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POV Community Engagement & Education Discussion GuiDe

Racing Dreams A Film by

www.pbs.org/pov PoV LetteR fRom the fiLmmakeR

Brooklyn , n ew york , 2011

Before i started making this film, i didn’t really know anything about , and i’m sorry to say, ignorance about racing is pretty typical in new york, where i live. But i knew it wasn‘t typical for the country as a whole. nAscAr is reportedly the second biggest spectator sport in America after football - bigger than baseball or basketball. And i have a lot of family in , so i knew how much passion for the sport there is down there. i began to wonder how it was possible that in a city like new york, where we’re exposed to such an amazing variety of cul - tures, so many people could know so little about America’s second-favorite pastime. it seemed like something i should learn about if i wanted to understand the red-state/-state divide (or, more accurately, the new york/rest-of-the-country di - vide) and so i wrote down “nAscAr” and dropped it into the file i keep of documentary ideas. soon afterward, i read an article about extreme go-—a nationally competitive sport in which 11 and 12 year olds drive karts that go 70 mph(!). it’s widely considered the little league for nAscAr, and a lot of the top professional drivers started out that way in doing it. i thought that sounded pretty amazing, and one of the things i love about making docu - mentaries is it lets me spend a year or two learning about things i don’t know about. so i went to a few races to scout it out, and it was better than i had imagined. The racing was noisy and dangerous, and the kids were smart, funny and dazzlingly charismatic. i put aside the project i had been working on and dove in. i found two boys and a girl — Josh, Brandon and Annabeth — who were great racers with magnetic personalities. They were at that perfect age where they were old enough to be interesting and insightful, but young enough to be open and unrehearsed. They began to teach me about their passion for racing.

To them, racing is just a part of the larger story of growing up. The three-day world karting Association events are where you fall in love for the first time. races are where you test your inner strength and figure out who you are. And races are where you bond with — and declare independence from — your parents.

Annabeth told me, “when you are 11 or 12, everyone is always telling you what to do. But when you are racing, you can’t hear anyone else. should i pass this guy? should i wait a lap? it’s all up to you.” we have joked that racing is the McGuffin in our film, and that in some ways, is actually a coming-of-age story disguised as a racing movie. i think that pre-adolescence is probably the most important, poignant and under-explored stage in our lives. it’s really when we are beginning to figure out who we are, how we relate to our parents, what romance feels like, and what we want to do. i hope that this movie will take people back to that age, and remind us of the dreams we had - to be President, or a baseball player, or wherever our imagination took us. Back before we knew about the importance of money or connections or how hard things were going to be, and we just dreamed.

Marshall Curry , Filmmaker, Racing Dreams

DISCUSSION GUIDe Racing Dreams |2 PoV tabLe of Contents CReDits

3 Introduction Writer 4 Potential Partners Faith Rogow, PhD 4 Key Issues Insighters Educational Consulting 4 Using This Guide 5 Background Information Guide Producers, PoV 5 Karting eliza Licht 6 Women in Racing Vice President, Community Engagement & Education, POV 8 Selected People Featured Jamie Dobie in Racing Dreams Coordinator, 9 General Discussion Questions Community Engagement & Education, POV 9 Discussion Prompts Design: Rafael Jiménez 11 Taking Action Copy editor: Natalie Danford 12 Resources 14 How to Buy the Film

thanks to those who reviewed this guide:

Marshall Curry Filmmaker, Racing Dreams

intRoDuCtion

Fondly described as “ Talladega Nights meets The Catcher in As the tour unfolds, the three young racers step from the the Rye ,” Racing Dreams is a dramatic, funny and sometimes sheltered world of childhood into adolescence — discovering heartbreaking look at the world of nAscAr culture as lived romance for the first time, questioning their relationships with by three young aspirants to race-car glory and their families. their parents and glimpsing the serious obstacles that will The film follows Annabeth Barnes, 11, Josh Hobson, 12, and threaten their ability to achieve their dreams. Racing Dreams Brandon warren, 13, as they compete in the world karting is a story about hopes, values, choices and how opportunities Association’s Pavement series, a yearlong national champi - are created and thwarted, making it an excellent springboard onship of five races around the . for conversations in the community.

