Michele Graaff's guest appearances

Michele Graaff

Speed Secrets Podcast

Rain City Supercars

Don Kitch

James Chartres

Adam Jabaay

Dave Pratte

Tom Roberts

Matt Farah

James Hinchcliffe

Clay Millican

Eric Meyer

Jason Harris

Matthew Walker

Jeff Evans

Jerry Lynch

Chris Graham

Cliff Avril

OwlTail

We had a fun chat with Michele Graaff; a passionate Mini GP owner who takes to the track on weekends. Michele is one of many people we are fortunate to talk with who will inspire you to get in your car and take it to the track. Not only is she a talented driver and the VP of the Puget Sound MINI Motoring Club, but she also has a great sense of humor and one of those people you just want to be friends with as soon as you meet her. 

We had a fun chat with Michele Graaff; a passionate Mini GP owner who takes to the track on weekends. Michele is one of many people we are fortunate to talk with who will inspire you to get in your car and take it to the track. Not only is she a talented driver and the VP of the Puget Sound MINI Motoring Club, but she also has a great sense of humor and one of those people you just want to be friends with as soon as you meet her.

Episode 182 - A Mini Glimpse Into Michele Graaff 

In this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, I am joined by driving enthusiast Michele Graaff. We discuss the misperception that everyone in motorsport is an adrenaline junkie, and the importance of learning, progression, and self-improvement. She shares her experience in HPDE as a woman, and how to make our sport more inclusive and inviting to all. We also compare “hard skills” and “soft skills.” Michele’s Speed Secret: Take up your space. Michele is 46 (late bloomer!), a graduate program coordinator at UW, and lives in Seattle. She drove 2 HPDE days during 2012-2015, and got back into it last year, 2019! She started her journey at her first skills day in a borrowed Porsche 964. Then went to her own car, a 2007 MINI Cooper S; she now drives a 2013 MINI Cooper GP2 (factory-made track oriented version).  Michele’s rule has always been "I'm the most important mod" and says she would never get crazy about upgrades until she outdrove the car. But, in a compromise, she decided to upgrade her car (slightly) from one MINI to another, and bought the GP2. His name is Pecos Bill and they have a lot of fun together.  Michele’s Secret Goals:  1. Learning: soak up as much as she can because the brain is the best tool no matter the car or track.  2. Drive more tracks. 3. Try to race. She loves the idea of pushing herself in that environment to see what she could do. She’s a self-proclaimed “extroverted introvert,” but quietly competitive, mostly with herself. But she finds she drives harder on lapping days when she’s trying to "catch" someone.  In her own words: Being a single woman without a ton of resources has been a challenge to my goals, but I'm doing my best! It's unusual if another woman is at a track day--and I'm always happy when I'm not the only one.  I've built up a track box, know how to prep, and think ahead to who I could call if my car breaks. And I always buy track insurance. :)   And I've met the most incredibly smart and helpful people, some who I count as friends now. Just so much good input (and some not-so-good advice, as well. haha).

In this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, I am joined by driving enthusiast Michele Graaff. We discuss the misperception that everyone in motorsport is an adrenaline junkie, and the importance of learning, progression, and self-improvement. She shares her experience in HPDE as a woman, and how to make our sport more inclusive and inviting to all. We also compare “hard skills” and “soft skills.” Michele’s Speed Secret: Take up your space. Michele is 46 (late bloomer!), a graduate program coordinator at UW, and lives in Seattle. She drove 2 HPDE days during 2012-2015, and got back into it last year, 2019! She started her journey at her first skills day in a borrowed Porsche 964. Then went to her own car, a 2007 MINI Cooper S; she now drives a 2013 MINI Cooper GP2 (factory-made track oriented version).  Michele’s rule has always been "I'm the most important mod" and says she would never get crazy about upgrades until she outdrove the car. But, in a compromise, she decided to upgrade her car (slightly) from one MINI to another, and bought the GP2. His name is Pecos Bill and they have a lot of fun together.  Michele’s Secret Goals:  1. Learning: soak up as much as she can because the brain is the best tool no matter the car or track.  2. Drive more tracks. 3. Try to race. She loves the idea of pushing herself in that environment to see what she could do. She’s a self-proclaimed “extroverted introvert,” but quietly competitive, mostly with herself. But she finds she drives harder on lapping days when she’s trying to "catch" someone.  In her own words: Being a single woman without a ton of resources has been a challenge to my goals, but I'm doing my best! It's unusual if another woman is at a track day--and I'm always happy when I'm not the only one.  I've built up a track box, know how to prep, and think ahead to who I could call if my car breaks. And I always buy track insurance. :)   And I've met the most incredibly smart and helpful people, some who I count as friends now. Just so much good input (and some not-so-good advice, as well. haha).

174 – Michele Graaff: A Late (Driving) Bloomer