STRUTTING HER STUFF ON TRACK MODEL-TURNED-DRIVER TO COMPETE IN LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX.

Byline: Keith Lair Staff Writer

Verena Mei had enough of wearing those skimpy dresses and holding an umbrella at drifting and drag-racing events.

She wanted to be behind the wheel of those import cars.

So, the 23-year-old from L.A. gave up her modeling job of four years as an International Toyo Tires Poster Model, where she had signed thousands of posters with her picture on it. And despite skepticism from fellow drivers and so-called friends, the Hawaiian native got behind the wheel of a 1998 Nissan 240SX, set up for drifting.

She will compete in Friday and Saturday's Long Beach Challenge at the Long Beach Grand Prix. A week later, she heads to New Jersey to compete in the 2005 Formula Drift opener at Wall Township Speedway.

``All I wanted was to get behind the wheel,'' she said. ``Just because I'm a model doesn't mean I can't race.''

Mei was in her third of four years as a Toyo model when she served as an umbrella girl at the starting line of the NHRA's sports compact series. She liked it so much, she went to Frank Hawley's drag-racing school at Pomona Raceway and earned a sports compact pro license.

A short time later, she began modeling at drifting events. She liked it even better, found the cost factor more to her speed, and changed events. She went through Bob Bondurant's driving school and also through a Palmdale-based stunt-driver school.

Her critics again said she could not be competitive with men.

``They did not know how serious I was,'' she said. ``They said, 'Models cannot drive.' It took a long time to prove myself. Now, the racers completely accept me.''

One company that did not accept her move, however, was Toyo, the firm that gave her the urge to get started in the sport. She has a tire sponsorship from Yokohama tires.

``They weren't interested,'' she said of Toyo. ``Yokohama has been in drifting from the start.''

The first proof that she was serious about competing was the car. Once she acquired her 240SX, she had to install a racing engine. A shop walked her through the process of installing an SR20 engine, which has 260 horsepower.

``It took me a lot longer than it would take most, but I did it,'' she said. ``I did 90 percent of the work on the motor by myself.''

By doing it, Mei says she can now do nearly all the work on the car by herself, and says it has made her a better driver because her changes will make her understand how the car adjusts to each change.

She competed in half the Formula Drift season last year and had a best of third place in a non-Formula Drift Las Vegas event.

However, even though she plans to compete in a full season this year, one goal still eludes her: a D1 Grand Prix license.

``I'm still trying,'' she said of obtaining the license. ``I'm still working on gaining more experience.''

One place where Mei has had success, where other drifting drivers have failed, has been in sponsorship. Although some of the sport's top drivers say they have had trouble obtaining non-automotive sponsors, Mei has garnered two, although one is her own. She operates her own Star Girl clothing line. Another clothing line, BC Ethic Clothing, also has come on board.

``I think more girls should start doing this,'' she said. ``I know girls are definitely interested.''

Keith Lair, [phone]

keith.lair(at)sgvn.com

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

TOYOTA GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH