RENAISSANCE GIRL

When she’s not in school or taking her dance lessons, Elizabeth Fornelli, 9, nicknamed Izzy B, is burning up the track at the Mo-Kan Dragway
The granddaughter of Ken and Cathy Snyder, Cherokee, she has been racing her own custom dragster for three years.
“I build race cars, and Izzy B and her cousin, Gavin Snyder, have been in my shop from Day One, so we build them race cars,” her grandfather said. “In three years she’s had six wins and 21 runner-ups, which is like second place. She’s been third in points for two years.”
In addition to racing at Mo-Kan, she also travels to races throughout the four-state area through the Central Drag Racing Association. That season starts in April and ends in October. She’s also a member of the National Hot Rod Association.
“Every weekend we go somewhere with her,” Snyder said. “The price of gas is killing us, so we only go out monthly now on the longer trips  — and save up the rest of the month to afford the gas.”
Gas prices are having a definite impact on racing, he added. “Usually there would be 250 to 300 racers at Mo-Kan, but last weekend there were 130,” he said. “One way we can afford to do this is because we build our own cars.”
Izzy B’s car, painted at Patterson Artworks, has a green snake’s body with touches of purple and orange, plus portraits of KISS stars Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.
“I saw the real KISS when I was 5,” Izzy B said.
“We heard the KISS Army, a tribute band owned by KISS, was going to be at Buffalo Run Casino, so we took Izzy and her car down there,” Snyder said. “Those guys took her up on stage and sang to her, and took her backstage. I think they had more fun than she did.”
Painted on top of her car is the motto, “Drugs are for losers.”
“Izzy and her cousin, who’s 15, both live according to that,” her grandfather said.
When she’s older, Izzy wants to drive a “funny car,” which is powered by a nitro-methane blend. “That’s the fastest car there is,” Snyder said.
Racing sounds risky, but he said that youngsters are bundled up in full fire suits and protective gear. “She’s as safe as can be,” he said.
It’s quite a stretch from that to the sparkly costumes she wears as part of the Jody Phillips Dance Company. Izzy has been dancing the past five years, and sees no conflict at all between that and racing.
“I like both,” she said. “My favorite dance is hip-hop and jazz.”
“I’ve worked with Elizabeth the past year at the dance studio, and she’s a hard worker,” said Janette Mauk, dance instructor. “She’s an inspiration, not only to girls her own age, but to grown women as well.”
Izzy will be a fourth grade student in the fall at the Cherokee Attendance Center.
“Izzy loves school, loves dance and drives a race car,” her grandfather said. “She’s just a real cool little girl.”