Breaking the Garageâs Glass Ceiling
Women are vastly outnumbered in the auto trades, but one pioneer, who died in 2019, is still inspiring others to pursue their dreams and lift one another up.
“I have learned the most during my time in the shop,” said Sana Anderson, who works on heavy-duty trucks and trailers.Credit.Ryan Anderson
By Mercedes Lilienthal
Feb. 11, 2021
One of Jessi Combsâs missions in life was to help women pursue their automotive dreams. A talented welder, fabricator, off-road racer and TV personality, Ms. Combs also dreamed of going fast. Really fast.
Nearly two years ago, she set a land speed record for women, 522.783 m.p.h., on a dry lake bed in Oregon. But her 56-foot-long jet of a car crashed during the feat, killing her. She was 39.