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While today we have women racing
in Indy, NASCAR and a variety of different racing
venues, years ago this wasn’t the case.
In fact, during the era I grew up in women were looked
upon in a very different light. If you deviated from the
norm you were labeled as a “tomboy”. However, there
were many, like myself who loved to drive, work on cars
and got a lot of satisfaction in doing so. Just because
we did however, didn’t mean we weren’t women, girls,
ladies, whatever you wish to be called.
Many of us so called “tomboys” were the product of
being first born girls with dads who wanted the prodigal
son first, but got a daughter instead. My dad and I
watched sports together, baseball, football, basketball.
In fact, my dad was the neighborhood dad (those who grew
up when I did will understand) and played with all the
kids in the neighborhood. We would have touch football
games, kickball, baseball, t-ball and even badminton and
volleyball games.
I developed an avid interest in cars, because my dad
worked for Rolls Royce and was always bringing some
great cars home. He brought home Joe Namath’s Jaguar,
a Silver Cloud Rolls Royce (owned by one of the builders
in the area I grew up). In fact I got to drive it, which
was a thrill to say the least.
Cars had character back then, you could tell them apart.
While my dad for years drove a Ford Station wagon (for
business), he also owned Dodge’s and some Chevy’s.
My mother loved the Mustang and got one in 1965. I liked
them bigger, so my first car was a 1962 Chevy Belair (2
door). I nicknamed her “The Black Beauty” she was a
great car.
My dad showed me how to change my oil and filter, and to
take care of my car. We also worked on the brakes and
much more together. I would spend a whole day, cleaning,
washing and waxing that car. It was the perfect car for
my “lead foot”. I can’t count the number of cars
that would pull up next to me, and reeve up their
engines thinking “It’s a girl, she’ll never beat
me off the line”! Well, how wrong they were. I can
count on one hand those that took me off the line!
I hung around with a group of friends, mostly guys, but
some girls also. The cars were varied, Mustangs, Vettes,
Chargers, Chevelle’s and a multitude of street cars.
We all loved cars and
driving them, and especially driving them to their
limits. Which we did! Did us girls always beat the guys,
nah, but it was sure fun when we did!
So remember, next time you come up next to a lady
driver, “Girls like them Fast and Furious Too!
Copyright 2005 DeFiore Enterprises
About the Author
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