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Powder Puff Racing

To: Vintage Race <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
Subject: Powder Puff Racing
From: Mike <Michael_Gee@telus.net>
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 11:13:18 -0700
Lee,
I agree with you that we shouldn't go back to the days of female
segregation in racing.  During the 60s when I raced there were special
races called "Powder Puff" which in itself indicates the approach to
female racing.  Also, the women were called  "girls" in most of the
literature and/or "ladies".   Men didn't really know back then what to
do.  We know now, and we don't need to repeat the mistake.
In the news article below there are references to the danger involved
and an example of the prevalent attitude is in the very title of the
news report.

Sunday (Shudder) Is Ladies Day
By Tom Butler, The Vancouver Sun, Saturday, June 25, 1960

Westwood Sports Car Circuit has logged 47,000 miles of injury-free
racing since opening last year.
Sunday, the girls take over.
Thrills, chills, spills  now frills.
Scheduled in the eight-race card is a special Powder Puff Derby  10
laps over the merry-go-round 1.8 mile paved track.
Burnabys Joan Goodridge leads a femme field of 16 starters.  Joan
regularly races her Austin-Healey with the men  and wins.
In hot pursuit will be UBC coed Dede McColl in a Sprite and Marg Horton
in an MG coupe.
MGA roadsters are entered by Yvonne Bridge and Doris Ostlund.  The TR3
parade includes Glennis Godfrey, Jean Orr, Jean Saunders and Laureen
Doherty.
Pat Haywood, Fay Lee, Joy Hoyland and two Seattle girls round out the
entries.
The field is expected to reach 85 for the remaining seven races of the
meeting, an International Championship event.
Seattle auto dealer Lew Florence, the northwests top driver, will go
after the unofficial course record of 83.0 miles per hour in his Lotus
15.
Chief opposition will come from Vancouvers Charles McKaig, driving Dr.
Claire Wilsons Lotus 11  the car visiting Belgian Olivier Gendebien
drove to the track standard two weeks ago.
Vancouvers Jim Rattenbury will be in there with his D-Jaguar along with
John Nissen in a TR-3 Special.
Other Seattle entries include Pete Lovely in his Lotus 11 and Richard
Lake with his Formula Jr. Gemini.
Races start at 12:30, with time trials set for 10 a.m.

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