1ST LADY RACE CAR DRIVER REALLY!

      Most everyone today that is in to NSCAR racing just assumes that one of the first women race car drivers is or was Danica Patrick. Not so. I attended the Indy 500 race back in 1977 and got to witness the really first lady driver--Janet Guthrie.

      What was amazing was the anticipation in what would be said when announcing the start of the race as "Gentlemen start your engines" was always the most famous opening line to that race. After welcoming her and a few words about her it was announced "And now Gentlemen starts your engines!" Tradition was not broken. And, at the time and with the crowd or audience being a majority of men, the crowd went wild. To be a part of this historical moment was very special!