canwatch or be a part of for sure.
Ella Wu-Heilman (06:13):
Yeah.
Melinda Russell (06:14):
So tell me, what do you race?
How you know?
What did you get started?
You got started on little 50 CC, you said so.
Where have you gone from there?
Ella Wu-Heilman (06:23):
Well, I, the biggest bike I race right now is
a kawasaki ninja 400, which isway bigger than a 50 oh yeah but
I've gone from, you know, inthe beginning to rate, only
racing dirt.
I hadn't touched a street bikeor anything like that.
So in my dirt days I was racing125s and little 85s and then
(06:48):
COVID hit and every track inAmerica shut down, so pretty
much yeah, very limited.
So I only rode like littletrails and then that was it.
And then my dad had brought upyou know, supermoto and riding
on tracks because he had gone toa couple of track days with
bigger bikes like that and hewanted to get me involved in
(07:10):
that because I hadn't touched abike at all during COVID and he
wanted to regain confidence andstart riding again.
So I picked up a YCF 125 andthat got shipped and me and my
dad built it up and then I soongot comfortable on that bike and
then started on a Honda 150.
(07:31):
And that's what I race insupermoto.
And now I'm involved with Wimra.
So now I'm racing a KawasakiNinja 400.
Melinda Russell (07:39):
Wow, you went from a 150 to a 400.
Yeah, that's a big, that's abig jump.
Um, what was the hardest thingfor you to overcome when you
jumped to the 400?
Ella Wu-Heilman (07:51):
I was really hard on myself.
You know, I didn't think I wasgonna get it or I wasn't gonna
use that bike to a fullpotential right away, because I
was so used to a 150 and growingup in those classes and still
being from an amateur class,going up to a novice class and
then advanced class, and I justthought I wasn't capable of
(08:16):
doing it.
And you know, being out therewith the older people on this
way bigger bike because I wasout with older people on the 150
but the bigger bikes is just sodifferent well, they're heavier
for one thing, yeah, and youdon't look like a very big girl,
so it probably outweighs you byseveral hundred pounds yes, it
(08:38):
does.
yeah, and I just thought, youknow I had to gain this
confidence to being on it, justsitting on it, and I've only
been on it a couple of times.
You know school's held me backa little bit, but I just have to
keep telling myself you knowI'm going to get there.
I haven't been on it a lot oftimes but it's.
(08:58):
It will come to me like it came, like how my 150 did so that's
all I can tell myself yeah, andit's just gaining confidence and
seat time and it'll all getthere.
Melinda Russell (09:09):
For sure is.
Is motorcycle racing somethingthat you think you want to do
for a long time?
Ella Wu-Heilman (09:16):
you for sure.
I don't think I'll ever let itgo.
I think it will always be therewith me.
Melinda Russell (09:20):
I figured, figured as much because you're
you.
Just your smile is from ear toear when you talk about it, for
sure.
So do you work on the bike ordoes somebody else work on it,
or does it really need much workin between the races?
Ella Wu-Heilman (09:38):
My dad has definitely restored a couple of
bikes other than our race bikes,so he's got some knowledge in
that.
But I think some of our raceprep he's definitely Wimra is
very like stingy on what youneed to have on the bike and
what you can't have on the bike.
So he's read the list of thingstop to bottom and made sure you
(10:03):
know I have what I need to have.
So he's worked on that.
And then some other big, bigprojects.
We take it to Two Wheel DinoWorks, which is a shop out in
Washington, but other than thatall of our bikes stay in our
little little garage and youknow, have some time to work on
it.
My dad teaches me some thingsand I'm able to learn.
(10:25):
You know what goes on in thebike, not just you know riding
it, but you know knowing what Ineed to do.
Melinda Russell (10:31):
Yeah, how it works, how it makes, how it
makes everything go for sure.
Yeah, so you go to school, youum.
Ella Wu-Heilman (10:41):
are you involved in any other activities
at school, Mm hmm, you, are youinvolved in any other
activities at school?
Um I, this was only my freshmanyear that I finished, so I was
mainly focused on testing thewaters.
Melinda Russell (10:57):
You know school and getting everything figured
out.
Yeah, and that's a big deal toget into high school, isn't it?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, there'sa.
It's a.
It's a big change from beingthe eighth grader.
That's like you're the oldestones and then you get to high
school and now you're theyoungest ones and then you know,
kids grow a lot in those fouryears.
So there's a lot of agedifference between.
So you know and you're busy,you have friends and you do
(11:19):
things.
How do you take care of Ella?
How do you make sure that Ellasleeps good, eats good?
Ella Wu-Heilman (11:33):
gets her homework done, does all the
things that she needs to do.
I really put my school workfirst.
I think Sometimes I miss.
I do miss out on races that Ireally want to go to, like last
week.
To Like last week I had myfinals all going on and I did
have to miss a big race and Ihad to.
My dad did have to text people.
(11:54):
You know I won't be showing upfor, you know, the third time in
a row because school had justput so much on me and so many
tests and so many big projects,and I think for me school is a
big deal and I want to achievegood grades for college and all
of that.
So I do make sure my homeworkis done and out of the way and
(12:15):
I'm prepared for stuff and I dobring, when I have the chance,
homework to the track or trackdays, and I do that after I'm
done racing.
So there's not really any metime.
Sometimes I'll race threeweekends in a row and it's just
so much going on.
And then I also try to putfriends there also because I
(12:37):
know those are my big supportersas well and so I try to find
time for them as well.
But you know, during I thinkbreaks, when I have spring break
or winter break, I really tryto put myself first.
You know, take a day to relax.
So right now I've been silentand relaxing.
Melinda Russell (12:56):
Good, good, you need that.
Everybody needs some downtime,for sure.
So everybody has bad days atthe track.
That's a given.
Everybody I talk to, they allsay, yep, that's true.
So when you have a bad day atthe track, whether it be
something you did or somebodyelse did, or the bike's not
running right, how do you handlethat?
Do you throw things?
(13:17):
Do you go to the hauler and youcry?
How do you handle that?
Ella Wu-Heilman (13:22):
There's been some times where you 100 degrees
out, I'm over it, lock myselfin the trailer, lay down with
the bikes in the trailer and youknow, cry it out sometimes I go
to my parents, you know, wetalk it out and we say, hey,
maybe this is a sign you do needa break and let's just take
that off, and yeah.
(13:42):
So we cancel some races and I,just I sit there and I reflect
on what what is really happening.