DISCUSSION GUIDe Racing Dreams |3 PoV PotentiaL PaRtneRs key issues

Racing Dreams is well suited for use in a variety of set - Racing Dreams is an excellent tool for outreach and will tings and is especially recommended for use with: be of special interest to people looking to explore the following topics: • your local Pbs station • Groups that have discussed previous Pbs and PoV • Car racing films featuring exceptional kids, including The • Competition Hobart Shakespeareans and The Education of • family Shelby Knox , or films about competition, including • feminism Kings of Pastry • Gender • Groups focused on any of the issues listed in the key issues section • Go-kart racing • high school and middle school students • Growing up (coming of age) • faith-based organizations and institutions • motor sports • Cultural, art and historical organizations, • nasCaR institutions and museums • Parenting • Civic, fraternal and community groups • Perseverance/resilience • sports teams and leagues • Professional sport • youth groups and programs (e.g., Girls inc. and • Psychology Girl scouts and boy scouts) • Race car drivers • academic departments and student groups at • Racing culture/industry colleges, universities and high schools • Rural communities • Community organizations with a mission to • sexism promote education and learning, such as local libraries • socioeconomic class • sports • tweens • youth sports

usinG this GuiDe

This guide is an invitation to dialogue. it is based on a belief in the power of human connection, designed for people who want to use Racing Dreams to engage family, friends, classmates, colleagues and communities. in contrast to initiatives that foster debates in which participants try to convince others that they are right, this document envisions conversa - tions undertaken in a spirit of openness in which people try to understand one another and expand their thinking by shar - ing viewpoints and listening actively.

The discussion prompts are intentionally crafted to help a wide range of audiences think more deeply about the issues in the film. rather than attempting to address them all, choose one or two that best meet your needs and interests. And be sure to leave time to consider taking action. Planning next steps can help people leave the room feeling energized and optimistic, even in instances when conversations have been difficult.

For more detailed event planning and facilitation tips, visit www.pbs.org/pov/outreach

DISCUSSION GUIDe Racing Dreams |4 PoV baCkGRounD infoRmation

karting (even at the junior level), with companies willing to place bets on future racing stars. The first auto races took place in europe in the late 19th cen - tury (shortly after the automobile was invented), but kart Quick facts: karting racing didn’t begin in the united states as a recreational ac - • karting is a good training ground for car racing, tivity until the 1950s. spaces like shopping center parking because karting is generally less expensive and lots, yards and airfields were used to stage informal races uses less powerful engines. racing karts are also with go-karts that were sometimes made of nothing more built with no suspension (no springs or shocks), which makes karting a great learning tool for future than scrap metal and lawn mower engines. race car drivers, as drivers must adjust and handle while karting is still a hobby for many people today, it has their karts with extreme precision. grown into a multi-billion dollar industry and is viewed as a • The of racing karts can vary widely, with steppingstone to the higher ranks of nAscAr and Formula “super karts” reaching speeds of more than 160 one. Professional nAscAr drivers , Tony stew - miles per hour. recreational go-karts for the art, and others started out racing competi - general public (those found at amusement parks, tive go-karts — and Brandon, Annabeth and Josh (the three for example) typically go no faster than 15 miles tweens featured in the film) dream of stepping up to the “big per hour. leagues,” too. • A report from the u.s. consumer Product safety commission documents 155 go-kart-related deaths Racing Dreams follows these three young racers as com - of children under the age of 15 between 1985 and petitors in races organized by the world karting Association 1996. only one of the deaths described in the (wkA) — the largest national sanctioning body for karting in report occurred at a racetrack. The majority of go- north America. The wkA alone boasts 10,000 active mem - kart related injuries and deaths occur while bers (both youth and adult) and counts 120 tracks world - children are riding homemade karts, riding on wide where competitive races are held. other organizations public streets or sitting on drivers’ laps. regulating karting in the united states include the interna - • each class of karting must adhere to a weight rule. tional kart Federation (iFk) and the karters of America rac - For the beginner classes, the weight typically ing Triad (kArT). ranges from 150 to 350 pounds, which includes the kart and the driver. The film follows the wkA Pavement series, one of the two annual wkA national series that race exclusively on oval • racing karts are typically designed with no tracks. A five-race national tour, the Pavement series races enclosed cockpit, which means the driver will not be “pinned” in the case of a crash. A car racer, on on asphalt (as opposed to the other oval track series, which the other hand, is strapped into the car, which races on dirt) and is split into classes, with cumulative scor - makes fire retardant clothing necessary in case of ing determining an overall winner. in the film, Annabeth and fire. Josh compete at the junior level, while Brandon is in his last • wkA racers are required to wear full face helmets in the senior division. and gloves. Many racers also wear full-length, For a list of WKA national touring series, abrasion-resistant suits (similar to something worn visit www.worldkarting.com by a racer), neck collars, elbow pads, rib protectors and auto-racing shoes with no-slip organized karting events are open to drivers as young as 5 soles. years old. Formal competitive classes with the wkA begin at • “karting” and “go-karting” are interchangeable the junior level (age 8) and typically run in three-year age terms, though serious racers typically refer to their groupings up to the senior level (age 15 or 16, depending on vehicles as “karts,” while “go-karts” are often the series, and up). About 45 percent of competitive wkA thought of as recreational vehicles. racers are juniors. • The wkA technical manual, published every while karting is considered a good way to get into profes - october, contains the rules and regulations for the sional car racing, karting can cost up to $5,000 per event at following year's racing season. the world karting Association level. considering these For a 360-degree interactive video view inside a racing costs (most of which are for equipment and travel), go-kart, visit www.pbs.org/pov/racingdreams sponsorship has become commonplace in karting

