Stephanie (Holtger) Paitl

 

Birthdate: January 4

Hometown: Coleman, WI

Residence: Coleman, WI

Marital Status: Married to Craig

Occupation: Operations Coordinator, Oconto Electric Cooperative

 

Race Series: World Series of Off Road Racing (WSORR)

Race Class: 1600 Lite Buggy

Vehicle Number: 144

 

Crew Chief: Craig Paitl

Pit Crew: Craig Paitl, Jeff Holtger, Bryan Holtger, Ben Holtger, Nick Holtger, Eric Holtger, Ken Clausen, Allison Clausen, Isabella Clausen

Spotters: Mark Krueger

Team Photography: Amanda Fonferek

The WSORR Light Buggy class is a limited, 4-wheel car using Volkswagen "Type 1" stock components. They have 1585 cc air-cooled engines. No parts can be replaced or modified unless the class rules allow. There is only one person allowed in the car during a race.

Chassis
Fabricated by Jeff Virnig
Wheel base: 95"
Track Width: 50"
Weight: 1550 lbs.
 

Drivetrain
Engine type: Volkswagen "Type 1" 1585 cc, air-cooled
Transmission: Volkswagen "Type 1", AT
Fuel Capacity: 3 gallons
 

Suspension
Shocks: Fox Shox (Front 2.0 / Rear 2.0)
Front: Volkswagen "Type 1" stock beam with ball joints
Rear: Volkswagen "Type 1" independent rear suspension
 

Tires & Wheels
Wheels: Custom 15" steel wheel
Tires: Goodyear
 

Miscellaneous

Graphic Design: Victory Sign
Battery: Optima
Fuel: Sunoco
Filters: K & N
Exhaust: S&S
Seat: Sparco Corsa
Driving Harness: Simpson

Biography
I was born on January 4, 1981 in Oconto Falls, WI, daughter to Jeff & Lynn. I was raised just outside of Coleman, WI, and I attended Coleman Elementary, Middle & High School. After graduating from school in 1999 I attended Northeast Wisconsin Technical College – Green Bay and earned a degree in Business Administration. I’ve been employed since high school at Oconto Electric Cooperative, which is an electric power utility in Oconto Falls. As an Operations Coordinator, I am in charge of new construction projects, accounting, dispatch and a wide range of administrative work. On a part time basis, I also work at Holtger Brothers.

In October of 2003 I married Craig Paitl, whom I had known for several years and had met at a race back when I was in high school. He is very supportive of my racing career and is also my crew chief. He now shares driving duties with my brother Bryan in a light buggy.

My main pastime is racing. I’ve been around the sport most of my life. Along with the CORR races, I try to get to as many of Nick's stock car races as I can. Bryan occasionally will race his dirtbike at various events and I also like to attend as many of those as possible. In the winter months, my friends and I get together and go to supercross & arenacross races.

With the little spare time I have, I like to hang out with my friends and family. I can also be found shopping, working out, going to the spa, reading, traveling, surfing the internet and spending time outdoors.

 

How I got started racing
In 1994 I attended my first off road race to watch my dad compete in the Class 4 division in the Short Course Off-Road Drivers Association (SODA) series. It’s now known as the Pro 4 series CORR. From that point on I had attended every one of his races. He sold his truck 3 years ago, but I still attend all of the races with friends and former pit crew members. After being on the sidelines for 10 years, I decided this was something I wanted to try. I have always had a great interest in off road racing. Although, I do enjoy the motocross and circle track events, off road racing is where my heart is.

I had my first opportunity to get behind the wheel in Bark River, MI in August of 2004. A non-sanctioned women’s buggy challenge was being held that weekend for any woman that had access to a car and wanted to race. I have no idea where I finished in that race, but I knew that wasn’t the last time I was going to be behind the wheel. We purchased a car that same weekend for me to continue racing on a regular basis. I decided to run the last event of the CORR Sportsman series in Crandon, Labor Day weekend. It was quite a learning experience for me and I placed 23rd and 22nd out of 30 cars. I wasn’t in the points battle or anything so I just used the weekend to learn more about the handling of the car and what it was like to have 30 other cars running along side of me. 2005 was a good season. I learned more & more every time I went out on the track and by the end of the season I had shown much improvement from when I first started.

 

My goals for 2008 are to consistently improve my skills as a driver and continue to gain as much experience as I can. I also want to prove that women do belong in this sport and they can accomplish anything they set their minds to. I’m so thankful for the support that my family, friends, competitors and sponsors have given me so far.