We're a family that's big on,you know.
Let's find out what's makingyou feel this way.
So I think that's a big part.
When it comes to me beingfrustrated, I do get frustrated
very easily, I think, and I'vebeen very aware of it, and I've
(14:05):
been trying to, you know, reallybe more aware of it.
I tell myself you know, oh, I'maware of my emotions, but I'm
definitely trying to put moreeffort into that because it
shows how it affects my racingand people around me.
So that's a big thing.
So I'm trying not to lockmyself in the trailer anymore.
(14:25):
I'm trying to take it all outon the track and talk about it.
So that's what I do.
Melinda Russell (14:33):
You know, racing teaches so many things
that are what I call lifelessons.
I talked to a lot of younggirls and I talked to a lot of
older women too, and they saythe same thing.
You know, I had a lady, she wasin her forties and she said
until I started racing, I didn'tdeal with adversity very well.
(14:55):
I was an introvert.
Now I'm an extrovert.
All these different things.
You know that racing has helpedher overcome some challenges,
things you know that racing hashelped her overcome some
challenges.
Whereas she said if I wasn'tinvolved in racing, I don't know
where I'd be.
I'm going to ask you I knowyou're 15.
So you know you've got a lot ofyears ahead of you yet.
(15:17):
But has there been anythingthat you can say?
If it wasn't for racing, thiswould not have happened or I
wouldn't be where I am today.
Ella Wu-Heilman (15:24):
Yeah, if it wasn't for racing, you know, I
definitely wouldn't be as activeas I am today.
I I don't think I would havemet as many people as I do and,
you know, gained communicationskills along the way because, as
you know, a little kid I wasextroverted and I did do stuff
(15:44):
outside of school.
But you know, racing, you know,really helped me be more
extroverted and want to talk tomore people and you know, it was
a great conversation starter,just racing, you know.
Yeah, I think it's great on allaspects, you know, taking
people out of their shell and Ilove meeting new people, I love
(16:05):
gaining new friends, you know,who seem introverted and making
them extroverted Like that'ssuch a fun thing to do.
Melinda Russell (16:12):
Yeah, for sure.
That's so true.
So let's, let's pretend today'srace day.
You get up, you probably havebreakfast or whatever, but do
you do you have a routine, doyou like?
I always have McDonald's forbreakfast on the way to the
track.
I always wear the same sockswhen I race, whatever it might
be.
Do you have anything like thatgoing on when it's race day at
(16:35):
your house?
Ella Wu-Heilman (16:38):
I'm waking up by my dad every single time I
forget to set an alarm.
You know I never know whenwe're leaving.
Yeah, he wakes me up, I turnthe music on and I pack you know
what I forgot to pack the nightbefore and I help my mom get
all the food into the RV and youknow, help.
(16:59):
A big thing I do is help backup the trailer, because some
people have big problems withthat.
I'm great to have it done firsttry.
So I really focus on that whengetting ready so we can just
leave and I sit in the back ofthe trailer and I put my
headphones on and I kind of justzone out.
(17:20):
You know, listen to what I needto listen to and maybe stop at
Starbucks on the way.
Starbucks is essential, yeah,and then we show up to the track
, sign in and that's it.
And then I walk in and that's.
That's the rest.
That's how it starts.
Melinda Russell (17:38):
Yeah, is there any kind of track food that's
your favorite, Like when you goto the track you're like, oh, I
always have to have this havethis.
Ella Wu-Heilman (17:45):
I a big thing.
That's a big thing for me.
Well, it's not eating on duringlunches.
You know, I don't eat duringracing at all.
I don't know what it is for me.
It's not like a big set routine, it's more of like oh, I just
don't want to eat, but I don'teat lunches at all.
(18:08):
I need to be finished with allof my races before I want to eat
.
I don't know what it is.
I think it's just, you know,all the adrenaline that's going
and it just doesn't feel likeeating.
Or you know, I've had thingswhere I do eat lunch and then I
like end up like feeling likeI'm going to throw up, like it's
(18:29):
time, so I don't eat until I'mdone with races.
Melinda Russell (18:33):
But you know, what that's the norm.
Yeah, most girls I talk to thatrace.
They might have a little snackor something, but they do not
eat any kind of a meal or asandwich or anything until
they're done.
So you're right there among thenormal, for sure.
Yeah, that's, that's prettytypical.
So, um, if a mom came up to youand, and maybe your mom or dad
(18:56):
at the track and her little girlhad been watching you and and
they said, you know, my littlegirl wants to be like Ella, how
do you get started racing?
What would you say to them andwould you encourage them to get
involved in motorsports?
Ella Wu-Heilman (19:11):
I tell everybody, no matter the gender,
no matter the age, you know,always get into motorsports.
There are risk factors, butthose factors don't really
matter when you're out there andyou know you're having fun and
doing what you love to do, likethis is what some people spend
(19:31):
their lives on, because this istruly what they love to do.
And I think getting started is,you know, learning how to ride
a bike and then getting thatlittle 50 or a stasic or
anything, and going out to afield or going out on some
trails, and you know justlearning how the bike works and
(19:53):
not committing a hundred percentuntil you try it, and you know
you're going to fall in lovewith the sport deeper and deeper
as you go.
Melinda Russell (20:02):
Yeah, exactly, and and there's.
you know, nowadays we're solucky we can Google just about
anything and you can Google, youknow closest place to practice
motorcycle, you know all thosethings, and so I always
encourage people that you know.
If you don't know where to go,google.
And then go to the track ontrack day and talk to people.
(20:23):
Yeah, everybody, everybody'sgoing to encourage you to join
and be part of it.
So that's something that I Ialways like to tell people to do
, to do as well.
Now, are there a lot of girlsthat race motorcycles against
you, or are you pretty much theminority?
Ella Wu-Heilman (20:39):
um, I think in supermoto I've met a handful of
girls I would say five othergirls that I've raced Supermoto.
I've met a handful of girls Iwould say five other girls that
I've raced Supermoto forfive-ish years but you know,
going into the bigger bikes I'vedefinitely met a bunch of other
women, but you know girls myage.
It's just hard finding girls myage that are doing what I do.
Melinda Russell (21:01):
And.
Ella Wu-Heilman (21:03):
I think that really limits to me who I talk
to, because I'm more comfortable, you know, talking to women or
talking to girls my age, becausethis is what I grew up in
school doing and it's definitelyput me out of my comfort zone.
To talk to older men or talk todudes, I'm racing, and that's I
would say I'm a minority.
