Hats Off to the Ladies of Drag Racing

Bigolds...

Man I agree. The only thing I regret is not getting into racing until I was past my hound-dog years! I didn't grow up near a track so all this was unknown to me. With all this talent and good looks it is a mystery why drag racing is the number one sport in the USA.

 

The blonde landspeed racer getting out of her firesuit in the old SpeedTV print ad from 99-2000 or so? Forgot her name, the image is burned in well tho.........we had a thread about her here YEARS ago.

 

How about the "Little old lady from Pasadena"

"Put a Dodge in your garage honey!!"

 

Quick question...

Does anyone know if Melanie Troxel is related to the unlimited hydroplane driver?
I think his name is Ken Troxel. Been racing for years.



6narow

 

Michèle Mouton (born 23 June 1951 in Grasse) is a former French rally driver. She is the most successful and well-known female rally driver of all time, as well as arguably the most successful female in motor racing as a whole.
She was the first (and so far the only) woman to win a round of the World Rally Championship, the Rallye Sanremo in 1981. She went on to finish a close second overall in the 1982 WRC after wins in Portugal, Brazil and Acropolis, with only the unreliability of the Audi Quattro that she was driving ultimately enabling Opel rival Walter Röhrl to snatch the title.
In 1985, she was the first woman to win the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb race in the United States. Mouton effectively quit rallying after the Group B category was banned in late 1986, both unwilling to take part in a new, slower championship under Group A rules, and eager to start a family. However, she was to be a key figure in the organization of the rallying Race of Champions in 1988, in memory of Henri Toivonen.
She also has taken part in the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans, in an all-female team.
In 2000, she finished 2nd driving a Porsche 911 in the London-Sydney Marathon with co-driver 1993 winner Francis Tuthill, behind ex-teammate Stig Blomqvist.

For those of you who are not that familiar with World Rally, Group B was the absolute, the most radical cars on the planet: Group B had few restrictions on technology, design and the number of cars required for homologation to compete (only 200). Weight was kept as low as possible, high-tech materials were permitted, and there were no restrictions on boost, which turned out to mean almost unlimited power. The category was aimed at car manufacturers by promising outright race victories and the subsequent publicity opportunities without the need for an existing production model.

IMHO, it's one thing to drive a very fast car on a straight, or even on a paved racetrack; it's is quite another to race an insanely fast rally car on dirt roads through forests packed with spectators.

I'll freely admit, Michelle is better than I.

Cosmo


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHe1aq-dkNg

 

I think you have a case of "Beat Me - Whip Me - Make Me Write Bad Checks"

 

There's some very cool clips of her driving the Quattro on YouTube...as Cosmo noted, probably the best female rally driver ever, so far... she more than kept up with the men.

 

Did anybody mention Shelley Howard (TAD, AFD)? We lost her a few years ago, always enjoyed racing w/ her and Doc. Class all the way...

 

Okay??

 

You got the jones for bout all these racin ladies and your lead in line would be "Beat Me - Whip Me - Make Me Write Bad Checks"
You would become their Boy - Toy

 

Okay - now I understand.<O</O
But I wouldn't be much of a toy and sadly I am way past boy.<O</O
How about Old Fart - ATM?<O</O
<O</O

But honestly you have to admit, drag racing is one of the least appreciated American sport. Just read this derisive blog: http://www.northernthunder.com/shoptalk0799.html (or maybe don’t, if you are easily upset). And I know more than a few folks that feel the same way – most of which have never even been to a NHRA event.