DISCUSSION GUIDe Racing Dreams |5 PoV baCkGRounD infoRmation

sources: Women in Racing Aspen Park. in Racing Dreams , Annabeth talks about her aspiration to http://www.aspenmotorsportspark.com/sitepages/pid66.php become the first female racer to win the — Bardi, Joe. “Movie review: Marshall curry’s racing Dreams, starring what nAscAr calls its “biggest, richest and most prestigious Annabeth Barnes, Joshua Hobson and Brandon warren.” Creative motorsports event.” Loafing Tampa , May 21, 2010. Annabeth follows in the footsteps of women trailblazers who http://cltampa.com/dailyloaf/archives/2010/05/21/movie-review- have made their mark in racing. Though racing is still a male- marshall-currys-racing-dreams-starring-annabeth-barnes-joshua-hobso dominated sport, women are now competing at various rac - n-and-brandon-warren-with-trailer-video#.TupTtlJwrT8 ing levels and the opportunities for them are growing. As of Burke, Tom and Tony kovaleski. “Parents of Girl killed at Go-kart race 2008, women made up approximately 25 percent of the Talk to 7news.” TheDenverchanel.com, May 18, 2011. 61,000 members of the club of America (sccA), http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/27937516/detail.html the largest sanctioning body for car racing (as the wkA is “Go-kart related injuries & Deaths to children, september 2000.” . u.s. for karting). At the highest levels of nAscAr, however, rep - consumer Product safety commission library. resentation from women is much scarcer. since 1950, only http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia00/os/go-kart.pdf 15 women have started cup races. Holden, stephen. “Too young for Driver’s licenses, but with Full- The first known female racers were active in in the Throttle Ambitions.” The New York Times, July 8, 2010. http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/07/09/movies/09racing.html 19th century, but it wasn’t until the 1940s that women ap - peared on the amateur racing circuit in the united states. in Holder, Bill. “kart racing – Get on Track!” , February 1949, became the first woman to race in a 2009. nAscAr event, and made history in 1977 by http://www.stockcarracing.com/featurestories/scrp_0402_kart_racing becoming the first woman to qualify for the indy 500. (The /viewall.html sugar river raceway. http://www.sugarriverraceway.com/start.htm Motor speedway, where that event is held, had only begun allowing women in the pits and garages in 1971.) wolfkill, kim. “ – – racing.” Road & Track, september 29, 2005. in 2005, Danica Patrick became the fourth woman to race http://www.roadandtrack.com/racing/motorsports/superkarts-super- in the indy 500 and went on to win the indy 300, speeds making her the first woman to win an indy race. Patrick has world karting Association. since become one of the most popular and successful fe - http://www.worldkarting.com/ male racecar drivers. in Racing Dreams , one observer calls Annabeth “the next Danica Patrick.” 8w. http://forix.autosport.com/8w/aboutus.html Patrick herself was a go-kart racer in the wkA and trained as a young girl with fellow racing pioneer lyn st. James, who had 15 starts in the 1980s and was the first female named rookie of the year at an indy 500. she is now an ad - vocate for training women to be top racers. Her organiza - tion, the women in the winner’s Foundation, brings together women from across the motorsports community at an annual event honoring female drivers.

