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LATEST
I’m a small
town racer. This year, (2006) my youngest son is
driving my car (I’m still the owner) and I
will get back into the seat again next season.
I’m 59 and still going strong. Didn’t
start racing until I was 38, because when I was 18
women weren’t racing here in Victoria. It was
VERY MUCH a man’s sport. At that time if I
could have raced, my father was going to be my crew
chief. Mom went gray…lol. I drive a Datsun 510
and belong to the IMS 4’s (International Mini
Stock 4-Cylinders) club. I am thinking of trying
drag racing, starting out in the Street Stock
Division. She is the Treasurer for the
IMS 4's. and was 7th in the 2005 list of Top
Drivers.
Bio
Results
Schedule
Related Issue:
Women
Racers
Directory,
Women
in Racing,
Women
Racers,
More
Women in
Racing,
Race
Schedules,
Notable
Women
Contact: members.shaw.ca/maddogracing/
, E-Mail
Bio
Known as 'Shar' and, by
some of the younger drivers at the track, as 'Mom',
Sharon was born in Victoria BC (birthday April
8th). Sharon's spouse, Gary Madden was inducted
into the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame on
February 24, 2001. Between them, their family
includes three cats, Pumpkin, Squeeks, and Sage;
Sharon's two sons, and Gary's son and daughter.
Sharon has five grandchildren and Gary has a
grandson.
Began racing career in
1985: "I was in the pits one day and hopped into a
Hit-to-Pass car for a novelty race. I didn't even
know how to get in it. After some quick advice from
the driver, Tim Woelk, I was ready. The first
driver had to drive one lap and then get out of the
car and put a bib on the second driver, me, and
feed you a hamburger combo (the size of Mt.
Everest..!). Then I get into the car and drive one
lap to the S/F line. Being new at this, I drove to
the S\F line and stopped right there. Didn't know
they meant go over the line. Was first, but ended
up third after restarting the car and lurching
across the line and stalling. I couldn't get out of
the car. The Race Director had to pull me out the
driver's window. Both of us laughing didn't help
the situation. Learned fast after that one! I owned
my first race car in 1988 - a Claimer."
Interests: Being involved
in any aspect of racing, working on my race car
and, of course, racing it.
Hobbies: Collects penguins
of all kinds (books, calendars, ornaments, stuffed,
clothing, stickers, etc.) A penguin is strapped to
her race car.
Personal Vehicle: A bronze
coloured 1980 GMC shortbox stepside
dubbed
"Rock-n-Roller".
Race Vehicle: A 1969
Datsun 510 dubbed "Lil' Rock-n-Roller".
Favourite Music: 50s and
60s, Country, and pianist "Giovanni".
Favourite Food: Mashed
potatoes and gravy!!
Racing Hero: " Gary
Madden, of course!" The Late Davey Allison and Mark
Martin.
Most Memorable Racing
Achievement: 1997 winning her first Trophy Dash and
being congratulated with a kiss from former racing
buddy, Randy Wiebe.
Best Part of Racing: "The
feeling you get when you've had a good run. Your
peers coming over and letting you know you did
well."
Worst Part Of Racing:
Mechanical problems ("having your steering wheel
come off going into a corner doesn't cut it
either!")
Racing Goals: To continue
racing the IMS 4's Class. She enjoys it and is
improving every year. Maybe stepping into another
class in a year or two.
What Drives You Crazy:
Drivers who continually blame their driving
problems on their car, or on another
driver.
Fans: Sharon likes the
enthusiasm of the fans. She especially loves it
when the kids come into the pits and ask her for an
autograph, and she hands out pictures and
candy.
Greatest Influences On
Life: Family and Friends.
Articles: Sharon has
written articles for "Island Racing News" and
"Geared For Racing" magazines, the Goldsteam News
Gazette and the Time-Colonist newspaper. She is
also a contributing writer for the Pacific
Motorsports Magazine website and another website
dedicated to women involved in motorsports,
"Thunder Valley Racing", and has been a featured
driver on their site.
