Every champion has a day one – the day when the fire in their chest to go faster, further, and harder can no longer be ignored, and they set forth on a path that leads to a podium. 19-year-old Kate Fry’s day came when she collided with a deer in a compact car, and began investigating a new, safer option with her grandfather, and discovered her love for Jeeps. What started simply as a reliable, all-weather option to get her to and from school in unpredictable Ohio weather soon became a passion project, and encouraged her to attend various local and regional car shows.

“I’d go out to these shows, and bring back the ticket stubs to my grandpa,” describes Kate, “he’s always been such a supportive force in my life, and according to him, I can become anything I want!”

Kate took a strong leap into the enthusiast community when she attended the annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival in Butler, PA. Here, she threw herself into the Jeep culture, lifestyle and community, soaking up every ounce of information possible, and meeting what she refers to as “the nicest people on earth”. A few of these people took notice of the young, smiling, attentive lady as well, and were quick to offer their assistance with her many questions. Within no time, Kate was evolving her involvement from a recreational to more professional focus, partnering with various companies to showcase their product’s capabilities.

“It’s my goal to avoid self-promotion, remain fully-dressed, down-to-earth, and help as many people as I can, all while learning as much from them as possible,” says Kate.

To stand out from the crowd, and to bring attention to the thousands of women across the country fighting breast cancer, Kate enlisted help from her family, who operates an automotive shop, to help to transform her stock black Jeep into a rolling billboard that nobody could ignore.

“I’ve always wanted a pink vehicle,” explains Kate, “and now that I have one, I’m excited to use it in a way that may help people, while drawing lots of attention to the awesome people who’ve welcomed me into this community with open arms. It’s very exciting!”

Among the various companies that began to take note of Kate’s exuberant personality and passion for the Jeep community and breast cancer awareness was Mickey Thompson Tire and Wheel, who contributed a full set (and a spare) of Baja MTZ^P3 tires to her build, and were soon showcased at the MyTop booth at the 2016 Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) Show.

Mickey Thompson’s contribution of Baja MTZ^P3 tires represent more than a shared passion for the Jeep community and breast cancer awareness, and are a testament to the companies dedication to motorsports of all levels, from grassroots to professional. The choice of the Baja MTZ^P3 tires is intended to ensure that Kate’s pink Jeep is able to traverse the country from event to event, equally sure-footed on the nation’s interstates as its back country.

“While I’m studying marketing at Kent State University, my dream is to work within and contribute to the automotive industry,” explains Kate, “and I don’t plan on waiting until I graduate to start making the connections that will help me make a difference and bring value to my future employer.”

Kate is making good on her ambitions, representing Mickey Thompson and other sponsors at over 30 events across the United States in 2017. Particularly interested in Moab events such as the Easter Jeep Safari, Kate describes her growth in the Jeep community very simply stating,

“Everyone thinks I’m crazy, but I’ll be out there in 2017. I have so much to learn, and while I’ve done alright with forums and YouTube videos so far, I can’t wait to get into the thick of things and learn from those who’ve been doing this for years!”