Women in Sports: Stockcar Racing

Just like Harness Racing Stockcar racing isa much loved sport on P.E.I., itis also male dominated.

In 1985 Oysterbed Bridge became the sight ofa 1/4 mile oval stockcar race track, two years later they paved thr track and it isnow caimed as ‘“‘the maritimes most beautiful’’.

Dianne Doucette has been racing since the track opened 6 years ago in the powder puff racing division ( These are races for women only.). She now races in the hobby class with men. She got involved in the races when her husband Donnie built a minie stockcar, this car belongs to aclass that is allowed no modifi- cations except racing tires. She finds racing against men more challenging and is treated as just another driver. Along with driving, Dianne is listed as part of

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~ Campus Women

October 3. 1991,

the pit crew for both herself and her husband. She learned about the mechanics of stockcars by being taught by Donnie and picking things upover the years. She has no previous courses in automative technology,

At the end of the 1990 season Dianne was the hobby class’s top points driver and at the end of this season she came in second. Along with working fulltime outside the home and her driving Dianne is also the mother of two boys (Donnie,14 and Ricky,11)

Quote of the Week

‘<The most exciting thing about women’s liberation is that this century will be able to take advantage of talent and potential genius that have been wasted because of taboos.’’