Or talk to dudes, I'm racing, Iwould say I'm a minority,
(21:24):
definitely when it comes toracing.
I've been racing men in their40s and early 20s and stuff like
that.
It's definitely a difference ineverything.
Melinda Russell (21:38):
Do they make you feel welcome, though, or do
they just not pay any attentionto you?
Or do they race you differentlybecause you're a girl?
Ella Wu-Heilman (21:47):
There's definitely some different vibes
they give off when they talk tome or when they race to me.
They're not talking like howthey do to their buddies or
anything like that, but I wouldsay they race me, they race me
the same.
They don't guess that becauseI'm a girl, I'm going to, you
know, be all over the track andrace't guess that because I'm a
girl, I'm gonna, you know, beall over the track and race
differently.
No, I, I keep up with them.
(22:09):
There's been times where I'vebeaten them and stuff like that.
So they don't.
I know they're giving their100% on the track because they
want that medal or they wantthat pole, and I think you know
I've tried to put that 100% onthe track with them to show them
.
You know, this is what I can dotoo, and I can do your same
(22:30):
hundred percent.
Melinda Russell (22:31):
Yeah, that's good.
I think things have gottenbetter as far as a woman being
treated more equal at the track,because there's so many more
out there now that are doing it,and even if you're, even if
there's still only maybe four orfive of you racing against 20
guys um, there used to be noneor one, and so now they're
(22:53):
accepting it way more than theyused to for sure.
So, do you have somebody thatyou look up to as far as,
somebody that races motorcyclesor that you follow, that you're
kind of like, you know, or maybesomebody you've met that you
really like, that you follow.
Ella Wu-Heilman (23:10):
Not at the moment.
I definitely do follow a bunchof people on Instagram and girls
like that and I follow, youknow, their track journeys, or
you know first time on the trackjourneys and I think you know
watching all these differentwomen not just one person, but
all these different women youknow shows me, you know.
I'm not alone in this whole likeprocess and I think, just
(23:35):
looking up to every single womanthat is out there you know,
trying their hardest on thissport that all of us love, you
know that's who I look up to,not just one single person that
I like to idolize, it's justlike everybody.
I love everybody that likeshows their journey online as
well.
Melinda Russell (23:54):
That's cool.
Do you know who Kayla Yakov is?
I do I figured you did.
You know, it's funny, I startedI started this in 2017 and I
believe it was 2018 when I firststarted doing some podcasting
type things, interviews, and I'mpretty sure that's the year
(24:16):
that I interviewed her.
She was little, she was youngand she was killing it on her
motorcycle, and so I've stayed,stayed in touch and followed her
.
You know, she was young and shewas killing it on her
motorcycle, and so I've stayedin touch and followed her, you
know, ever since.
Ella Wu-Heilman (24:33):
And she's just amazing for sure, but I figured
you'd know who that was.
Melinda Russell (24:35):
Yeah, yeah, has anybody given you any advice as
far as how to handle people orhow to drive your bike?
Ella Wu-Heilman (24:47):
Anything at all that has really kind of stuck
with you, mainly the stuff mydad has told me and my mom has
told me.
And there is this one guy whohas coached me from you know,
just starting off.
His name is Todd, he does racewith Wimra and you know races
with Northwest Minamoto and he'she's a good person you know to
(25:10):
talk to and to follow and he'sdefinitely told me a bunch of
stuff and I've learned a bunchof stuff from him, you know, on
the track and off the track aswell yeah, that's good you know,
um, it's.
Melinda Russell (25:24):
It's good that you listen to your parents, but
you know some kids don't listento their parents, and so it's
always nice to not only hear itfrom your parents, though, but
from somebody else, to reinforceyou know some things, so that
you know you can be the best youcan be and learn as much as you
can.
So have a favorite race memory.
(25:46):
It could be good or bad, itcould be when, hopefully, you
never flipped your bike or had awreck, but it could be that or
it could be you almost want torace or you want to race.
What would be your bestfavorite memory?
Ella Wu-Heilman (26:01):
I think it was definitely a funny one.
I think think I was racing.
It was a small race.
I was racing against two otherpeople and my grandma was there
and she was on the side of therace line on the straightaway
and I had just passed this guycoming out of, you know, the
second to last corner and Ipassed him on the straight and I
(26:25):
looked back and my grandma wasright there and he was right
there and I had just beaten him,being like maybe half a second,
a second, and my grandmastarted cheering and this other
lady that was right next to herand she's like that's my
granddaughter and that's mygranddaughter that just won, and
the lady that was right next toher, she goes and that's my
(26:46):
grandson she just beat.
Melinda Russell (26:49):
So so funny.
So that is great.
That is so funny, oh my gosh.
But you know what?
I bet they became friendsbecause they both had a common
interest in that race.
That's too cute.
I love that.
I love that your grandma wasthere and saw that.
(27:11):
So fun for sure, fun for sure.
So, um, what about social media?
I know that that's a big partof you know everybody's talking
about.
You gotta have a brand orcreate your brand.
You gotta be on social media,all these things.
You're at the age where socialmedia is where it's at for sure.
Yeah, how do you use it?
(27:31):
And then how can we follow you?
And what's the best place tolike, keep track of your racing
and follow your career?
Ella Wu-Heilman (27:38):
Yeah, so I post a lot of stuff on Instagram.
I'm definitely trying to postmore.
I'm really stingy about it.
I post a bunch of photos thatphotographers are taking on the
track and posting what a day atthe track looks like, and videos
my mom takes or my dad takesand stuff like that, or, you
(27:59):
know, parts that I get fromsponsors and the other people
I'm really connected with onthere, and I think that's where
you know I put everything out on.
I don't have a lot of followerson it right now, but I'm
definitely going to gain it upmore and more and definitely I
think I need to post more to dothat.
Melinda Russell (28:19):
So, yeah, yeah, you probably, you know, you
probably have to ramp that up.
That one works with the other,you know.
But it's also, it's one ofthose things that in due time it
will happen.
As you, as you go to more races, as you are seen more and
you're on podcasts and all thosekinds of things, people start
(28:39):
to know your name and then theystart to follow, and it's just
kind of a continuous snowball ina way that it keeps growing.
So yeah, I encourage you to dothat.
That's a great way to you know,get your name out there and
also, you know, the thing aboutit is they want to know more
than just about your racing.
