Saturday, April 24, 2010

Leilani Munter: Woman, Racecar Driver... Environmentalist?

First watch this great info slide show here on her site.

These facts are pretty incredible for a race car driver. The mission of Leilani's Eco Dream Team is to send powerful messages to the number one spectator sport in America, calling to action 100 million race fans in the US to make a difference by spreading environmental awareness about sustainable living alternatives, clean energy, alternative fuel vehicles, and environmental legislation. Additionally, Leilani hopes her efforts will encourage racing sanctioning bodies to increase their environmental initiatives with expanded recycling programs and the use of alternative fuels.

from Bleacher report via AutoRacingDaily:
In the 1960's and 1970's, women weren't even allowed in the garage and pit areas of NASCAR tracks.

Now we see women like Danica Patrick, Ashley Force and Chrissy Wallace breaking ground for females everywhere in all areas of motorsports.

But an environmentalist? In NASCAR?

For Leilani Munter, that's exactly what she's trying to do; become a green driver in a not so green sport.

Leilani Munter began in 2001, when she was racing in the Allison Legacy Series.

She's gone from there to late models, to giving driving lessons at Andy Hillenburg's Fast Track High Performance Driving School, and eventually to making a name for herself in the Indy Light Series.

In 2009, Munter is looking to make her return to NASCAR in the ARCA/REMAX Series, recently testing for James Hylton. Along with racing in ARCA, she'll also be competing with her Indy Lights "Eco Dream Team".

So, what is this "Eco Dream Team" all about?

Munter describes herself as a "Carbon Free Girl", a "vegetarian hippie chick race car driver" aspiring to be carbon neutral.

The mission is simple; get the over 75 million NASCAR fans, and over 40 million IndyCar fans to recycle. Munter's organization is also working with forward thinking companies and sponsors to spread an eco-friendly message to racing fans across the country.

Also working for the cause, Munter has made several visits to Capital Hill in an effort to have more economic friendly legislation passed.

IndyCar has been using ethanol since 2007- Ethanol also sponsored the Rahal Letterman car of Ryan Hunter-Reay last season.

It was the first ever national campaign for the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

She's even made a PSA for the National Wildlife Foundation:

from Ecorazzi:
Eco Veggie Race Car Driver Leilani Münter Offers Green Dietary Advice

Think it’s impossible for a race car driver to also be eco-obsesssed? Think again! Leilani Munter is an Indy Pro Series driver with a heart of green.

Besides being a super talented athlete, Leilani is serious about sustainable living and most recently teamed up with Athletes Go Green — a campaign to unite players, fans and teams in an effort to paint the sports world green in the days leading up to Earth Day.

Munter recorded a PSA for the initiative and discussed one of the easiest ways to go green. In the video, she says:

“I think a lot of people don’t realize that more greenhouse gas emissions go into our atmosphere from raising animals for food than all the planes, trains, ships, automobiles, SUVs and all other forms of transportation combined. Raising animals produce methane, which is 21 times more heating trapping than Co2. So if you wanna do something good for the environment that’s easy to do, cut back on your meat intake.”

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