Detroit, MI – The hot summer months are known for the rolling out of major blockbuster films, crowded movie theaters, and the tantalizing smell of popcorn. But, this year, students in the Detroit area will be enjoying a little bit of extra sparkle. That’s because Hollywood Stuntwoman Kathy Jarvis, now in Michigan, is set to speak to students at the Ann Arbor Trail Magnet Middle School on Tuesday, July 18th. Jarvis, who has been in a lengthy list of Hollywood feature films while stunt-doubling for leading actresses such as Kate Hudson, Hillary Swank, Charlize Theron, Meg Ryan, Meryl Streep and Teri Garr, easily delights students with her animated talks about her many exciting movie experiences, including her courageous jump off of an 80-foot cliff into only eight feet of water for actress Anne Heche in the feature film Six Days Seven Nights. In addition, Jarvis has a very pro-school message, emphasizing that staying in school and studying hard helped her to do the challenging stunts she does for major films.
Kathy is outgoing, easy to approach, and will be offering autographs to students at the end of her speech. There is no fee for her speaking engagements in public schools, as Kathy feels strongly about inspiring today’s students to do their best in educational studies and pursuits.
Another reason that Kathy is in Michigan is to compete as a rookie driver in dirt track races in Grand Rapids until late September. At the track, Kathy is known to give one of her enthusiastic smiles as she confidently lowers herself into the driver’s seat of a 2010 Rayburn racecar. Firing up the 500hp engine, she pushes it to the limits at speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour. She also pushes herself to the limits. These days, Jarvis packs a lot of excitement into a weekend, racing Fridays at the Winston Speedway in Muskegon and Saturdays at the Thunderbird Speedway near Grand Rapids. Kathy has now been named the Rookie of the Year Points Leader at the tracks.
But there’s another, far more important, reason Kathy is taking time off from her daily life as an in-demand stuntwoman to pit her racing skills against 40 other drivers. Kathy Jarvis wants to inspire and empower girls and young women to do courageous things. “This isn’t about whether or not I win. It’s about doing something that excites me and pushes me beyond my comfort zone,” explains Kathy, who was asked to start racing by Michigan resident Andy Stebbins, the owner of the late model dirt car she now drives. At the time, Jarvis didn’t know anything about late model race cars. But she knew that she had skills and a promising knack of hitting her marks as a veteran stunt driver for movies, like in The Italian Job. So she agreed.
“I want to empower girls and young women to consider taking part in activities they normally would not. This is new to me. But I won’t let that hold me back,” Jarvis enthuses, smiling another one of her toothy grins. And it’s because she is naturally dynamic that Kathy named her company “FemmeFatale Motorsports,” expressly set up to be a role model, especially to girls and women. Articles written about Kathy in Sports Illustrated, Delta’s Sky magazine and Driver are posted at www.ffmotorsports.com.
Jarvis encourages mothers, daughters, sons, and dirt racing enthusiasts to come to see her race. The first 10 fans to show up at her racing track pit on the weekends will receive free FemmeFatale Motorsports t-shirts. In addition, Kathy will be signing free driver’s hero cards whenever she is approached for an autograph at the race track. Grandstands generally open at 4:30 p.m. Her supportive husband, John Corser, a film producer, will be filming the action for an upcoming piece. As Corser, President of Corser, Inc., says: “A dedicated woman on the track challenging not only her own limits, but the tradition of this male-dominated sport is interesting to watch. Whatever happens, it’ll be fun and exciting!”
Footage of Kathy in the driver’s seat is posted on the KathylJarvis Channel on You Tube at www.youtube.com/user/kathyljarvis?feature=mhsn. She may also be visited on her Face Book fan page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathy-Jarvis/173530046022974 or Twitter at femmefatalmoto. Her profile on IMDb is at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0419080/.
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