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Who are these inspirational GGs?

Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:49 pm
by Jeannie
I was thinking back over my last 55 years about women who I really admired and two came to mind.They both were pioneers in their respective sports and one could enjoy her victories but the other was not allowed because she was too good for a woman.
This lady was the first to receive a license to drive a Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA. She won Top Fuel in 1977 and again in 1980. Returned in 1998 and set a NHRA speed record. Don"Big Daddy" Gartlet eat your heart out! Who is this kick backside woman?
The second lady was born in Australia. She held 40 powerlifting records and six powerlifting championships. Her career as a professional bodybuilder was disappointing. She looked too good and not feminine enough. She took womens bodybuilding to a whole new level but the judges who were mostly men couldn't handle it at the time. They said she looked too masculine. She was a pioneer for the womens bodybuilding today. She never received the credit for the enormous amount of hard work it takes for a woman to get to that level in bodybuilding. She was way ahead of her time. Who is this amazing lady?


Love
Jeannie

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:33 am
by Gaven McLaren
Well I do not know the answer to those but I will add one more.

Female NASCAR driver from the time of Richard Petty. She was so good that there is a song about her. Perhaps you have heard the Beach Boys song "Little Old Lady From Pasadena"?

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:47 pm
by Jeannie
Stumped me on that one Gaven. I was more a drag racing fan that NASCAR. I'm sure someone will get it. I don't want to Google it.Hugs


Love
Jeannie

PS. I love the term"DRAG" racing. I thought that NHRA stood for National Heels Racing Association! :)

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 6:27 pm
by Jadeanne
Jeannie,

In answer to your first question, the name is Shirley Muldowney, who had the nickname (that she hated according to several stories) of Cha-Cha.

Jadeanne

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 7:32 pm
by Jeannie
You gearhead you! Correct! They made a movie about her called "Heart Like a Wheel" with Bonnie Bedilia. I thought Virginia would guess the other lady. I'll wait and give her a chance. She's probably having a blonde moment! Hugs!


Love
Jeannie

PS. I love drag racing. It's amazing. The fastest high performance car can go zero to 60 in about 3.5 seconds. The top fuel do it at 325 MPH. It takes an enormous amount of courage,physical strength and guts to get into a dragster. What a ride that must be! They blow an engine and the pit crew puts in a new engine in 20 minutes. Most engines only last between 1 and 10 runs before they blow. The driver's head is about one foot from that engine.

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 8:30 pm
by Virginia
Thanks, Jeannie,
I can picture her, and yes she was what was and probably be referred to even now as a "freak" and that is meant in a nice way.
Thanks for nuttin, honey! It may come to me but the name is just not happening!!
I knew the other one - weird!
Virginia

You know it Hon.

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 8:55 pm
by Jeannie
It was Bev Frances. She looked fabulous back in the day but was told she was too masculine. She was way ahead of her time Virginia. She was light years ahead of the competition and always never placed. She was a pioneer in womens bodybuilding. The only problem Virginia was the men couldn't handle it. She looked too good!Hugs

Love
Jeannie