Heels & Horsepower hosts its first Austin event, Motors & Mimosas this weekend.

By Meagan Leahy, Photo courtesy of Heels & Horsepower

Growing up, Diane Caplan preferred matchbox cars to Barbie dolls. At an early age, she developed a passion for cars. Now, with 20 years of experience working with luxury and ultra-luxury car brands, she is well-versed in attending car shows that are usually geared toward men. Last year, she finally had enough of the male-dominated industry and founded Heels & Horsepower, a female-only car club.

Heels & Horsepower caters to women who are passionate about luxury and exotic cars. She started the club in Houston in February, organizing monthly scheduled events from big car shows to casual meetups with the other members. Her desire is to celebrate and empower women who love cars and encourage them not to shy away from a passion simply because it exists in a male-dominated industry.

“Women are a dominate force in the automotive world, and I knew that there could be a club and car events that celebrated women, not objectified them,” Caplan says.

With a professional background in both marketing and the car industry, she has grown the organization to include more than 60 members and is exploring chapters in Dallas and other parts of Texas in 2019.

The first Austin event, Motors & Mimosas, will be Sunday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to noon at Steiner Ranch Steakhouse.

“It is a gathering to show off our cars and to gather for some good food and, of course, mimosas,” Caplan says of the kickoff event.

Caplan has seen improvements in the heavily male-dominated industry since she first began her professional career, like an increase in female general managers at dealerships. However, she acknowledges there is still much to be done. Caplan and her team are working on a national model for the organization so that it can exist and grow in any major city that includes a strong foothold of women who are passionate about cars. She hopes to “spread the car-girl movement everywhere and anywhere in a positive and empowering way.”

 

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