”Women in Racing”

Hi Everybody!
When I saw the ad below for Bethel Speedway, I thought it meant bring my car to the Speedway and race against Racers. I had no idea what Spectator Races were until the Show began. Back in the ’70’s I built an engine for my ”69 Malibu 307. Once it was installed and tuned, slight throttle left rubber! But I ruined it by putting on a 350 intake and a Holley 4bbl with mechanical secondaries. It hesitated badly.
We had a .75 mile long street along the New Haven Harbor where we raced our Street (personal) vehicles. I paired off with a ’69 Plymouth Duster who had no 2nd gear. The Street was a “P” and at the end of the street you could turn left to circle back to the Start line of (in my case since the Cops had come), kept going straight and went away from there.
I didn’t always race. Matter of fact that was my only time. You never knew what someone had under the hood unless, like my neighbors 396 ’71 Camaro with an air filter far above the hood, there was evidence. Manual Transmissions, Duel exhaust or Cragar wheels were an indication there was something beyond average in the nix.
As Street looking cars began to cue up for races at Bethel last Saturday Night I was taken right back to that era in my life. There were some signs of peculiarity like decals, fancy wheels, tinted windows, loud exhaust. Hence I was introduced to the culture of “Spectator Racing”. Souped up versions of everyday passenger vehicles.
These vehicles must be registered and insured as regular everyday vehicles would be and driveable legally on any road like any passenger vehicle. Obviously after seeing these races you’ll know who has something not to mention challenging and boasting, just like we did back in the day.
Like a Heat Seeking Missile I went into the Pits after the Heat Races to get some autographs and I’d decided to talk with the lone female out of the group of six Racers. There were two Racers from nearby. Others were from Rhode Island, Long Island, Gilligan’s Island (if the Minnow had landed in Puerto Rico) and Vermont. Vermont? I thought they only raced Snowmobiles! In the late ’70’s my ex wife’s relatives had a Ski Chalet burn down in the Town of Newfane. The Firefighters drove up to it with hoses strung over their shoulders on snowmobiles.
Since the day Danika Patrick appeared on the NASCAR Circuit I’d been hoping that Females would then start joining the Sport of Auto racing and breaking barriers. Even winning the Pole Position in the Daytona 500 did nothing to encourage Females to become Racers and I think she was a target on the Track. That also didn’t bode well. After all, with all that Machismo, who wants to be beat by a girl?
My opinion is “the more the merrier”. That goes for both Women in Racing and Racers in general. Especially at a time where current forms of entertainment are killing the Sport of auto racing such as watching from your living room. Also it’s not getting cheaper if you own anything resembling a Race Car and as the number of cylinders increases, so does the cost. Exponentially. It cost me $350 to rebuild a $40 Junkyard 283 Chevy block. $2068.73 in today’s dollars and near impossible for me to muster unless a credit card was available and purse money might help defray the cost of racing. I’m not averse to spending money on my hobbies. I was a Rock drummer for 30 years and I had $3k in gear. I also worked full time and two PT jobs.
Bethel Speedway has a sprinkling of Female Racers from Champ Karts and Bandoleros to 4cyl Race Cars and there have been a few notable Street Stock Racers. I’ve not seen females in any other Class, yet. I’ve spoken with a few of them who would like to move up to bigger Race Cars so that’s on the Horizon.
The Interview I conducted spontaneously which is very unlike me since I prefer to be organized and follow a predetermined plan went quite well. The Lady Racer tonight in the Group of Spectator Racers, driving a Subaru with the Moniker Hot Flash is a middle aged Jenn Buker.
Jenn owns a Skin and Nails Salon and is, of all things a Cancer Survivor. Jenn told me about her Husband Scott who is a Mechanic and a Racer. Jenn was going to races in support of Scott and was particularly bored as a Fan in the stands so 2 years ago she made up her mind to be a cake and not just an ingredient in the batter.
Jenn got a “ride” and won the first race she entered! Upon realizing she was “too stupid to be fearless” or, in my impression. Stupid ENOUGH to be fearless. After all she beat cancer and discovered the Adrenalin junky deep inside of her so why not give racing a try? With painted toes, fingers and a sparkling face from her Profession, why not take this racing thing to an extreme?
In my opinion, being dolled up and feminine to an extreme, even wearing a pink dress on one occasion in a race is a great way to be deceptive although there is a covert personification going on here and with respect to not giving away trade secrets, I’m going to refrain from saying anything more. I’m short, fat and old. You’ll never see me cartwheeling. Not even fixing my own car anymore. This wouldn’t surprise anybody.
Here’s something I found especially interesting: Jenn said it’s a female trait that they are faster off the line, laser focused, able to turn off everything in her head when in the cockpit of a Race Car and that female’s reflexes are far more fine tuned than males. She had taken a single lesson from the Skip Barber School of Racing and learned a lifetime of information in that single Class.
Aside from being competitive and hard working at both of her chosen professions; racing may as well be her profession, she’s fun to talk to and a role model for females. When my Goddaughter turned three 25 years ago I bought her a large John Deere Road Grader from a John Deere Dealer. I wanted her to know that she could do anything she wanted and gender doesn’t preclude her from being anything. In my teens my Idol was the late Karen Carpenter who was a professionally trainer Drummer and an outstanding performer.
Jenn’s performance as a Racer was the impetus for her to keep moving forward and making a name for herself on the Racing Circuit. She told me that there is a supporter in Bradenton Florida near where my Daughter and Granddaughter live (both are talented Musicians, Vocalists and athletes) bought a former Speedway and is developing it for Spectator Racing called “The Freedom Factory” and you can find it on FB.
You can also find Jenn Buker on FB but in person, with a Racing Career taking off, houses in Lincoln Vermont and Puerto Rico (I have a 1st Cousin in Puerto Rico where my Great Uncle owned land) and racing the Hot Flash you might have a hard time catching up with her as was the case Saturday Night at Bethel where she walked away with the $500 First Prize! I think Women in Racing enhances the sport and I hope Females of all ages continue to join. When I can I’ll feature them here!
I love you all and until we meet again, keep those wheels turning!