Suzi
Blume
Dirt Track Stock
Car Driver
 
Suzi Blume drives at the Crawford County Speedway in Denison,
Iowa. The Speedway is a half mile track that claims to be the
fastest dirt track in the area.
Suzi has done mud drag racing, sand drag racing, demolition
derbies, figure 8 racing (It is what it sounds like it is!) and
stock car oval racing. She has driven in about 20 powder puff events
but, when she gets the chance, races in fields made up of male
drivers.
This 37 year old secretary at the Crawford County Sheriff's
Office (She worked her way up from jailer, to assistant chief
jailer, to secretary) has been around cars since her high school
days when she'd help her dad fix the family vehicles. Her latest
success was a win in a powder puff figure 8 race at the Speedway.
She began her racing career in 1987, when her husband built his
first stock car. Suzi was right there with him, tweaking on the
motor, ripping out the interior, etc. Most of the time she crewed
for him, but got to drive against the guys several times.
Her earliest experiences were of being spun out by spiteful male
drivers trying to get her off the track. As she gained more track
time, she learned to avoid the bumping or to correct the drift when
she did get bumped.
Her first powder puff event netted her a third place. She says
she managed a wonderful spin out coming off turn four, but was able
to get right back in the hunt. In her second powder puff event, she
won going away. Starting from the back of the field, she was in
first place after a couple of laps and never was headed.
In her third event, she beat herself! She again started in the
back of the pack and was having just awesome fun weaving through
traffic to the front. She was leading by the end of the first lap
and she stayed in front until the last lap. She got complacent and
eased off the throttle, only to be passed for the win in turn four.
Suzi's husband has several of her powder puff races on tape, and she
likes to review them to see her mistakes and to relive the
experience.
Money has always been a problem for this racing team. Sponsors
have been few and far between. The new promoter at the Speedway is
running by NASCAR sanctions, which is a mixed blessing. He won't be
changing the rules during the middle of the season, but he has
raised the entry fees. As a result, Suzi may not be able to run this
coming year. She may have to wait, but is determined to drive
again.
Suzi watches all types of racing on television, but enjoys NASCAR
the most. (She's a Dale Earnhardt fan.) She's an outdoors type
person who also enjoys camping, fishing, swimming, golf, and
tennis.
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