nAscAr is also making an effort to train qualified female racers. in 2009, Annabeth became the youngest person ever selected for nAscAr’s , a driver develop - ment program started in 2000 with the goal of preparing women and minorities to compete in both regional and na - tional motorsports events.

DISCUSSION GUIDe Racing Dreams |6 PoV baCkGRounD infoRmation

nAscAr reports that more than 40 percent of nAscAr’s 75 million fans are now women. According to , nAscAr is the televised sport with the second largest fe - male audience, with only football attracting more female viewers. sources:

Allison, liz. The Girl’s Guide to NASCAR . new york: center street , 2006.

Bernstein, Viv. “Danica Patrick’s Possible impact Hard to Gauge.” esPn. http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-opinion/6913135/danica-patrick- possible-impact-hard-gauge

Bouzanquet, Jean François. Fast Ladies: Female Racing Drivers 1888 to 1970 . Dorchester: Veloce, 2009. esPn.com, Matt willis Blog. “Danica Patrick could open Doors.” http://espn.go.com/racing/blog/_/name/willis_matt/id/6873807

Janet Guthrie. www.JanetGuthrie.com keating, steve. “Motor racing: indycar land of opportunity for women racers.” reuters, May 27, 2011. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/05/27/motor-racing-indy-women- idukn2718080120110527

“Racing Dreams.” American Public Media: The story, May 13, 2010. http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_1036_Annabeth_Barnes.mp3/view

“women in racing: why should Boys Have All the Fun?” coronado speed Festival, september 3, 2008. http://www.scpublicrelations.com/pressroom/clientnews/2008/corona dospeedfestival/womeninracing.html

DISCUSSION GUIDe Racing Dreams |7 PoV baCkGRounD infoRmation

Selected People Featured in Racing Dreams brandon Warren Brandon warren, 13, lives with his grandparents in rural annabeth barnes creedmoor, north carolina, in a home filled with racing memorabilia (two matching rocking chairs sit in By age 11, Annabeth Barnes has become one of the hottest the living room beside a stack of racing magazines and female racers in the karting world, with 53 poles and 32 wins, Brandon’s airbrushed helmet). Brandon's grandfather does several in some of the biggest races in the country. A third- paint and body repairs for a Pro cup driver, and generation racer, Annabeth started out as a 7-year-old in the Brandon is not afraid to trade some paint on the track himself. naskart kids class, with her kart painted like ‘s But Brandon‘s quick temper and daredevil side worry his #5 car. when tall, thin Annabeth, who wore her hair cropped grandmother, who thinks he should follow in the footsteps of short, started racing, boys on the track sometimes made fun , Jr. and attend military school to get the of her, calling her “Man-a-Beth.” But their teasing stopped discipline he needs. when they saw her race. she resides in Hiddenite, north carolina (a state nicknamed “nAscAr Valley”), and she 2012 Update: Brandon hasn’t been able to race since the frequently spends saturday nights watching stock car races at season chronicled in Racing Dreams but he’s doing well and is the with her family, or re-watching considering joining the military when he graduates from high her favorite movie, Talladega Nights . school this spring.

