Nancy Roe Pimm
Nancy Roe Pimm grew up in Brooklyn New York, where she rode subways and buses. Cars were not important to her. Little did she know that one day she would marry a professional race car driver. Working in the pits with computers and stop watches, Ms. Pimm learned first hand about the thrills and dangers of NASCAR and Indy racing. The Indy 500 is the crown jewel of open-wheeled auto racing, and The Daytona 500 is NASCAR’s biggest event. Cars are pushed to perform. Records are broken. From time to time a crash will hush the crowd. These men and women take sharp turns, fly down straight-aways, make pit stops, and zigzag for position. Through interviews with past and current race car drivers, the author reveals the inner world of racing with her readers. The books also explore the history of the famous races and little known facts about the drivers.
Another driving force behind the author is to encourage kids to reach high and believe in their dreams. Her husband grew up on a farm in upstate New York. Many people thought it would be impossible for him to follow his dream of becoming a race driver and competing at the highest level of the sport. After years of hard work and persistence, Mr. Pimm raced Indy cars and stock cars. Nancy Roe-Pimm wrote and illustrated her first book when she was only ten-years old. Her dream of having a book on a library shelf has finally come true, thirty-five years later! Her message to the children: It’s important to believe in yourself, never give up and reach for the stars. She will also share with the group a day in the life of a writer and why she writes. Her talk is inspirational and hands-on. She has collected “pit trash” (parts of an actual race cars) to share with the students, and racing gear from her days at the race track. There is also a slide presentation with racing photos and gorilla photos, not used in the books.
Ms. Pimm has been published in Highlights for Children, Hopscotch, Boy’s Quest, The Horseman’s Corral, Guideposts for Kids and Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Her published books include:
- Fly, Girl, Fly: Shaesta Waiz Soars Around the World, September 2020
- Smoky The Dog That Saved My Life, February 2019
- Bonded By Battle: The Powerful Friendships of Military Dogs and Soldiers, November 2017
- The Jerrie Mock Story: The First Woman To Fly Solo Around the World, a Junior Library Guild Selection, came out in March 2016.
- Colo’s Story—The Life of One Grand Gorilla (JLG Selection). Choose to Read Ohio selection: 2013,2014. Colo’s Story was also chosen to represent the state of Ohio at the National Book Festival in Washingon D.C. in 2012.
- The Daytona 500- The Thrill and Thunder of the Great American Race (JLG Selection)
- The Indy 500-The Inside Track (Junior Libray Guild Selection)
- The Heart of the Beast-Eight Great Gorilla Stories (JLG Selection). Endorsed by Jack Hanna
Nancy Roe Pimm lives in Plain City, Ohio with her husband, Ed Pimm. They have three daughters, Allison, Lindsay, and Carli. They share their home with two dogs, Tessie and Toby, two cats, Sassy and Mr. Kit, and one snake, Monty Python. Allison married Rusty and blessed the family with two grandsons, Tommy and Sammy.
