Pro Racer Drives Kids and Porsches

Written by Shala Hainer Tuesday, June 28 2011

Snapshot: Melanie Snow
Mother of four Melanie Snow not only races to get her kids to school and activities on time – she also races around the track as a professional driver of Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars. Snow has proven herself in the racing world, earning such honors as the 2009 International Motorsports Association (IMSA) GT3 Cup Challenge and 2009 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GTC Class Champion. She was the only female in a field of 200 drivers racing in this year's Porsche Carrera World Cup in Germany.

Considering herself a mother first and race-car driver second, she has shared her love of racing with her children, just as her grandfather did for her. They have all taken their turns racing go-karts, and her oldest has just moved into racing a Porsche and is the youngest winner of a Porsche Cup race.

Based in Utah, Snow and husband and racing partner, Martin, travel nationally and internationally for races. Together they compete as the Snow Racing team. They are the only husband and wife team to win their class at the 12 Hours of Sebring, which they accomplished in 1999.

	Melanie and Martin

Womenetics: Your grandfather gave you your first taste of car racing. How did his love for racing translate into your future career?
Melanie Snow: Racing with my grandfather was a great time to bond together. It kept him young and active, and his passion was passed on to me. I was with him, sharing his race car, and his car had a mechanical problem. We went over to a trailer that was at the track and asked for help fixing it. That trailer happened to be that of Martin Snow, who is now my husband. So not only did he pass on his love for racing and competitiveness to me, but it was because of him that I met my husband.

Womenetics: With four children, how do you balance your personal life with the demands of travel and racing – especially since you and your husband often travel as a team?
Snow: It is difficult to manage a home and four kids with all their activities. I am very organized and keep a tight calendar to stay on top of things. I have outside help that comes and stays with the kids when we travel. My parents also live a block away and love to help with the kids. It is a team effort to make it all work and keep everyone happy. It seems the older I get, the harder it is; if I don't write something down, it can easily be missed. I blame it on my age and failing memory -- ha ha! My iPhone is my lifesaver. I will say that when I am home, my kids get quality time with me. It is hard to be away from them, so when I am home, I make sure to spend precious time with them doing what they want to do.

Womenetics: Your children enjoy racing as well, and your son is already making his name in the racing community. What advice do you give your children about the sport?
Snow: Yes, Madison, my oldest, is doing so well his first year in a Porsche. I am so proud of him. For Madison, I tell him, "Don't worry about winning, but have fun and learn from each experience on the track. Finish every lap and study your data so you can improve." For my other son, McKay, he is into karting and doing very well. He is in the lead for the championship right now in our local series at Miller Motorsports Park.

He is a silly kid, and we have to remind him to take things seriously. He likes to have a good time off the track, but on the track he is focused. My girls are on and off racing. They like soccer and gymnastics, and the seasons conflict with karting. Madelyn, my 9 year old, karted from about age 5 to 7 and hasn't been back in a kart. McKenzie, my 6 year old, has begged her dad for her own kart since she was 3.

He finally got her a pink kart. She did well in practicing and training, then when her first race came, she crashed head-on into a tire wall. She hasn't been back in her kart since. I just try to encourage my girls to get back in and just do it for practice. I always tell them the opportunity is there if they want it. I don't want to force them to race, but would love it if they did.

Womenetics: How do you unwind? What do you like to do in your free time?
Snow: I love to work out. I do crossfit and Bikram yoga. I also like to run -- that is a great stress reliever for me.

Photography is big for me. I like to take newborn pictures and tons of pictures of my kids. We go to Canada a lot, and I like to go "bear hunting" there and take pictures of the bears in the nature habitat. I love editing all the pictures and playing with them in Photoshop.

Other than that, playing in the pool with my kids is probably something I could do every day and never get bored. We like to play different pool games, do dives, and make up routines. Of course, we add in a swimming race here and there just to keep everyone on their toes.

Womenetics: How do you tie your love for photography in with racing?
Snow: I started taking pictures when I was pregnant with my first child. I couldn't race, and Martin was racing, so I just started taking pictures of him racing. Then it evolved into children and other subjects. When I first started, I was using film, so it wasn't quite as much fun as it is now, when I get to edit them on the computer.

I always bring a camera to the track and really try to get pictures documenting the event. I try to make a photo book about each event -- they make great coffee table books and hold lots of memories.

Womenetics: You've tried some environmentally friendly gear on your race cars, such as the Yokohama orange-oil tires. What other green products are you planning to use or test?
Snow: Yes, we ran with the Yokohama orange-oil tires. They are good tires and help save the environment. Porsche race cars get pretty good mileage for a race car, but I would like to try the Porsche hybrid. We use natural cleaners at the shop for cleaning the cars, and we recycle all our rags. Racing in the ALMS series, there are more options for using green products such as ethanol fuel. It is great to be in a series that tries to develop more green products and use them.

Womenetics: Why is it important to test green products in the racing industry?
Snow: It is so important to test the products in the racing industry because if things work well, they can then be used by an everyday consumer. ALMS is trying to develop things that can work for the general public and pass on the importance of using green products for our environment. If cleaner, more efficient fuel can work in a race car, then it is perfect to pass on to the cars that are on the streets every day.

Womenetics: What has been your most satisfying racing win, and why?
Snow: Well, I have two. Winning my class at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1999 with my husband was the best. We are the only husband-wife team to ever accomplish that. A 12-hour race is hard to win. It takes a combination of skill and luck, plus lots of teamwork. The next best would be 10 years later, teaming up with my husband again and winning the championship for the GTC Class in the ALMS series. Both of these wins were huge and top my list. Not just because we won, but we did it together. It means so much to be able to share the joy of winning with my husband.

Womenetics: Often the only woman in the race, how do you break through the male camaraderie that exists at the track?
Snow: It is kind of a joke with our team. I love the color pink, so I drive a pink race car. Some people say I may be putting myself out there as a target. But what I have found is that once we are on the track, it is all the same, male or female. We are competing for the same place – first. I get along with my competitors very well. There are times where I have been bumped around on the track, but the bad thing is for the men. Women tend to hold grudges longer (at least I do). I have been told by some of the competitors that their wives tease them and tell them they better not let that girl beat them. I just think it’s all really funny.

Womenetics: When you decide to stop racing, what do you think will be your next focus or career?
Snow: I am hoping the next focus in my life will be trackside with my kids. I would be happy to be a team mom and take pictures and keep the crew fed and clean. Right now, I try to do that when I am trackside at the kart track or on the sidelines of the soccer field when I am coaching my girls, but I would love to be able to do it as they advance in their racing. I just plan on being a good mom and a supportive wife.

Based near Atlanta, Shala Hainer has been writing and copyediting since 1995. Beginning her career at newspapers such as the Marietta Daily Journal and the Atlanta Business Chronicle, she most recently wrote and edited articles for several nonprofit organizations before purchasing a flower shop in 2006. She earned a bachelor’s in communications from Jacksonville State University.