[ponyakr]

The Danica Haters thread was interesting to me - tho I've quit cliking on it. I suppose because TJ used to race, I've always liked to see the girls do good in the man's world of racing. But you DH'rs are rude and crude. This gal has and will make millions, is now known worldwide and has, and will, draw in a lot of new racing fans - whether she ever wins a NASCAR race or not. You haters seem to not only think she shouldn't be allowed to drive, but have tried to degrade her to a 2nd-rate hooker, at best. I had to quit reading ya'lls trash talk not long after it started. I personally think that grown men should be ashamed of themselves for publicly badmouthing someone to the degree some of you haters have. But that's just my own personal opinion and I know it ain't even worth 2 cents to some. (So, just save your badmouth rebuttals) Thank God once again that we live in the good old USA, where free speech is still allowed and protected (regardless of how trashy it may be)

[ponyakr]

We used to like Shirley Muldowney. We saw her race in person back in the day (I'll show our pics again.) We enjoyed keeping up with her rivalry with Don Garlits and later Connie Kalitta. She was the 1st woman to make a 5-second pass in 1975; she won lots of Wallys and 3 points titles and even had a movie made of her life. You can see all her stats on her website - quite impressive. How about those Force sisters - Wallys and #1 qualifiers at 300+ mph. - not too shabby. And Erica Enders has shifted a prostocker into the winner's circle. You won't hear me badmouthing any of the ladies who try their hand at racing - I'm all for it! I can still recall a few TJ-haters from the old days (mostly the Chevy dudes she'd beat). They'd talk ugly and sling gravel and wrenches in the pits - but that's ok - TJ still picked up a check most of the time, when the dust had settled.

[ponyakr]

TJ made these at a race we attended--i reckin shirley liked the fonz!

[ponyakr]

I guess not all girls would make good racers, but it seemed to almost come "natural" for TJ. She learned quick, but that shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone who knew her background. She'd ridden horses from grammar school age - started driving her mom's car at age 15 and her dad and brother were both pilots, so she followed in their footsteps and I was there when she made her solo flight in a small airplane (at age 16!) She went on to get her private pilot's license at age 17 - the minimum age allowed by the FAA. When you've blasted off and landed in a plane many times, it ain't much of a step to blast off in a drag car. She also had seat time in the 68 BB Chevelle and 69 Goat I've mentioned in my story. Plus she drove her 68 Camaro for several years - so the size and shape of the 68 Bird felt right at home to her. As strange as it may sound - it seems to me that it was just a natural progression that the next step for her was to race - and so it was. The rest, as they say, is history.

P.S. I typed these posts for Don and I approve these "girly" messages - TJ

[ponyakr]

i recently posted a pic (i'll show it again) of my 69 goat. i noticed the radio antenna stickin out of the front fender. that don't help the looks of a musclecar at all, does it ? i remember that a lot of cars had the ant. mounted on the rear--looked much better 2 me. so, a ? for you guys who know all things pontiac--could i have ordered my 69 with the ant. on the rear? & what year did ant. in the windshield become available? was also remembering what sounds i pulled in thru that ant. from 69-72. yep, its the same oldies i hear over the pa system at our local car show. the beach boys, jan & dean, ccr, steppinwolf, elvis, motown & many more including, last but definately not least, freddy hart--singin the '71 & '72 cma song of the year & a big #1 hit "Easy Lovin". these oldies & musclecars just naturally go together--can't be seperated really--they were just part of life if you were there! our local show is just 2 weeks away--i'll post some pics.

[ponyakr]

from the goodyear blimp? oooh-that ant. is ugly--ain't it?