2012 Update: Annabeth is now in 11th grade and is racing full sized late-model stock against adult drivers. last year at Josh hobson the Hickory Motor speedway (whose slogan is “Birthplace of Josh Hobson was born and raised just north of Flint, the nAscAr stars”) she had nine top-five finishes and one and started racing when he was 5 years old. At 12 years old, win, finishing fourth in track points for the year. Annabeth is Josh stands 4 feet 10 inches tall, but his demeanor is the subject of the Great American country television series commanding both in school and on the track. He is well Born To Drive , which follows her as she competes in her first spoken and polite, and he understands that in addition to full year of stock car racing at Hickory Motor speedway. short being a great driver, it’s important to represent sponsors well on money but big on desire, Annabeth and her mother, Tina, if he wants to keep racing. with seven Grand national wins and father, Darren, make great sacrifices in order for her to and four national championships under his belt, he is hoping compete in this male-dominated sport. to move up to a full sized American speed Association (AsA) race car after this season.

2012 Update: Josh is a senior in high school and is hoping to go to college next year. For the past couple of years he has raced in a full sized car in the AsA racing series. in addition to being a competitive driver, he is also president of the student body and captain of the wrestling team.

DISCUSSION GUIDe Racing Dreams |8 PoV GeneRaL DisCussion Questions

Immediately after the film, you may want to give people a • if you could ask anyone in the film a single question, few quiet moments to reflect on what they have seen. If who would you ask and what would you ask him or the mood seems tense, you can pose a general question her? and give people some time to themselves to jot down or • What did you learn from this film? What insights did think about their answers before opening the discussion. it provide? Please encourage people to stay in the room between the • if a friend asked you what this film was about, what film and the discussion. If you save your break for an would you say? appropriate moment during the discussion, you won’t lose • Describe a moment or scene in the film that you the feeling of the film as you begin your dialogue. found particularly disturbing or moving. What was it One way to get a discussion going is to pose a general about that scene that was especially compelling for question such as: you?

DisCussion PRomPts

Coming of age • Annabeth sometimes wishes that she could just be a normal girl and hang out with friends. was there a time • Annabeth talks about “being born to race” because when you felt torn between doing something to which members of her family have been involved in the sport for you were committed and hanging out with your friends? a long time. Brandon also has family members involved in what helped you make the choice that you did? racing. what role do you think families play in shaping children’s choices? • Annabeth says it’s hard for an 11, 12, 13 year old to think about what she wants to do for the rest of her life. • As the tour unfolds, the three young racers step Brandon, Annabeth and Josh are put in a position where from the sheltered world of childhood into adolescence they are expected to make choices about what they want — discovering romance for the first time, questioning their to do with their lives. Do you feel it is right for people to relationships with their parents and glimpsing the serious be expected to know what they want to do with their lives obstacles that will threaten their ability to achieve their at their ages? Do you know what you want? dreams. Did this movie take you back to that age when you were beginning to find out who you were? How were • in the movie there is a crash in one of Brandon's your dreams then different from your dreams now? races and everyone thinks Brandon caused the crash. why do you think he was so quick to be blamed? Have • After a difficult loss, Brandon’s grandfather says, you ever been unjustly blamed for something? Have you “Don’t let this little bit of stuff here upset you, okay? i’m ever wrongly accused someone of something? trying to get you ready for life. life ain’t all real smooth. Josh Hobson Photo courtesy of Bruce Walls There is a lot of hills and bumps in it. you’ve got to be cool • At one point in the movie Brandon realizes that he under pressure, baby. you’ve got to be cool under pres - won't be racing next year. "There are just some things that sure.” How does racing help prepare these young people you can't do in life," he says. Do you agree? Have you ever for life? what life lessons do you see them learn? had to do something for reasons beyond your control? Did you feel disappointed? How did you deal with your • what do you learn from the film about the relation - disappointment? ship between taking risks and building confidence? How about the relationship between competition and self-es - teem?

