of barriers and take flight like they were made of paper . She thinks she knows speed , but nothing comes as fast as the crash .
Taylor is violently teleported to the next moment . She ’ s been in a devastating crash that leaves her car , a precious gift from her father , severely damaged . Taylor is unharmed ; a victory , but not the one she was hoping for .
Brian Hoar watches the carnage from the sidelines . As her head coach , he is concerned for her safety ; as her father , doubly so . Brian is quick to console his daughter after the loss .
Taylor just wanted to be one of the “ fast guys ” she used to watch on the track and wanted desperately to know what they were doing to be so fast . Brian stopped Taylor immediately and said , “ Don ’ t forget , you are one of the fast guys now .” Those words will stick with Taylor forever as a reminder of all she has accomplished , her worth , and her potential .
Taylor says that “ knowing that deep down my father believed in me enough to bring me into the sport that he made a mark in means a lot and always will .”
The final race of the season was the very next weekend . And an entire week of training would be lost to repair the car . Things were looking bleak for Taylor until news came that the crash might have been the best thing that could have happened to her .
The starting position for each car at the beginning of a race is based on the previous three weeks ’ finishes . The better you finish , the further back you start . Because Taylor had crashed , she received a handicap which meant she could start the next race in the middle of the pack .
But the victory was anything but assured . Taylor would still need to maintain that position and get to the head of the pack . In other words , she would have to become one of the “ fast guys .”
And then it all happened so fast . Taylor found herself in a side-by-side battle with another driver for first place . The two cars zipped around the track , neck and neck , until Taylor , in a burst of speed , pulled ahead to take the lead .
And for the last 10 laps of the race , no one could touch her . Taylor walked away with a dominating victory as one of the few female drivers to score a win on that track .
“ Watching Taylor win her first race is certainly one of my favorite memories ,” says Brian .
After an incredible night for the family , the race team , and the crowd of Taylor Hoar fans old and new , Brian wanted to surprise Taylor with a very special gift , something to celebrate their unique bond and their shared love for the sport .
Brian visited Perrywinkle ’ s Fine Jewelry and spoke with Winklette Whittemore about creating a custom piece for Taylor — an exact replica of Taylor ’ s steering wheel made of gold .
“ We [ Winklette and I ] chatted about the overall size , and I sent pictures of all sides of the steering wheel ,” said Brian , “ and Perrywinkle ’ s did a great job of replicating it ! Winklette then added her suggestions of a stone in the middle and the necklace came out beautifully . And it was super easy !”
“ I never expected to be able to put the sport that I love into any piece of jewelry ,” relates Taylor . “ So when my dad gifted the necklace to me , I was shocked . I especially love how perfectly detailed it was to the steering wheel that I race with . I wear it every day , and it ’ s a great conversation starter when someone asks what the steering wheel means to me .”
Taylor ’ s story is truly inspiring , and all of us at Perrywinkle ’ s wish her continued success on her journey !
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