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Los Angeles CA, September 29 2019 - There's nothing like a trip to the Petersen Automotive Museum when you haven't been for awhile. The monthly Sunday morning Cruise-Ins are a great time to plan a Petersen date around, as you get the added bonus of a mini-car show on the top deck of the parking garage. These are the varieties of autocraft the locals drive on Sunday - you can't believe what rolls up here just for you to see.
2009 Autobot "Skids and Mudflap" driven in Transformers
Also lucky for us, the Jessi Combs Exhibit was extended considerably longer than it's initial 4 day stint - so we got to pay last visual respects. Jessi Combs was one of our company's missions - make the chance to meet her and possibly get a quick interview. You never get there if you don't try and it's impossible if you wait too long. In Jessi's case we waited too long. The last tour of duty in the penthouse suite at the Petersen was a fitting tribute to a woman that built her way up to the top and finished there.
Jessi Combs 2016 Harley-Davidson Lowrider S Dyna
"Builder, racer and entrepreneur Jessi Combs sped through life in a hurry. Born in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Combs established a career path in fabrication early in life, earning a degree in Custom Automotive Fabrication at WyoTech, debuting her first custom project at Specialty Equipment Marketing Association's (SEMA) show in 2004. Combs' unique skill set and personality led her to many host appearances on television shows which she used to gain experience but also to further define her identity as a metal fabricator, builder, industrial artist and driver.
As a racer, Combs competed in endurance challenges such as the Baja 1000, the all-women's Rallye Aicha des Gazelles and became the first female to ever place at Ultra4's King of the Hammers, achieving a class win in 2014. In 2013, Combs became the fastest woman on four wheels with the North American Eargle Supersonic Speed Challenger, holding a record of 398 mph with a top speed of 483.227 mph. On August 27th, 2019 Combs was killed in a crash while attempting to set another speed record.
Throughout her life Combs sought to explore the relationship between women and the machine. As one of the few prominent female fabricators of her era, she endeavored to create programs and safe spaces that encourage education and dialog about the industrial arts for women. Jessi Combs Life at Full Speed seeks to further that effort, establishing a base for which her foundation can grow and continue to aid women within professional industrial fields in the future. With the support of our friends and partners we can empower a generation of females to think broader and creatively."
"Set no boundaries, get out and play, be creative, go fast and take chances, and never give up."
...Jessi Combs (from the Petersen exhibit in her honor)
SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION - Throughout her life Combs sought to explore the relationship between women and machine, as a means to continually push and break stereotypical boundaries. As one of the few prominent female fabricators of her era, she endeavored to create programs and safe spaces that encouraged education and dialog about the industrial arts for women. Jessi Combs: Life at Full Speed seeks to further that effort, establishing a base for which “The Jessi Combs Foundation" can grow. The mission of the foundation is to EDUCATE, INSPIRE and EMPOWER the next generation of female trailblazers and stereotype-breakers. Its guiding principle is the simple question “What would Jessi Do?”
With the support of our friends and partners we can empower a generation of females to think broader and creatively.
by Randy Berg