Napierville, Illinois — October 26, 2015 — Spanesi Americas has announced it will host the “Valkyrie Project” at its SEMA booth, 10777. The SEMA Show takes place November 3 to 6 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre.
The Valkyrie Project is a 1969 AMC AMX, built by women of the industry. According to a statement from Spanesi Americas, the Valkyrie Project began as an idea during a discussion with key industry leaders at the 2014 SEMA Show. Initially the discussion was simply about a build, but it sparked an idea that began to grow.
In its final form, the idea was to embark on a project that went beyond what had been done before, and to “move the needle” for young women striving to succeed in the automotive industry.
According to Spanesi Americas, the Valkyrie Project showcases the wide range of talented women in the automotive industry, and the project serves to inspire women to explore their interests in the fields of automotive and motorsports.
In a nutshell, the 1969 AMC AMX project vehicle served as a platform for women in the industry to design, fabricate and ultimately build a uniquely powerful and equally beautiful car. The end result is a high power, fully functioning race car that is making an impact in the racing world.
During the SEMA Show, many of the participants of the Valkyrie Project will be in the Spanesi Booth to answer questions about the project. Key program people, such as JoAnn Bortles and Karen Salvaggio, will be on hand at times throughout the show.
Spanesi Americas assisted the group in the body and paint phase, headed up by Bortles, an award winning custom automotive painter, airbrush artist, certified welder/fabricator, author, and photo journalist with over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry.
Dr. Karen Salvaggio of Thunder Valley Racing brings a wealth of motorsports, education, and leadership experience to any project. A military veteran and master mechanic, Salvaggio served nine years in the U.S. Air Force as a crew chief on B-52’s and KC-135 aircraft and garnered numerous distinguished service medals before leaving the military to pursue advanced education.
Her 30-year career on the track includes over 150 victories, five racing championships, and multiple track records. She is an active member of the National Auto Sport Association (NASA), the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), Guldstrand Racing Association (GRA), and the Vintage Automobile Racing Association (VARA).
Salvaggio now builds race cars full time and most recently served as a SEMA council member. She also focuses on creating hands-on automotive projects and connecting the industry with the next generation of “gearheads.”
For more information, please visit spanesi.com.