DISCUSSION GUIDe Racing Dreams |9 PoV DisCussion PRomPts

achieving success criticizing mistakes) and being “parents” (including making it clear that they love their children no matter what)? How • Annabeth, Brandon and Josh are all very different from involved do you think parents should be in their children’s each other. How would you describe each of their personal - sports activities? ities? what draws each of them to racing? what enables them to succeed? while watching the film, did you see a link • As Annabeth struggles with wanting to spend time between success on the racetrack and success in the class - with friends and also wanting to race, her father struggles room? with how much commitment to demand of his daughter. Darren says, “i don’t want racing to keep her from being a • Annabeth says she wants to be remembered for being kid. But, i mean, if she’s going to do it professionally, i mean, a great race car driver, and she makes a list of people she we can’t go to the race once a month, and we can’t come wants to meet, things she wants to learn to do. what kinds up here one night a week. you know, it can’t be done like of things did you dream of doing when you were 11 years that. if you’re going to be a professional, whatever, tennis old? How many of those things have you done? what do player, you’re going to make sacrifices for your ultimate you want your legacy to be now? is it the same or different goal.” if Darren asked you for advice on how to strike a bal - than what you wanted when you were a child? ance with Annabeth, what would you say to him? under • Annabeth says, “i don’t need to go to college. i go to what circumstances is it appropriate for a parent to require college every weekend.” How do her parents react? what commitment to a particular activity from a child who wants messages do they want to convey to Annabeth about the to do something else? How can Darren help Annabeth pur - importance of college? what role do you think higher edu - sue her racing dream and still “be a kid”? cation plays in one’s ability to succeed?

• Josh says over the loudspeaker at his school that “in the economics of karting the end we have to decide our own character. each one of us must choose to be responsible, caring and trustworthy. • Because of the cost of racing, all three kids in the film it’s a choice no one else can make for us. Make it a great day, have to negotiate sponsorship. Do you think sponsorship in - or not — the choice is up to us.” what does this mean to fluences who gets to participate in racing? which traits do you? Do you think that this is true? what choices make you you think sponsors value most? proud? Have you made choices that you regret? • Brandon regretfully leaves the sport after becoming champion, saying, “i’d still like to be a racecar driver, but, you Parenting know, we just ain’t got the money to do it. it’s hard times right now, and, uh, i still love racing — i always will. But there • Josh’s mother, Donna, compares racing to other sports, are just some things you can’t do in life.” How do financial re - saying that she worries about her child’s safety. Then she sources influence children’s capacity to participate in sports adds, “But in every sport there is potential for danger. i know where you live? Are you comfortable with the role that kids that have blown out their Acls in basketball, you know. money plays in youth sports in your community? why or i know kids that have broken collarbones in the eighth grade why not? if not, what could you do to increase equitable ac - playing football. i don't think racing is any more [dangerous] cess to athletics for all kids? than any other sport.” in your opinion, are there sports in • in post-race interviews and appearances, the young which children should not be permitted to compete? where drivers take care to thank their sponsors. what are the ethics would you draw the line between acceptable risk and the re - of children having sponsors in order to participate in a sport? sponsibility to protect one’s child? • The families of the kids in the film clearly struggle fi - • From what you see in the film, how do you think Bran - nancially in order for them to keep racing, sometimes even don was affected by his father’s drug abuse and time in putting off things that they consider important, such as sav - prison? Brandon receives support from his grandparents and ing for college. in your opinion, how much money is too other family members. who, in your community, provides much for a family to spend on helping a child develop a par - support to kids whose parents are absent? ticular talent or pursue an interest? • How do family members walk the line between being “coaches” (including focusing on victory and