Yeah, and so when you said, youknow, show them what a day's
(29:02):
like at the track, a lot ofpeople have never been to watch
a motorcycle race, and so if youpost like you know, here we are
driving into mid Ohio here youknow, driving into mid ohio here
.
You know I'm going to be racingsuch and such today.
You know the the top runners inthis race today will be joe
schmoe and whoever it would be.
(29:24):
You know they want to.
They want to know those kindsof things too, other than just
watching you race around thetrack.
And there's two gals that, um,they't race motorcycles but
they're very good at the socialmedia part, if you want to
follow them.
One is Taylor Kuhl.
It's K-U-E-H-L.
She moved from Arizona to Iowato race cars by herself when she
(29:48):
was like 18, 19 years old Whoa,amazing young woman and is
really good at social media.
And then the other one is KylieGlick, and she races, you know,
like a street stock or somekind of a car like that, but
she's a great young gal andshe's really good too at, you
(30:09):
know, the social media.
It's.
It would be good to follow justto kind of see what they do,
because they've really done agood job of being very positive
and yet promoting not only justtheir racing but themselves and
who they are, and that's whatpeople want to know.
They want to know who is Ella,you know she loves she loves
(30:31):
pepperoni pizza and she hatesasparagus.
I I mean seriously.
It sounds funny, but that iswhat people.
They want to know who you are,because once they know more
about you, then they want tofollow and support you.
So, you know, that's somethingthat a lot, of, a lot of people
on social media forget.
They think their brand is allabout their bike or their car,
(30:54):
or, and it's not.
They think their brand is allabout their bike or their car,
or, and it's not.
It's your brand, is who you are.
Yeah, so that's that's a goodthing to to do and remember for
sure.
Is there anything that Ihaven't asked you about that we
should have talked about?
I think that covered basicallyeverything.
(31:19):
You know, yeah, we, we, I tryto cover a lot in a short time,
to, uh, you know to, for you tobe able to tell your story for
sure.
When will you race again, doyou know?
Ella Wu-Heilman (31:25):
um, I think I have a race in a couple weeks,
something two weeks or somethinglike that three weeks.
Melinda Russell (31:30):
So and do you race mostly in Washington or do
you travel?
Ella Wu-Heilman (31:35):
I think the farthest I've gone so far is
Oregon which is, you know, asister, sister state, you know,
trying to be more but yeah.
Melinda Russell (31:47):
So where do you normally go to race?
Do you have a track that's likeyour home track?
Ella Wu-Heilman (31:53):
I love going out to Tri-Cities in Washington
or McMinnville in Oregon.
Melinda Russell (31:59):
Okay.
Ella Wu-Heilman (32:00):
Shelton, washington.
Those are great places wherethey have tracks out there as
well, mainly the middle ofnowhere.
That's where the best ones are.
Melinda Russell (32:10):
They are.
See, I live in Michigan and wehave a lot of little tracks that
are really out in the country.
Ella Wu-Heilman (32:16):
Yeah.
Melinda Russell (32:16):
And they're the best.
They really are the best.
Yeah for sure.
Well, ella, thank you for beingon with me today.
This has been a greatconversation.
Like I said, if there'sanything I have missed, be sure
to you know, say hey, yeah weneed to say this, Otherwise I
think I'm good.
Ella Wu-Heilman (32:36):
How about you?
Yeah, thank you for having me.
That was a really goodconversation.
Melinda Russell (32:39):
That was fun.
Okay, well, you hang on.
I'm going to stop the recordingand then I'll talk to you when
it's over.
Just a second.
Ella Wu-Heilman (32:46):
Okay.
Melinda Russell (32:49):
That's it for this episode of the Women's
Motorsports Network podcast.
We hope you've been inspired bythe stories I shared today and
feel more connected to theamazing community of women in
motorsports.
Remember, whether you're behindthe wheel in the pits or
cheering from the stands, yourstory matters and together we're
(33:10):
driving change and celebratingevery milestone.
If you enjoyed today's episode,be sure to subscribe, leave us
a review and share it withsomeone who loves motorsports as
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more incredible stories.
(33:31):
So until next time, stayinspired, stay connected and
keep racing through life.
This is the Women's MotorsportsNetwork podcast, where every
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(01:31):
Because gratitude builds greattracks.
Hello everyone, this is MelindaRussell with the Women's
Motorsports Network podcast, andmy guest today is Ella Wu
Heilman, and that's sweet.
(01:53):
She just waved at all of you,so if you're listening to it,
I'll just tell you she waved andsaid hi, she's such a sweet,
sweet young girl and I'm excitedto hear about her story in
motorsports.
But first, ella, I want towelcome you to the show and I
would like you to share a littlebit about yourself, your pets,
what other sports you do, allthose kinds of things that
(02:14):
people want to know about you,yeah.
Ella Wu-Heilman (02:16):
I'm Ella, I'm 15.
I live in the Pacific Northwestin Washington.
I've been riding motorcyclesfor 13 years now.
I've tried plenty of othersports like soccer and karate,
but none of them have justcalled my name, unlike racing.
And I have three pets right nowand I just got out of school
(02:40):
and life's been great.
Melinda Russell (02:42):
So you're out for the summer.
Ella Wu-Heilman (02:44):
Yes, I just got out two days ago actually.
Melinda Russell (02:48):
Oh wow, so you guys go a long time then.
Ella Wu-Heilman (02:51):
Yeah, we had a lot of power outage days.
Melinda Russell (02:54):
So, make those up.
And then, when do you startschool?
After Labor Day or before?
Ella Wu-Heilman (03:01):
I start school in the middle of August.
Melinda Russell (03:04):
Oh yeah, so that was a long, a long year,
wasn't it?
Ella Wu-Heilman (03:07):
Yeah, very long .
Melinda Russell (03:09):
Yeah, it's going to be a short summer, so
you got to make the most of itfor sure.
So you're 15 years old andyou've been riding motorcycles
for 13 years, so you started asa little tiny girl.
Ella Wu-Heilman (03:22):
Yes, I did.
Melinda Russell (03:23):
Wow, so we'll get it.
We'll get into that a littlemore.
You have three pets.
What kind of pets do you have?
Ella Wu-Heilman (03:29):
I have two cats and one dog.
I'm a big cat lover, I wouldsay, but I also do like my dogs.
Melinda Russell (03:36):
Okay, all right , and do you have any siblings?
Ella Wu-Heilman (03:40):
I don't.
I am an only child.
Melinda Russell (03:42):
Okay, all right , so there's nothing wrong with
that.
