By Colby Martin
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| Courtney greeted lawmakers and industry guests on Capitol Hill in 2012, including former Representative John Campbell (left). | |
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Warnings often surround the act of meeting one’s heroes, as the odds favor great disappointment. However, Courtney Hansen’s fans know this risk pays off. Her personable demeanor and genuine passion for the four-wheeled community is quickly apparent. Success in modeling and acting during her youth had planted solid roots for later pursuits in front of the camera. She first burst onto the automotive entertainment scene in 2004 as co-host of the hit car-makeover TV show “Overhaulin’.” Since then, Hansen has earned herself a unique niche as a spokesperson for car and truck enthusiasts in a variety of outlets. Additionally, she has fulfilled personal goals as a published author and philanthropist.
Courtney now counts five years of collaboration with the SEMA Action Network (SAN) among her credits. It all began in 2012 as she hosted an industry event on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. She has become a dedicated advocate for the SAN in subsequent years. Meeting and greeting fans nationwide as a celebrity guest has proven valuable in attracting attention to the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act and other efforts. She also became the face of the SAN-supported Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD) by appearing in the annual celebration’s promotional video.
Courtney recently answered the following questions about her journey:
You’ve become a household name in the automotive world. Is there a stand-out moment in your career? The “Overhaulin’” TV show was the first to put my name “on the map” as a personality in the automotive realm. I just loved being a part of that amazing team with Chip Foose, Chris Jacobs and builders like Troy Trepanier. It was so cool to work with that caliber of people and get my hands dirty. I learned so much about cars and got to see different parts of the country while making people’s dreams come true. It was also an honor to write a book that was geared toward women and first-time car owners. I’m also looking forward to what’s ahead because there are some cool things on the horizon!
As a small-town girl growing up, how were you influenced by the local auto scene? I was a “pit kid” and totally influenced by being immersed in the automotive scene from the time I was born. I grew up in Orono, Minnesota, and we also had a cabin in Brainerd. My family owned Brainerd International Raceway. My dad Jerry raced Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and won 27 national championships. We were always with the best drivers and even celebrities like Paul Newman! He even stayed with us every year for about 15 years. While I believe that my enthusiasm for cars is in my blood, I’ve really learned to love them—the way they look, their sound, the smell and how they handle.
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| Courtney enjoys meeting and greeting fans nationwide as a celebrity guest on behalf of the SAN. | |
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What are your special rides? I currently have a number of cool rides. My numbers-matching ’57 Ford Thunderbird named “Marilyn” is the perfect cruiser; I drive it almost every day. The ’70 Ford Mustang Mach I has a Boss 429 and was customized by DJ Funkmaster Flex. Bobby Alloway has talked about wanting to do some more to it. I have a ’70 Chevy Camaro Z-28 because I needed another Camaro in my life—my first car was an IROC-Z.
It’s commonly called “Holland’s car” since it’ll probably end up going to my daughter. It’s also a numbers-matching original so we might just restore that one. I’ve also got an ’06 Aston Martin DB9, which is my modern sports car. The supercharged, V8 Range Rover Sport is the “baby-friendly mobile.”
What is the next dream car on your list? There are several ‘dream cars’ on my list. I’d love to have a factory-blue, big-block-powered ’67 Pontiac GTO convertible. A ’71 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda is probably my top choice. Right now, I have my eye on a white ’68 Dodge Charger 440. My ideal situation would be to have all of the American manufacturers’ brands represented in my garage. I don’t discriminate when it comes to American classics!
You love meeting fans, especially young women. Do you hope to inspire them to become fellow car enthusiasts? I often feel that I’m the ultimate car enthusiast. My passion for this hobby runs deep and gets stronger every day. I love seeing the ‘car kids’ out at the shows. It makes me so happy to hear that they care what their families are driving, working on projects with their parents and coming to the races. If I’m one of those who is inspiring the next generation, I couldn’t be happier to have the role! In a time where it’s all about electronics and social media, it makes me so happy to know that automotive passion is staying alive through these kids.
What does your affiliation with SAN mean to you? What motivated you to become involved with the cause? I love the SAN membership because they’re out there protecting our hobby! I’m a big believer in the cause and am honored to support it. It’s just amazing to see how many are eager to get on board once they learn what it’s all about. Having been the daughter of a race-car driver, I fully appreciate efforts like the RPM Act. My dad wouldn’t have been able to enjoy his racing career without having the opportunity to convert street-driven vehicles for the track. Similarly, we wouldn’t have most of the big names in motorsports today for the very same reason. Efforts like this pull at my heart because I come from a racing family. I’m hoping to reach out to as many people as I can to spread the passion and keep the sport we love alive!
Keep up with her at www.CourtneyHansen.com. Many thanks, Courtney, the SAN forces everywhere are grateful for your dedication to the cause and our beloved hobby.