DISCUSSION GUIDe Racing Dreams |10 PoV DisCussion PRomPts

Women in Racing • Find the motivated kids in your community who need support that is beyond the means of their individual families • Annabeth observes, “when i first got into it, there were and help organize sponsorship or raise funds. look beyond absolutely no girls at all. And the boys were like, ‘what are talent in sports or performing arts to include children who you doing here?’” what unique challenges does Annabeth might want to compete at science or engineering fairs, at - face because she is a female in a traditionally male sport? in tend computer or math camps, demonstrate leadership in what ways is being one of only a few girls a benefit and in scouting or other youth organizations or who have great what ways is it a burden? Have you ever felt like the odd one ideas for civic or philanthropic projects. out? Have you ever been in a situation where you were dif - ferent from everyone else, because you thought differently, • create a website or other forum on which local kids can looked different or held different beliefs? Has it ever been share their personal dreams. share the results with local civic fun to be the different or unique one? and religious organizations to match individual children with mentors who can help them reach their goals. • Do you think that there are activities at which boys or girls are naturally better? Has there been a time in your life • use Racing Dreams to spark parent-child discussions when you were the victim of discrimination? about the relationships between the parents and kids in the film. schedule the discussion as a precursor to a family tail - • Annabeth perceptively describes one of her main spon - gate party for a live or televised racing event. sors, saying, “ultramax is one of the big chassis builders in racing. They give us our chassis for free. ultramax sponsored • Have a “girls can do anything” celebration/party for me because i am a girl. so when i go out there and win a tweens during which you share the stories of and/or honor race, then all the other people’s dads say, ‘oh, if a girl can girls and women in your community who have achieved suc - win on ultramax, then so can my little boy.’ so they all go cess in atypical jobs or activities. out and buy ultramax. i mean, it’s totally sexist and wrong, but if it gets ultramax more customers, then it’s okay with me.” if you were advising Annabeth regarding sponsorship, would it be okay with you? why or why not?

takinG aCtion

• Find the motivated kids in your community who need • Have a “girls can do anything” celebration/party for support that is beyond the means of their individual families tweens during which you share the stories of and/or honor and help organize sponsorship or raise funds. look beyond girls and women in your community who have achieved suc - talent in sports or performing arts to include children who cess in atypical jobs or activities. might want to compete at science or engineering fairs, at - tend computer or math camps, demonstrate leadership in scouting or other youth organizations or who have great ideas for civic or philanthropic projects.

• create a website or other forum on which local kids can share their personal dreams. share the results with local civic and religious organizations to match individual children with mentors who can help them reach their goals.

• use Racing Dreams to spark parent-child discussions about the relationships between the parents and kids in the additional media literacy questions are available at: film. schedule the discussion as a precursor to a family www.pbs.org/pov/educators/media-literacy.php tailgate party for a live or televised racing event.

DISCUSSION GUIDe Racing Dreams |11 PoV ResouRCes

FILM-RELATED WEB SITES

RACIng DREAMS What’s Your POV? http://racingdreamsfilm.com Share your thoughts about Racing Dreams Visit the filmmaker’s website to learn more about the film, by posting a comment on the POV Blog the filmmaker, cast and crew and upcoming screening www.pbs.org/pov/blog or send an email to [email protected]. events.

Original Online Content on nASCAR POV Interactive (www.pbs.org/pov) www.nASCAR.com The website of the association for professional drivers in - PoV’s Racing Dreams companion website cludes news and information about events, drivers, stand - To further enhance the broadcast, PoV has produced an ings and programs like the diversity award that was given interactive website to enable viewers to explore the film in to Annabeth. greater depth. The Racing Dreams website — www.pbs.org/pov/racingdreams — offers a streaming WORLD KARTIng ASSOCIATIOn video trailer for the film; an interview with filmmaker www.worldkarting.com Marshall curry; a list of related websites, articles and The official site of the organization that runs the races seen books; a downloadable discussion guide; and special in the film offers news and information about current events, features, including photo galleries, a 360-degree ways to get involved and a downloadable technical manual interactive video view inside the go-karts raced by the that specifies rules and regulations. young drivers of Racing Dreams and a strategy game that takes you through a season of an extreme kart league. Girls and empowerment