So why is drag racing not as universally popular as oval track racing?
<O</O
Drag racing is as old as oval track racing, and with no disrespect to NASCAR intended, I think a lot more spectator friendly. Going to a NASCAR race (Texas Motor Speed is my “local track”) is an act of endurance at my age and plus it makes me dizzy! Ha!
<O</O
Drag racing is much better for us folks with short attention spans – and to me so much more personal! Maybe NHRA is what oval track racing used to be when it started, but I know I can still take my personal car to the local drag strip and make a few timed passes for $20 and play like the big boys or just enjoy a full day of racing for $10. But all $20 will buy me at the local oval track is a pit pass - or a hot dog and a drink at an actual NASCAR race! Don’t get me wrong I watch NASCAR on TV and have been to a few races (at TMS and Lowe’s in Charlotte) and enjoy it, but for pure adrenaline pumping fun on a Friday night or weekend, I still head to my local drag strip pay my $10 and enjoy a full day of burning rubber and mind blowing speed. (top NHRA speed: 336mph, top NASCAR speed 222mph – no comparison).

<O</O

 

Before anyone misunderstands my last thread and jumps on me for disrespecting NASCAR (which I do respect) read this web article by Richard Brink: http://www.articlecity.com/articles/auto_and_trucks/article_173.shtml - this dude says it more eloquently than I ever could.

 

Drag racing was the top sport in the usa in the 70s.Nascar hired p.r. men to help them they came up with Dale Earnhardt ,let him hit the other drivers in the ass which was not allowed before.Gave it more hype .Let him pass in the grass which would have got you black flagged before. And there you have it NASCRAP.If Dale tried that crap with foyt his face would have been pushed in. But nascar wanted a family thing.So it became akinder ,gentiler thing with the Dale show.I stopped watching it after there was no more King Rihard,A.J.,Parsons,and all the other real drivers retired.

 

Gasser,

I did not know that history, but it makes sense. How can we at HAMB help reverse this trend? There are two pure all American things I still enjoy - Firday night High School football and drag racing - any chance we can get Barack to place Tom Compton in his cabinet? Ha!

 

I don't know how I could forget long time alky funny car racer Carol "Bunny" Burkett from Maryland. She started with a Pinto Pro-Stock which we (Ai) did all the fiberglass before moving into the flopper class.
She did spend some time in her wild youth working as a Playboy Bunny I believe in the Washington Playboy Club.
I bet someone has a photo or two.....Found one from the old Ai Fiberglass catalog.

 

Here you go....



http://www.bunnyburkett.com/43rdyear/index.html
http://www.competitionplus.com/2005_04/bunny_burkett.html

 

YEOWSA!!!
I'd race her...and let her win!

Say, I know this is outside the circle of "drag racing", but it seems we've already strayed from that, but we've forgotten one of the most influential women racers of recent history...



...first woman to race the 500 at Indy.


6narow

 

...and lets not forget the chick who wouldn't take any of Danica Patrick's guff, after she stormed over to her pits and tried to chew her out...



...Milka Dumo.

Right on, Milka!



6narow

 

This is the earliest photo I have of Bunny when she was running with the
Miss Universe of Drag Racing circuit along with Carol Hynson, Mousie Brown's wife Jean and a few others.

 

Here are a couple more.

 

Did anybody mention Della Woods?

 

One of my best shots of Kim LaHaie helping Dick get suited up at the
1988 Summernationals.

 

Looks like Kim is envious of something!

 

Oh this is such an awesome thread. Thanks for posting it! And I think Im in love with these ladies!! lol They're such an inspiration!!

xoxo
Tbird

 

Queen of Diamonds jet car drivers:Jessica Willard, Aggi Hendricks, Jessie Harris, andthe newest driver Jill Canusso

 

LOL! That's cold!



6narow

 

Tbird,

I have three daughters and, all goofing around aside, you are correct. These ladies are an inspiration to both women and men. Too often the news media only glorifies the bad boys of racing (or sports in general) and female athletes are so often overlooked.

My daughters all love cars, working on them, watching them race and would all love to race - but their over protective dad just isn’t ready to set them loose on the track. LoL! However with today’s traffic it may be safer on the ¼ mile than the freeway!

 

If that ain't the truth!!! lol

xoxo

 

With all the "Famous Women" mentioned here think about those who ran every weekend at their local tracks - Drag and Oval.
Those "Powder Puff" Ladies used to tear up the tracks here in PA in the 50's - 60's.