Breaking Barriers: A Female Racer's Perspective with Samantha Tan

In this episode of the Cars and Kicks podcast, hosts Jacques, Erik, and Nick welcome Samantha Tan, a professional sports car racer. They discuss her journey into racing, the challenges she faced as a female driver in a male-dominated sport, and the business side of motorsport, including sponsorships and team management. Samantha shares her experiences transitioning from racing Hondas to becoming a global ambassador for BMW, highlighting the importance of success in securing sponsorships and opportunities in the competitive world of racing. In this engaging conversation, Samantha shares her insights on the world of racing, discussing the differences between driving and racing shoes, the importance of custom racing suits, and her aspirations in motorsports. She addresses the pressure she feels as a female driver and team owner, the growing presence of women in racing, and the mental and physical challenges of the sport. Samantha also talks about her training regimen, the specifications of racing cars, and her life off the track, including her passion for music and art. She offers advice to young female racers and discusses how she balances her racing career with her social media presence, all while looking forward to future goals in mentorship and racing success.

Connect With Samantha:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthaatan/?hl=en

IMSA Driver Profile: https://www.imsa.com/drivers/samantha-tan/

Race Team: https://www.st-racing.org/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Cars and Kicks Podcast

03:01 Samantha Tan: The World of Sports Car Racing

06:09 Journey into Racing: From Passion to Profession

09:09 Overcoming Challenges in a Male-Dominated Sport

12:03 Building a Racing Team: The Business Side of Motorsport

15:06 Sponsorships and the Economics of Racing

18:01 Transitioning to BMW: A Full Circle Moment

21:09 The Importance of Winning in Motorsport

23:58 Racing Gear: The Intersection of Style and Function

26:25 The Art of Custom Racing Suits

28:27 Aiming for the Top: Racing Aspirations

30:12 Pressure and Responsibility in Motorsports

32:01 The Growing Presence of Women in Racing

32:55 Challenges of Racing: Mental and Physical Demands

37:07 Training for Racing: Building Mental Fortitude

39:33 Understanding Car Specifications and Performance

44:17 Samantha Off Track: Beyond Racing

45:26 Advice for Young Female Racers

46:14 Balancing Racing and Social Media Presence

47:05 Future Goals: Mentorship and Racing Success

All of the links you need: https://www.carsxkicks.com

The Cars and Kicks Show is hosted by:

Jacques Slade is a multifaceted creator that explores the world of footwear and sports through the lens of culture. Through sneakers and golf, Jacques has cultivated an industry leading voice in the industry that can be seen online and on television. Or he is just an idiot. The jury is still out on that.

Erik Valdez is a husband, father, actor, producer, and creator, whose passion and knowledge for cars is unmatched. You might have seen him on shows like General Hospital, Graceland, or Superman & Lois. He’s driven in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, the Baja 1000, and the number of cars he’s owned would rival the how collections of many sneakerheads.

Nick Engvall is a consultant and creator who helps brands make more authentic connections with their customers. His obsession with cars and sneakers both toe the line of unhealthiness that is best described as, overly passionate. If he’s not recording podcasts, he’s probably at the burrito shop or chasing down ocean sunsets.