gIRLS InC. Racing www.girlsinc.com The website of this national advocacy organization includes AnnABETh BARnES descriptions of programs and resources that help girls de - www.annabethbarnes.com velop strength, confidence and intellect. Annabeth’s website has updates on her latest racing nEW MOOn gIRLS MAgAzInE activities. www.newmoon.com/magazine DRIVE FOR DIVERSITY This free magazine is written by girls, for girls age 8 and up. http://www.nascardiversity.com/ it emphasizes self-esteem and self-expression. Drive for Diversity is the industry’s leading development pro - WOMEn AnD gIRLS LEAD gram for minority and female drivers and crew members. http://www.itvs.org/women-and-girls-lead JOSh hOBSOn RACIng women and Girls lead is a strategic media initiative to sup - www.joshhobson.com port and sustain a growing movement to empower women Josh’s website has updates on his latest racing activities. and girls, their communities and future generations. This website outlines a variety of action opportunities and cam - paigns around the initiative. women and Girls lead is spear - headed by the independent Television service (iTVs) and its Global Perspectives Project.

DISCUSSION GUIDe Racing Dreams |12 PoV ResouRCes

Parenting

Parenting www.parenting.com/article/special-talents?page=0,0 This link takes you to an article from Parenting magazine ti - tled “special Talents” by Frank clancy that discusses how to nurture children’s talents. search the site for related articles by entering terms such as “prodigy” or “gifted” in the search engine.

PBS PAREnTS www.pbs.org/parents This site offers general parenting advice and includes a section on fitness that discusses how to involve children in sports.

RESPOnSIBLE SPORTS www.responsiblesports.com sponsored by the liberty Mutual insurance company, this site provides advice on everything related to involving young people in sports. Parents can take quizzes to reflect on their own motives and behavior. Also provided is advice on safety and working through tough related issues.

DISCUSSION GUIDe Racing Dreams |13 hoW to buy the fiLm PoV

To purchase a Racing Dreams DVD , go to http://racingdreamsfilm.com/buy-dvd

Produced by American Documentary, inc. Major funding for PoV is provided by PBs, The John D. and and beginning its 24th season on PBs in 2011, catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, national endowment for the award-winning PoV series is the longest- the Arts, The educational Foundation of America, new york showcase on American television to feature the work of state council on the Arts, new york city Department of cultural today’s best independent documentary filmmakers. Airing June Affairs, FAcT and public television viewers. special support pro - through september with primetime during the year, vided by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and sciences. PoV has brought more than 300 acclaimed documentaries to Funding for PoV’s Diverse Voices Project is provided by the millions nationwide and has a webby Award-winning online se - corporation for Public Broadcasting. Project Voicescape is a ries, POV's Borders . since 1988, PoV has pioneered the art of partnership of Adobe youth Voices, PBs and PoV. PoV is pre - presentation and outreach using independent nonfiction media sented by a consortium of public television stations, including to build new communities in conversation about today’s most wGBH Boston and THirTeen in association with wneT.orG. pressing social issues. Visit www.pbs.org/pov. American Documentary, Inc. www.amdoc.org POV Digital www.pbs.org/pov American Documentary, inc. (AmDoc) is a multimedia company PoV's award-winning website extends the life of our films online dedicated to creating, identifying and presenting contemporary with interactive features, interviews, updates, video and educa - stories that express opinions and perspectives rarely featured in tional content, as well as listings for television broadcasts, com - mainstream media outlets. AmDoc develops collaborative munity screenings and films available online. The POV Blog is a strategic-engagement activities around socially relevant content gathering place for documentary fans and filmmakers to discuss on television, online and in community settings. These activities their favorite films and get the latest news. are designed to trigger action, from dialogue and feedback to educational opportunities and community participation. POV Community Engagement and Education www.pbs.org/pov/outreach Join our Community network! PoV films can be seen at more than 450 events across the coun - www.amdoc.org/outreach/events try every year. Together with schools, organizations and local learn about new lesson plans, facilitation guides and our other PBs stations, PoV facilitates free community screenings and free educational resources and find out about screenings near produces free resources to accompany our films, including dis - you. Joining our network is also the first step towards hosting cussion guides and curriculum-based lesson plans. with our your own PoV screening. community partners, we inspire dialogue around the most im - portant social issues of our time. you can also follow us on Twitter @PoVengage for the latest news from PoV community engagement & education.

Front cover: Racing Karts Photo courtesy of Kent Smith

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