Jill Peeters
SCCA GT-1 National Series Driver
As the only female SCCA
National Central Division GT-1 driver, Jill
Peeters brings a certain initial attention to her
team. But people continue to watch Jill for her
skills, commitment, and passion for driving.
Jill got a late start in racing, but has made up
for that ten-fold. Since entering competition,
Jill has won three Championships with the
Midwestern Council of the Sports Car Club of
America (SCCA). Besides championships Jill has
won the MC Member of the Year Award, NSSCC Driver
of the Year Award, NSSCC Sportsman of the Year
Award, and the NSSCC Enthusiasm Award two times.
Jill also instructs at MC Driver's Schools and
donates her time to work corners, driver's school
registration, and secretary for their Board
meetings.
her husband and crew
chief...
|
Jill graduated from Lincoln Technical Institute's
Automotive and Diesel Technology Program in 1987.
She took her knowledge and landed an entry level
Warranty Clerk position at a Ford dealer. Jill
still works at that Ford dealership and has
worked her way up to their Service Operations
Manager. Jill also found her husband and crew
chief, Rick, at LTI and were married in 1991.
Currently, Jill is looking into the new Woman's
Global GT Series starting in 1999. She will also
continuing to chase her dream of racing in the
SCCA Pro-Racing Trans-Am Series. Whichever
opportunity opens up, Jill will continue to drive
selected races in the SCCA National GT-1 Series
and build her Marketing Thru Motorsports
business.
What is so unusual about Jill in a GT-1 car? GT-1
cars are purpose-built, 2800 lb., tube-framed
chassis, with V-8 's that have 650 horsepower.
Several of the current front running cars in GT-1
are last years' Trans-Am cars and many of these
drivers compete in selected SCCA Pro Racing
Trans-Am events. Another distinction between Jill
and the other drivers, is that she is competing
with them in a 2,500 lb. V-6 with 540 horsepower
car.
Jill believes a lot of her success comes from
sticking with the winners. She explains, "Winners
are not so much the people who receive the
checkered flag, but are the ones who have that
winning attitude. Many times, those are the same
people."
Jill and her husband Rick Peeters have learned a
lot by helping other drivers that have already
taken that next step upward. They have been able
to crew for a team that has competed at the 24
hours of Daytona PSR (IMSA) race in 1995 and at
the Trans-Am race and SCCA National Run-offs in
1997. They also have crewed at the SCCA National
June Sprints for a few years. Again, the time
spent helping others has helped her career jump
forward.
Since entering the race world, the door for
opportunity just keeps opening and every year
seems to exceed her expectations. Not everything
has gone her way, but she feels that if she only
received what she had set aside to accomplish,
she would have sold her self short.
|