Ella Wu-Heilman (03:45):
Get all your mom's attention.
Melinda Russell (03:46):
Right, that's great For sure.
So, ella, tell me, how did youget interested at two years old,
to ride motorcycles, and nowyou're involved in motorsports.
Ella Wu-Heilman (03:59):
My dad had grew up in eastern Washington and
around there it's all farms andall of that.
So he grew up riding ATVs anddirt bikes and tractors and all
that and he loved riding dirtbikes all the time and it
continued with him into hisadult years.
And then I came along and hewanted to put that passion
(04:19):
towards me and, you know, reallyset me up to know learning how
to drive in the future and howlearning of dirt bike or a
motorcycle may help with that.
And I started off, you know,riding around in like little
fields on like a little PW 50and him just learning me and
then eventually going to, youknow, dirt tracks and stuff like
(04:40):
that.
Melinda Russell (04:40):
Yeah, yeah, and it just gets in your blood,
doesn't it?
You go to the track and thenyou're Dad.
When are we going back to thetrack?
I can hear you saying that tohim for sure, yeah.
So, ella, what's your favoritething about being involved in
motorsports?
Ella Wu-Heilman (04:56):
The community.
The community is so strong.
You learn so much from otherpeople and other people's
experiences and you know it'slovely finding other people that
really love the same passion asyou and it just creates this.
You know strong bond withpeople that you can't find you
know in everyday life like Ihave friends in school and stuff
(05:18):
like that.
But that bond is way differentthan the bond I have with people
who race, and you know I alsoI'm a big adrenaline junkie, so
the adrenaline that comes withit is also like you can't find
that anywhere else either.
Melinda Russell (05:33):
No, that's true , and you know I often ask kids
how their classmates or friendsyou know when they're off doing
something else on the weekendand you're like no, I can't, I'm
racing.
They don't get it, but but it'ssuch, if you're passionate
about racing, you're not goingto miss racing to go to the
movie.
I'm sorry, you can watch it onTV later or whatever.
(05:56):
You can't redo the race, and sothat's.
That's something that I think alot of people who are not
involved in mother sports don'tunderstand about all of us that
are, because we are seriousabout not missing out on
whatever it might be that we canwatch or be a part of for sure.
Ella Wu-Heilman (06:13):
Yeah.
Melinda Russell (06:14):
So tell me, what do you race?
How you know?
What did you get started?
You got started on little 50 CC, you said so.
Where have you gone from there?
Ella Wu-Heilman (06:23):
Well, I, the biggest bike I race right now is
a kawasaki ninja 400, which isway bigger than a 50 oh yeah but
I've gone from, you know, inthe beginning to rate, only
racing dirt.
I hadn't touched a street bikeor anything like that.
So in my dirt days I was racing125s and little 85s and then
(06:48):
COVID hit and every track inAmerica shut down, so pretty
much yeah, very limited.
So I only rode like littletrails and then that was it.
And then my dad had brought upyou know, supermoto and riding
on tracks because he had gone toa couple of track days with
bigger bikes like that and hewanted to get me involved in
(07:10):
that because I hadn't touched abike at all during COVID and he
wanted to regain confidence andstart riding again.
So I picked up a YCF 125 andthat got shipped and me and my
dad built it up and then I soongot comfortable on that bike and
then started on a Honda 150.
(07:31):
And that's what I race insupermoto.
And now I'm involved with Wimra.
So now I'm racing a KawasakiNinja 400.
Melinda Russell (07:39):
Wow, you went from a 150 to a 400.
Yeah, that's a big, that's abig jump.
Um, what was the hardest thingfor you to overcome when you
jumped to the 400?
Ella Wu-Heilman (07:51):
I was really hard on myself.
You know, I didn't think I wasgonna get it or I wasn't gonna
use that bike to a fullpotential right away, because I
was so used to a 150 and growingup in those classes and still
being from an amateur class,going up to a novice class and
then advanced class, and I justthought I wasn't capable of
(08:16):
doing it.
And you know, being out therewith the older people on this
way bigger bike because I wasout with older people on the 150
but the bigger bikes is just sodifferent well, they're heavier
for one thing, yeah, and youdon't look like a very big girl,
so it probably outweighs you byseveral hundred pounds yes, it
(08:38):
does.
yeah, and I just thought, youknow I had to gain this
confidence to being on it, justsitting on it, and I've only
been on it a couple of times.
You know school's held me backa little bit, but I just have to
keep telling myself you knowI'm going to get there.
I haven't been on it a lot oftimes but it's.
(08:58):
It will come to me like it came, like how my 150 did so that's
all I can tell myself yeah, andit's just gaining confidence and
seat time and it'll all getthere.
Melinda Russell (09:09):
For sure is.
Is motorcycle racing somethingthat you think you want to do
for a long time?
Ella Wu-Heilman (09:16):
you for sure.
I don't think I'll ever let itgo.
I think it will always be therewith me.
Melinda Russell (09:20):
I figured, figured as much because you're
you.
Just your smile is from ear toear when you talk about it, for
sure.
So do you work on the bike ordoes somebody else work on it,
or does it really need much workin between the races?
Ella Wu-Heilman (09:38):
My dad has definitely restored a couple of
bikes other than our race bikes,so he's got some knowledge in
that.
But I think some of our raceprep he's definitely Wimra is
very like stingy on what youneed to have on the bike and
what you can't have on the bike.
So he's read the list of thingstop to bottom and made sure you
(10:03):
know I have what I need to have.
So he's worked on that.
And then some other big, bigprojects.
We take it to Two Wheel DinoWorks, which is a shop out in
Washington, but other than thatall of our bikes stay in our
little little garage and youknow, have some time to work on
it.
My dad teaches me some thingsand I'm able to learn.
(10:25):
You know what goes on in thebike, not just you know riding
it, but you know knowing what Ineed to do.
Melinda Russell (10:31):
Yeah, how it works, how it makes, how it
makes everything go for sure.
Yeah, so you go to school, youum.
Ella Wu-Heilman (10:41):
are you involved in any other activities
at school, Mm hmm, you, are youinvolved in any other
activities at school?
Um I, this was only my freshmanyear that I finished, so I was
mainly focused on testing thewaters.
Melinda Russell (10:57):
You know school and getting everything figured
out.
Yeah, and that's a big deal toget into high school, isn't it?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, there'sa.
It's a.
It's a big change from beingthe eighth grader.
