Listers,
Here's a puzzle. Who were the drivers of the all woman team that ran the
Sebring 12 Hour in the early sixties? Jo Anne Wilmeroth, (wife of Bill
Wilmeroth who ran Eurpoean Motors in Miami at the time) was one of the crew
members on the team. The team had women drivers, and an all-woman crew.
Who were the drivers, what was the year, what was the car, and how did they
finish? Hint: Denise wasn't part of the team.
Vaughn
----- Original Message -----
From: Martin Filardi <filardi@uconect.net>
To: <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
Cc: <healeys@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2000 8:08 AM
Subject: Women racers
> 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. Nee!
> dless 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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