Welcome to The ABWA Oceanside Charter Chapter

January 25, 2022

Elaine Larsen

Having the Guts to Go for the Glory!

Elaine Larsen, driver of the Florida Tech Generation 6 jet dragster has been jet racing for 19 years. With her experience and talent she has won two World Championships, but how did she do it? Winning isn’t always easy. You need the right car, the right team, and the right mindset. Will she continue to have the guts to go for the glory?

Being a strong, positive role model is something that Elaine Larsen takes seriously. In the past decade, she has licensed ten new jet car drivers, more than half of them being female. With her husband, Chris, their son Andrew and dog, Nitro, she lives her life at full throttle.  Mentoring the next generation of High Performance Vehicles Specialist is what fuels Elaine today. Giving women the chance behind the wheel, or hands-on opportunities in this male dominated industry is her focus for 2021 and beyond.

Elaine is a creator of four comic books, “Blaze” which were inspired by real life experiences and adapted to high STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education and embedded curricula for each of the corresponding comics.  At 54 years old, Elaine is just hitting her stride both personally and professionally. This wife, mom and race car driver has never been one to just sit back and wait for something to happen. Elaine is actively looking for exciting opportunities for her company. What people do when everyone is looking is important, but the true test of character is what they do when no one is looking. When things get tough, that is where true character is made. Elaine is the youngest of seven, born and raised in a small town in Michigan on her family’s farm. Hard work was something that she learned from her father. “My dad would wake up before everyone and would not sit down until the work was done,” says Elaine. That hard work has paid off for her. Starting their race team from the ground up and getting behind the wheel was no easy feat. Getting people to take you seriously as a woman in a male dominated sport over two decades ago was a challenge Elaine was ready to experience!

Founded by Chris and Elaine Larsen, Larsen Motorsports is an award-winning innovator in the jet racing field, but it is also a proven leader in community outreach, STEAM advocacy, and providing unique and valuable hands-on experiences to high school and college students. Racing across the country, this mobile marketing team has been highlighted in many national TV and ad campaigns, including Jay Leno, The Alliance for Lifetime Income, To Tell the Truth and many more. 

Join us on Tuesday, January 25 to find out how Elaine Larsen uses STEAM to cross the finish line!