That's like you're the oldestones and then you get to high
school and now you're theyoungest ones and then you know,
kids grow a lot in those fouryears.
So there's a lot of agedifference between.
So you know and you're busy,you have friends and you do
(11:19):
things.
How do you take care of Ella?
How do you make sure that Ellasleeps good, eats good?
Ella Wu-Heilman (11:33):
gets her homework done, does all the
things that she needs to do.
I really put my school workfirst.
I think Sometimes I miss.
I do miss out on races that Ireally want to go to, like last
week.
To Like last week I had myfinals all going on and I did
have to miss a big race and Ihad to.
My dad did have to text people.
(11:54):
You know I won't be showing upfor, you know, the third time in
a row because school had justput so much on me and so many
tests and so many big projects,and I think for me school is a
big deal and I want to achievegood grades for college and all
of that.
So I do make sure my homeworkis done and out of the way and
(12:15):
I'm prepared for stuff and I dobring, when I have the chance,
homework to the track or trackdays, and I do that after I'm
done racing.
So there's not really any metime.
Sometimes I'll race threeweekends in a row and it's just
so much going on.
And then I also try to putfriends there also because I
(12:37):
know those are my big supportersas well and so I try to find
time for them as well.
But you know, during I thinkbreaks, when I have spring break
or winter break, I really tryto put myself first.
You know, take a day to relax.
So right now I've been silentand relaxing.
Melinda Russell (12:56):
Good, good, you need that.
Everybody needs some downtime,for sure.
So everybody has bad days atthe track.
That's a given.
Everybody I talk to, they allsay, yep, that's true.
So when you have a bad day atthe track, whether it be
something you did or somebodyelse did, or the bike's not
running right, how do you handlethat?
Do you throw things?
(13:17):
Do you go to the hauler and youcry?
How do you handle that?
Ella Wu-Heilman (13:22):
There's been some times where you 100 degrees
out, I'm over it, lock myselfin the trailer, lay down with
the bikes in the trailer and youknow, cry it out sometimes I go
to my parents, you know, wetalk it out and we say, hey,
maybe this is a sign you do needa break and let's just take
that off, and yeah.
(13:42):
So we cancel some races and I,just I sit there and I reflect
on what what is really happening.
We're a family that's big on,you know.
Let's find out what's makingyou feel this way.
So I think that's a big part.
When it comes to me beingfrustrated, I do get frustrated
very easily, I think, and I'vebeen very aware of it, and I've
(14:05):
been trying to, you know, reallybe more aware of it.
I tell myself you know, oh, I'maware of my emotions, but I'm
definitely trying to put moreeffort into that because it
shows how it affects my racingand people around me.
So that's a big thing.
So I'm trying not to lockmyself in the trailer anymore.
(14:25):
I'm trying to take it all outon the track and talk about it.
So that's what I do.
Melinda Russell (14:33):
You know, racing teaches so many things
that are what I call lifelessons.
I talked to a lot of younggirls and I talked to a lot of
older women too, and they saythe same thing.
You know, I had a lady, she wasin her forties and she said
until I started racing, I didn'tdeal with adversity very well.
(14:55):
I was an introvert.
Now I'm an extrovert.
All these different things.
You know that racing has helpedher overcome some challenges,
things you know that racing hashelped her overcome some
challenges.
Whereas she said if I wasn'tinvolved in racing, I don't know
where I'd be.
I'm going to ask you I knowyou're 15.
So you know you've got a lot ofyears ahead of you yet.
(15:17):
But has there been anythingthat you can say?
If it wasn't for racing, thiswould not have happened or I
wouldn't be where I am today.
Ella Wu-Heilman (15:24):
Yeah, if it wasn't for racing, you know, I
definitely wouldn't be as activeas I am today.
I I don't think I would havemet as many people as I do and,
you know, gained communicationskills along the way because, as
you know, a little kid I wasextroverted and I did do stuff
(15:44):
outside of school.
But you know, racing, you know,really helped me be more
extroverted and want to talk tomore people and you know, it was
a great conversation starter,just racing, you know.
Yeah, I think it's great on allaspects, you know, taking
people out of their shell and Ilove meeting new people, I love
(16:05):
gaining new friends, you know,who seem introverted and making
them extroverted Like that'ssuch a fun thing to do.
Melinda Russell (16:12):
Yeah, for sure.
That's so true.
So let's, let's pretend today'srace day.
You get up, you probably havebreakfast or whatever, but do
you do you have a routine, doyou like?
I always have McDonald's forbreakfast on the way to the
track.
I always wear the same sockswhen I race, whatever it might
be.
Do you have anything like thatgoing on when it's race day at
(16:35):
your house?
Ella Wu-Heilman (16:38):
I'm waking up by my dad every single time I
forget to set an alarm.
You know I never know whenwe're leaving.
Yeah, he wakes me up, I turnthe music on and I pack you know
what I forgot to pack the nightbefore and I help my mom get
all the food into the RV and youknow, help.
(16:59):
A big thing I do is help backup the trailer, because some
people have big problems withthat.
I'm great to have it done firsttry.
So I really focus on that whengetting ready so we can just
leave and I sit in the back ofthe trailer and I put my
headphones on and I kind of justzone out.
(17:20):
You know, listen to what I needto listen to and maybe stop at
Starbucks on the way.
Starbucks is essential, yeah,and then we show up to the track
, sign in and that's it.
And then I walk in and that's.
That's the rest.
That's how it starts.
Melinda Russell (17:38):
Yeah, is there any kind of track food that's
your favorite, Like when you goto the track you're like, oh, I
always have to have this havethis.
Ella Wu-Heilman (17:45):
I a big thing.
That's a big thing for me.
Well, it's not eating on duringlunches.
You know, I don't eat duringracing at all.
I don't know what it is for me.
It's not like a big set routine, it's more of like oh, I just
don't want to eat, but I don'teat lunches at all.
(18:08):
I need to be finished with allof my races before I want to eat
.
I don't know what it is.
I think it's just, you know,all the adrenaline that's going
and it just doesn't feel likeeating.
Or you know, I've had thingswhere I do eat lunch and then I
like end up like feeling likeI'm going to throw up, like it's
(18:29):
time, so I don't eat until I'mdone with races.
Melinda Russell (18:33):
But you know, what that's the norm.
Yeah, most girls I talk to thatrace.
They might have a little snackor something, but they do not
eat any kind of a meal or asandwich or anything until
they're done.
So you're right there among thenormal, for sure.
