Lee's last paragraph reminded me of a vintage race a few years ago at New
Hampshire Int'l (formerly Bryar), a VSCCA event. In the Under-2-Litre
Production class, as I was sitting on the grid, I realized that 4 out of the
top 6 or 7 qualifiers were women -- including the pole sitter. As I recall
they were Deb Abraham, Kathy Bain, Sandy McNeil and Mari Ryan. Can't recall
exactly how the race finished but I know I trailed Deb and Sandy, at least.
As someone observed at the time "the fast cars & beautiful women of VSCCA,
or is that the beautiful cars and ..."
Maybe I better not sign this one.
>From: LMR356@aol.com
>Reply-To: LMR356@aol.com
>To: vintage-race@autox.team.net
>CC: denmac@rt66.com
>Subject: RE: Real Women Racers....
>Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2000 15:22:08 EST
>
>The discussion has centered on women racers for the past few days.. but
>perhaps some of the real history has been overlooked....so here'some of my
>thoughts:
>
>There were many more competitive women racers in the 1950-1960 era than in
>the past 30 years combined. From the left coast, Ruth Levy and and Denise
>McCluggage were the most recognizable women in motorsports, but there were
>others, particularly on the East coast, that have not heretofore been
>mentioned ...and also deserve some recognition.
>
>Levy and McCluggage drove some serious cars and competed in national SCCA
>and in FIA races at Nassau against each other for years. In 1958, they
>teamed at Sebring driving a Momo entered a 750cc Abarth-Fiat Zagato coupe,
>which DNF'd at 116 laps. Denise went on to race at Sebring 6 more times
>through 1967, with her best finish at 10th in 1961, co-driving a Ferrari
>250
>GT with Allen Edgar. Denise almost got to drive at Le Mans, but the gender
>issue prevailed...it was still a race for men only! ( You should read her
>wonderful little book... By Brooks Too Broad For Jumping.)
>
>I last saw Denise at the Monterey Historic Tribute to Porsche in
>1998...looking quite natural in the cockpit of a Porsche Spyder with her
>famous "polka dotted" helmet on!
>
>In the East, Evelyn Mull was the dominant 1950s driver in the AC Bristol
>from Watkins Glen, to Cumberland. Pinkie Rallo was a strong competitor who
>also raced at Sebring. Suzy Dietrich was another great driver and Sebring
>competitor in many different marques. Lady Greta Oakes of Nassau was also
>a
>competitor at the Annual Speed Week as well as Sebring with her husband,
>Sir
>Sidney.
>
>Donna Mae Mimes of Bethel Park became the dominant woman driver in the
>early
>1960s, winning a National SCCA H Production Championship in her "Think
>Pink"
>Sprite in 1961.
>Donna Mae went on to drive for Don Yenko in his Yenko Stinger Corvairs and
>Camaros in SCCA Regional competition and at Sebring from 1966 through 1970.
>Donna Mae is perhaps one of the funniest too. She came out of retirement
>to
>drive a 914/6 at a Jefferson 500 vintage race at Summit Point a few years
>ago... climbed out of the car saying it was ...'almost' as good as sex!
>
>The late '60s saw Janet Guthrie as the dominant motorsports woman driver.
>In
>1968, she teamed at Sebring with Liane Engeman in an AMC Javelin to finish
>32nd. This is the race where Australian, Paul Hawkins (co-driving with
>David
>Hobbs in a Ford GT-40) blasted the women's team for driving dangerously!
>In
>1969, Guthrie drove with Engeman and Donna Mae in an Austin-Healey Sprite
>that finished 23rd overall. Janet Guthrie later went on to become the
>first
>woman driver to qualify and race at the Indy 500 in 1978. Guthrie also
>distinguished herself as a pretty good IMSA endurance pilot in a Porsche
>935
>during the same time, appearing at Sebring eight times.
>
>Other women of the post-1980s that should be recognized as true competitors
>are: Deborah Gregg ( Peter's widow), Kathy Rude ( who was burned seriously
>at
>Brainard). and Lynn St. James, who is perhaps the most well known today,
>having raced at Sebring 1978-1990) and finishing as high as 6th in 1990
>co-driving with Robby Gordon, and Calvin Fish in a Mercury Cougar. Lynn St.
>James has also been a competitor at LeMans, and a strong contender at the
>Indianapolis 500. Lynn has been a a commentator for motorsports..
>
>This is just a little historic trivia stuff off the top of my head....to
>keep
>the subject going.
>
>I think it's great to see many more women vintage racing today.... kudos
>goes
>out to: Karen Miller, Sandy McNeil, Olga Reindlova, Lauren Fix, Dana
>Horn,
>Lynn Alexander, Connie Schmitt, Ann O'Brien, Cheri Marshall, Ryan Giffin
>..and lots of others for showing some real vintage spirit on the track!
>
>Lee Raskin, Arnolt-Bristol and 356er.
>
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