I realize it is almost a different sport but we cannot forget ChaCha Muldowney.
I grew up in Schenectady, NY, being born in '51. As a young kid on his bike
riding around town in the late 50s and early 60s, I would see these giant
garage built dragsters in front of all the big garages Sat. morning, out for
tuning! My future wife worked in a dry cleaner around the corner from Connie
Colleta's garage, and ChaCha would come in all the time to get her clothes
done. My wife was really inspired by her. On the other hand my father in law
was somewhat annoyed by the garage. They would always be taking the dragster
out on the street lighting the thing off, he did not like the noise, and every
time he brought his car in for work, it would take forever because they would
be working on the dragster all the time. Schenectady was the home of GE at the
time / a great stock to own/ and the town has 4 and 6 lane boulevards, the
garages would block them off Sat evening, and run a few races. Needless to say
this did not last long, Lebonon Valley drag strip was born. I grew up thinking
this was normal stuff to be going on in a town, along with running numbers, and
gambling. Not until I got into college did I realize that the rest of the US
did not have the same experience that I did growing up. ChaCha, and Connie went
on to become one of the most recognized names in drag racing, and the town of
Schenectady followed her every step of the way. Her carrier was headline news
all the time. They gave birth to a whole town of motor heads, myself included.
I would not trade the experience as a kid seeing a rail being lit off in the
street for anything. Recently a bar owner in the beach town of Misquamicut,RI
wanted to conduct drag races on the straight strip of road by the beach on
Sat.evening. I was thrilled that this might start happening again. Needless to
say, it was met with great opposition by the town. Damn Lawyers.
Ciao, Marty, BJ8, Alfa GTV, Racing GoKart
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