Yeah, that's, that's prettytypical.
So, um, if a mom came up to youand, and maybe your mom or dad
(18:56):
at the track and her little girlhad been watching you and and
they said, you know, my littlegirl wants to be like Ella, how
do you get started racing?
What would you say to them andwould you encourage them to get
involved in motorsports?
Ella Wu-Heilman (19:11):
I tell everybody, no matter the gender,
no matter the age, you know,always get into motorsports.
There are risk factors, butthose factors don't really
matter when you're out there andyou know you're having fun and
doing what you love to do, likethis is what some people spend
(19:31):
their lives on, because this istruly what they love to do.
And I think getting started is,you know, learning how to ride
a bike and then getting thatlittle 50 or a stasic or
anything, and going out to afield or going out on some
trails, and you know justlearning how the bike works and
(19:53):
not committing a hundred percentuntil you try it, and you know
you're going to fall in lovewith the sport deeper and deeper
as you go.
Melinda Russell (20:02):
Yeah, exactly, and and there's.
you know, nowadays we're solucky we can Google just about
anything and you can Google, youknow closest place to practice
motorcycle, you know all thosethings, and so I always
encourage people that you know.
If you don't know where to go,google.
And then go to the track ontrack day and talk to people.
(20:23):
Yeah, everybody, everybody'sgoing to encourage you to join
and be part of it.
So that's something that I Ialways like to tell people to do
, to do as well.
Now, are there a lot of girlsthat race motorcycles against
you, or are you pretty much theminority?
Ella Wu-Heilman (20:39):
um, I think in supermoto I've met a handful of
girls I would say five othergirls that I've raced Supermoto.
I've met a handful of girls Iwould say five other girls that
I've raced Supermoto forfive-ish years but you know,
going into the bigger bikes I'vedefinitely met a bunch of other
women, but you know girls myage.
It's just hard finding girls myage that are doing what I do.
Melinda Russell (21:01):
And.
Ella Wu-Heilman (21:03):
I think that really limits to me who I talk
to, because I'm more comfortable, you know, talking to women or
talking to girls my age, becausethis is what I grew up in
school doing and it's definitelyput me out of my comfort zone.
To talk to older men or talk todudes, I'm racing, and that's I
would say I'm a minority.
Or talk to dudes, I'm racing, Iwould say I'm a minority,
(21:24):
definitely when it comes toracing.
I've been racing men in their40s and early 20s and stuff like
that.
It's definitely a difference ineverything.
Melinda Russell (21:38):
Do they make you feel welcome, though, or do
they just not pay any attentionto you?
Or do they race you differentlybecause you're a girl?
Ella Wu-Heilman (21:47):
There's definitely some different vibes
they give off when they talk tome or when they race to me.
They're not talking like howthey do to their buddies or
anything like that, but I wouldsay they race me, they race me
the same.
They don't guess that becauseI'm a girl, I'm going to, you
know, be all over the track andrace't guess that because I'm a
girl, I'm gonna, you know, beall over the track and race
differently.
No, I, I keep up with them.
(22:09):
There's been times where I'vebeaten them and stuff like that.
So they don't.
I know they're giving their100% on the track because they
want that medal or they wantthat pole, and I think you know
I've tried to put that 100% onthe track with them to show them
.
You know, this is what I can dotoo, and I can do your same
(22:30):
hundred percent.
Melinda Russell (22:31):
Yeah, that's good.
I think things have gottenbetter as far as a woman being
treated more equal at the track,because there's so many more
out there now that are doing it,and even if you're, even if
there's still only maybe four orfive of you racing against 20
guys um, there used to be noneor one, and so now they're
(22:53):
accepting it way more than theyused to for sure.
So, do you have somebody thatyou look up to as far as,
somebody that races motorcyclesor that you follow, that you're
kind of like, you know, or maybesomebody you've met that you
really like, that you follow.
Ella Wu-Heilman (23:10):
Not at the moment.
I definitely do follow a bunchof people on Instagram and girls
like that and I follow, youknow, their track journeys, or
you know first time on the trackjourneys and I think you know
watching all these differentwomen not just one person, but
all these different women youknow shows me, you know.
I'm not alone in this whole likeprocess and I think, just
(23:35):
looking up to every single womanthat is out there you know,
trying their hardest on thissport that all of us love, you
know that's who I look up to,not just one single person that
I like to idolize, it's justlike everybody.
I love everybody that likeshows their journey online as
well.
Melinda Russell (23:54):
That's cool.
Do you know who Kayla Yakov is?
I do I figured you did.
You know, it's funny, I startedI started this in 2017 and I
believe it was 2018 when I firststarted doing some podcasting
type things, interviews, and I'mpretty sure that's the year
(24:16):
that I interviewed her.
She was little, she was youngand she was killing it on her
motorcycle, and so I've stayed,stayed in touch and followed her
.
You know, she was young and shewas killing it on her
motorcycle, and so I've stayedin touch and followed her, you
know, ever since.
Ella Wu-Heilman (24:33):
And she's just amazing for sure, but I figured
you'd know who that was.
Melinda Russell (24:35):
Yeah, yeah, has anybody given you any advice as
far as how to handle people orhow to drive your bike?
Ella Wu-Heilman (24:47):
Anything at all that has really kind of stuck
with you, mainly the stuff mydad has told me and my mom has
told me.
And there is this one guy whohas coached me from you know,
just starting off.
His name is Todd, he does racewith Wimra and you know races
with Northwest Minamoto and he'she's a good person you know to
(25:10):
talk to and to follow and he'sdefinitely told me a bunch of
stuff and I've learned a bunchof stuff from him, you know, on
the track and off the track aswell yeah, that's good you know,
um, it's.
Melinda Russell (25:24):
It's good that you listen to your parents, but
you know some kids don't listento their parents, and so it's
always nice to not only hear itfrom your parents, though, but
from somebody else, to reinforceyou know some things, so that
you know you can be the best youcan be and learn as much as you
can.
So have a favorite race memory.
(25:46):
It could be good or bad, itcould be when, hopefully, you
never flipped your bike or had awreck, but it could be that or
it could be you almost want torace or you want to race.
What would be your bestfavorite memory?
Ella Wu-Heilman (26:01):
I think it was definitely a funny one.
I think think I was racing.
It was a small race.