Results
L.I.T.R.A. (Lower
Island Track Racing Association)
Member of the Year - 1987,
1988, 1995
Placed 6th overall in Claimers - 1988
Placed 5th overall in Rollovers - 1995
Hard Luck Trophy in Claimers - 1989
Hard Luck Trophy in Rollovers -1995
Best Appearing Claimer - 1991, 1994
Best Appearing Rollover Car - 1995
Served on Board of Directors - 8 years
IMS 4's
(International Mini Stock
4-Cylinders)
Won Championship Race -
1998
Western Speedway Driver of the Week - 1998
Most Improved Driver - 1998
Placed 7th overall - 1998
Placed 5th overall - 1999
Member of the Year - 1999, 2001, 2002
Placed 4th overall - 2000
Placed 3rd overall - 2001
Hard Luck Trophy - 2002
Placed 7th overall - 2002
Special Appreciation Award - 2002
Placed 4th overall - 2003
Sportsman of the Year - 2003
Placed 7th overall - 2004
Special Appreciation Award - 2004
Served on Board of Directors - 1997-2023
Promotions Committee - 2005
Placed 7th overall - 2005
Back on the Board as Treasurer - 2006
Other
Sharon was one of six
selected to participate on the Committee for the
Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame - 2002
CAR STATS: 1969 Datsun
510; 2 litre engine; Ford 2-barrel, full roll cage;
7” Goodyear slicks; flared fenders and
rear spoiler added.
TEAM LOGO: MAD DOG
Racing WEBSITES:
(personal site of Sharon Constantine)
http://members.shaw.ca/maddogracing and (IMS
4’s club site) www.ims4.ca
CURRENT CLUB: IMS 4’s
(International Mini-Stock 4-Cylinders) RACING
EXPERIENCE: 21 years
SPONSORS: Chew Excavating
Ltd., Automotive Sales Co. Ltd., Pair-O-Dice
Tattoo, Roadmasters Safety Group Inc.
Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil
Change Centre, Canwest Mall Buck Or Two Store, Bill
& Corrine Bradstock,
Computer Troubleshooters,
Galaxy Motors, MAD DOG Racing.
CREW: Gary "Mad Dog"
Madden (Crew Chief), Carl Constantine, Peter
Stringer, Eric Beech.[Gary Madden was inducted
into the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame February
24, 2001]
SPECIAL THANKS: Gary
Madden, Jim McKay, Geoff Bodman, Six Mile
Tirecraft, Girard Games & Awards,
Adobe Fast-Print Clothing
& Design Studios, Trans Sign (1999) Ltd., Dave
Barrett of DB Designs, Tony & Peter
Stringer.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN
RACING: Sharon wanted to race cars since she was a
teenager but, back then, women
weren’t involved in auto
racing in Victoria. In 1985, she was sitting in the
stands at Western Speedway, watching Hit-To-Pass
racing, when the Race
Announcer said they needed more lady drivers to
participate in the Powder Puff Hit-To-Pass. She was
in a car the next
race!!
SPEEDWAYS: Races at
Western Speedway in Langford, just outside
Victoria, and at Saratoga Speedway in Black Creek,
nestled between
Courtenay and Campbell River - (home track, Western
Speedway).
CLASSES RACED: In 1985,
Sharon joined V.I.S.D.D.A., now known as L.I.T.R.A
(Lower Island Track Racing Association)
and started racing
Hit-To-Pass cars as a Powder Puff driver. In 1988,
started racing Claimers, and was the first woman to
run in regular
L.I.T.R.A. competition in that class. In 1995,
participated in Rollover competition to see what it
was like to roll a car. In 1996,
she joined the IMS 4's
(International Mini Stock 4-Cylinders) Ten in
Points
SPECIAL AWARDS, As a
member of *L.I.T.R.A. (Lower Island Track Racing
Association), (*formerly known as
V.I.S.D.A.
