Move Like a LADY
Cindy Heredia
Where can we find you moving around?
Boston, MA
Tell us about your favorite mode of transportation. What do you enjoy most about it?
My favorite mode of transportation is, oddly enough, autonomous race cars! Historically, motorsports have been grounds for advancing automotive technology in the name of competition. Racing teams spend a lot of time developing increasingly sophisticated engines, suspensions, aerodynamic packages, and more, all to shave off milliseconds from lap times. Over time, the technology and the lessons learned from racing have been commercialized and adopted in the vehicles we use in our day-to-day lives. With the advent of autonomous vehicle technology, motorsports are now poised to play a similar role in its development. Autonomous racing competitions, such as the Indy Autonomous Challenge and Roborace, are challenging software, not drivers, to operate a vehicle at the limit of performance. It's been an exciting space to be a part of!
Describe a fond story of you and this mode of transportation.
The best memory so far is having been able to double our vehicle speed from 69mph (& crashing!) to 141mph in less than a month. This is something that my team and I are incredibly proud of because it was done on top of balancing final exams and school-related work. Additionally, it serves as a reminder of how far we're able to go working together as a team.
Frankie James
Where can we find you moving around?
Sunnyvale, CA
Tell us about your favorite mode of transportation. What do you enjoy most about it?
I love cars, particularly fast ones! There are many aspects that I love about cars and driving, ranging from just how beautiful cars can be as objects, to the sense of independence I get from driving, to the rush that comes from driving in a fast and powerful car. I'm also part of a Corvette club that has not only brought me the joy of talking to other car people, but also has introduced me to wonderful friends I would never have met otherwise.
Describe a fond story of you and this mode of transportation.
The photo on the right is of me and my shiny baby, a 2010 Corvette Grand Sport (named Elliott!). I have wanted a Corvette forever, and I was really open about that when I joined GM. My boss at the time was horrified that (at the time) I couldn't drive a manual shifter, so he taught me on his company car, a Corvette Z06. I ordered my car mere weeks after that first lesson.
Sonal Kanap
Where can we find you moving around?
San Francisco Bay Area, California; New York; Seattle, Washington; Michigan; Chicago, Indiana
Tell us about your favorite mode of transportation. What do you enjoy most about it?
Car and flight. I have been passionate about cars since my childhood.
Describe a fond story of you and this mode of transportation.
My father taught me to drive a car at the age of 18. I used to love car racing, but I haven't gotten a chance to practice motor sports and participate in any racing competition yet. I was enthusiastic to closely work on vehicles so that I can know them better. That's why I have studied and work in the automotive industry. Now I have great knowledge about cars, so I have started Go Karting so that I can get a chance to participate in my favorite transportation sports which is car racing.
Linda Campbell
Where can we find you moving around?
San Francisco, California
Tell us about your favorite mode of transportation. What do you enjoy most about it?
My favorite mode of transportation is my little red Mini Cooper convertible. Its a great car for bombing around the city. One of the main advantages is its small size, making it an ideal fit for most street parking spaces. When its lease was up, I had the opportunity to upgrade to a newer model but I found out that the new ones were a few inches longer so I decided to buy it instead.
Describe a fond story of you and this mode of transportation.
This one time I parked in front of the entrance to an apartment building and when I came back, I found that someone had parked behind me, making it impossible to move my car. A helpful passerby told me that one of the building's residents does this intentionally to teach tight parkers a lesson. I had to ring every bell until I found the lady so I could beg forgiveness for my bold behavior and ask her kindly to move her car so I could get out!