I was racing against two otherpeople and my grandma was there
and she was on the side of therace line on the straightaway
and I had just passed this guycoming out of, you know, the
second to last corner and Ipassed him on the straight and I
(26:25):
looked back and my grandma wasright there and he was right
there and I had just beaten him,being like maybe half a second,
a second, and my grandmastarted cheering and this other
lady that was right next to herand she's like that's my
granddaughter and that's mygranddaughter that just won, and
the lady that was right next toher, she goes and that's my
(26:46):
grandson she just beat.
Melinda Russell (26:49):
So so funny.
So that is great.
That is so funny, oh my gosh.
But you know what?
I bet they became friendsbecause they both had a common
interest in that race.
That's too cute.
I love that.
I love that your grandma wasthere and saw that.
(27:11):
So fun for sure, fun for sure.
So, um, what about social media?
I know that that's a big partof you know everybody's talking
about.
You gotta have a brand orcreate your brand.
You gotta be on social media,all these things.
You're at the age where socialmedia is where it's at for sure.
Yeah, how do you use it?
(27:31):
And then how can we follow you?
And what's the best place tolike, keep track of your racing
and follow your career?
Ella Wu-Heilman (27:38):
Yeah, so I post a lot of stuff on Instagram.
I'm definitely trying to postmore.
I'm really stingy about it.
I post a bunch of photos thatphotographers are taking on the
track and posting what a day atthe track looks like, and videos
my mom takes or my dad takesand stuff like that, or, you
(27:59):
know, parts that I get fromsponsors and the other people
I'm really connected with onthere, and I think that's where
you know I put everything out on.
I don't have a lot of followerson it right now, but I'm
definitely going to gain it upmore and more and definitely I
think I need to post more to dothat.
Melinda Russell (28:19):
So, yeah, yeah, you probably, you know, you
probably have to ramp that up.
That one works with the other,you know.
But it's also, it's one ofthose things that in due time it
will happen.
As you, as you go to more races, as you are seen more and
you're on podcasts and all thosekinds of things, people start
(28:39):
to know your name and then theystart to follow, and it's just
kind of a continuous snowball ina way that it keeps growing.
So yeah, I encourage you to dothat.
That's a great way to you know,get your name out there and
also, you know, the thing aboutit is they want to know more
than just about your racing.
Yeah, and so when you said, youknow, show them what a day's
(29:02):
like at the track, a lot ofpeople have never been to watch
a motorcycle race, and so if youpost like you know, here we are
driving into mid Ohio here youknow, driving into mid ohio here
.
You know I'm going to be racingsuch and such today.
You know the the top runners inthis race today will be joe
schmoe and whoever it would be.
(29:24):
You know they want to.
They want to know those kindsof things too, other than just
watching you race around thetrack.
And there's two gals that, um,they't race motorcycles but
they're very good at the socialmedia part, if you want to
follow them.
One is Taylor Kuhl.
It's K-U-E-H-L.
She moved from Arizona to Iowato race cars by herself when she
(29:48):
was like 18, 19 years old Whoa,amazing young woman and is
really good at social media.
And then the other one is KylieGlick, and she races, you know,
like a street stock or somekind of a car like that, but
she's a great young gal andshe's really good too at, you
(30:09):
know, the social media.
It's.
It would be good to follow justto kind of see what they do,
because they've really done agood job of being very positive
and yet promoting not only justtheir racing but themselves and
who they are, and that's whatpeople want to know.
They want to know who is Ella,you know she loves she loves
(30:31):
pepperoni pizza and she hatesasparagus.
I I mean seriously.
It sounds funny, but that iswhat people.
They want to know who you are,because once they know more
about you, then they want tofollow and support you.
So, you know, that's somethingthat a lot, of, a lot of people
on social media forget.
They think their brand is allabout their bike or their car,
(30:54):
or, and it's not.
They think their brand is allabout their bike or their car,
or, and it's not.
It's your brand, is who you are.
Yeah, so that's that's a goodthing to to do and remember for
sure.
Is there anything that Ihaven't asked you about that we
should have talked about?
I think that covered basicallyeverything.
(31:19):
You know, yeah, we, we, I tryto cover a lot in a short time,
to, uh, you know to, for you tobe able to tell your story for
sure.
When will you race again, doyou know?
Ella Wu-Heilman (31:25):
um, I think I have a race in a couple weeks,
something two weeks or somethinglike that three weeks.
Melinda Russell (31:30):
So and do you race mostly in Washington or do
you travel?
Ella Wu-Heilman (31:35):
I think the farthest I've gone so far is
Oregon which is, you know, asister, sister state, you know,
trying to be more but yeah.
Melinda Russell (31:47):
So where do you normally go to race?
Do you have a track that's likeyour home track?
Ella Wu-Heilman (31:53):
I love going out to Tri-Cities in Washington
or McMinnville in Oregon.
Melinda Russell (31:59):
Okay.
Ella Wu-Heilman (32:00):
Shelton, washington.
Those are great places wherethey have tracks out there as
well, mainly the middle ofnowhere.
That's where the best ones are.
Melinda Russell (32:10):
They are.
See, I live in Michigan and wehave a lot of little tracks that
are really out in the country.
Ella Wu-Heilman (32:16):
Yeah.
Melinda Russell (32:16):
And they're the best.
They really are the best.
Yeah for sure.
Well, ella, thank you for beingon with me today.
This has been a greatconversation.
Like I said, if there'sanything I have missed, be sure
to you know, say hey, yeah weneed to say this, Otherwise I
think I'm good.
Ella Wu-Heilman (32:36):
How about you?
Yeah, thank you for having me.
That was a really goodconversation.
Melinda Russell (32:39):
That was fun.
Okay, well, you hang on.
I'm going to stop the recordingand then I'll talk to you when
it's over.
Just a second.
Ella Wu-Heilman (32:46):
Okay.
Melinda Russell (32:49):
That's it for this episode of the Women's
Motorsports Network podcast.
We hope you've been inspired bythe stories I shared today and
feel more connected to theamazing community of women in
motorsports.
Remember, whether you're behindthe wheel in the pits or
cheering from the stands, yourstory matters and together we're
(33:10):
driving change and celebratingevery milestone.
If you enjoyed today's episode,be sure to subscribe, leave us
a review and share it withsomeone who loves motorsports as
much as you do, and don'tforget to follow us on Facebook
and Instagram for updates,behind-the-scenes content and
more incredible stories.
(33:31):
So until next time, stayinspired, stay connected and
keep racing through life.
This is the Women's MotorsportsNetwork podcast, where every
woman's story is worthcelebrating.
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