TROPHIES & - Vancouver
Island Stunt and Demo Drivers Association). Sharon
was elected to their Executive in 1986
APPOINTMENTS: and, for 8
of 11 years, held several positions, some more than
once – Secretary, Treasurer, Head of
Membership, Vice-President,
Claimer Rep., Assistant Pit Boss, Pit Runner, sold
50/50 tickets in the stands and pits, was a
Spotter, helped Record
Races, and crewed. She received the most
prestigious award presented by that club, "Member
of the Year", and was
privileged to receive this
award in 1987, 1988 & 1995. Received an
Appreciation Certificate in 1994 for volunteer
work. Trophies
received – Claimers 1988
finished 6th overall in points; Best Appearing
Claimer 1991 & 1994, and Best Appearing
Rollover 1995; Claimer
Hard Luck 1989 and Rollover Hard Luck 1995,
Rollovers 1995 finished 5th overall in Points
As a member of the IMS 4's
(International Mini Stock 4-Cylinders), on May 24,
1997 won her first
A Trophy Dash. October
1997, Championship night race, placed 6th. Elected
to 1998 Board of Directors as Secretary. April
11, 1998, won Fast
Heat (in the rain)! September 19, 1998, won a
30-lap Championship Main at Saratoga Speedway, and
was the first woman to
win a main event at that track in a long time,
which made her win even more special (and received
recognition as Driver
of the Week). In 1998
finished 7th overall, and received the Most
Improved Driver Award. April 3, 1999 won the A
Trophy Dash.
Appointed to 1999 Board of
Directors as Secretary. In 1999 placed 5th overall,
and received the Member of the Year Award.
Elected to 2000 Board
of Directors as Secretary. May 27, 2000 won the A
Trophy Dash. In 2000 placed 4th overall. Elected to
2001 Board of
Directors as Secretary, also taking over Membership
duties. August 11, 2001 won the A Trophy Dash. In
2001 placed 3rd overall
In points, and received
the Member of the Year Award. Elected to 2002 Board
of Directors as Secretary/Membership. In
2002 placed 7th
overall, received Hard Luck Trophy, Member of the
Year Award, and a Special Appreciation Award.
Elected to 2003 Board
of Directors as Secretary. In 2003, placed 4th
overall, and received the Sportsman of the Year
Award. Elected to 2004 Board
of Directors as Secretary. In
2004, placed 7th overall in points, also received
an Appreciation Gift for her many years of service
on the Board of
Directors. Chose to step down as Secretary for
2005, but accepted to serve on the Promotions
Committee. Elected to 2006
Board of Directors as
Treasurer and Head of Membership.
Victoria Auto Racing Hall
of Fame, in 2002, Sharon was one of 6 selected to
serve on the Committee
for the Victoria Auto Racing
Hall of Fame. Hall of Famer Gary Madden
(Sharon’s spouse) was also selected to serve
on this
Committee.
SPECIAL EVENTS: In 1988
participated in the “CKDA Pepsi 100
Challenge” at Western Speedway, and was the
only female driver!
Managed to drive 68 out of 100 laps before having a
wheel bearing and brake problem. Drove this race to
gain experience
driving with fast cars. She
has driven in several novelty races and has raced
in four Enduros. Raced in a Mini-Figure 8 Fun
Race.
FUTURE RACING PLANS/GOALS:
Sharon wants to continue racing IMS 4's, and win a
season championship.
[1996-15th, 1997-12th,
1998-7th, 1999-5th, 2000-4th, 2001-3rd, 2002-7th,
2003-4th; 2004-7th, 2005-7th.
OTHER: Sharon has written
articles for the "Goldstream News Gazette", the
Times-Colonist, several other papers, and for
two former magazines
"Island Racing News" and “Geared For
Racing”. She is a contributing writer for
“Thunder Valley Racing”, a
website dedicated to women
involved in motorsports, and has been a featured
driver on their site. In 2003 and 2004, Sharon
was asked to write a
couple of articles for the Saratoga Speedway
program, and will again in 2005. She also sends
articles to the Pacific
Motorsports Magazine
website. “ RUBBER
SIDE DOWN ! ”
* * *
WomenInRacing.org
©1996-2023 by Gordon Clay
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