Sharon was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. When she
was a
teenager, she wanted to race, but women weren't racing in Victoria
back
then. It was unheard of - women were only involved in arranging
social
gatherings for the racers. She says she was a late bloomer in auto
racing.
In 1985, she was sitting in the stands at Western Speedway, watching
the Hit-to-Pass racing, when the race emcee announced that they
needed more lady drivers to participate in the Powder Puff Hit-to-Pass.
Sharon was in the very next race and came in third! But this event
was run only four or five times in a race season. So, when the Claimer
Class was introduced in 1988 by Gary Madden, then President of the
Lower Island Racing Association, she jumped at the chance to become
a full-time driver.
|
She was the first woman to drive in regular competition in the
L.I.T.R.A. Claimer Class and became a member of their Executive.
At the end of the 1988 season, she finished 6th overall. In 1995,
she tried her ability in the Rollovers and had fun. She wanted to
find out what it was like to be in a car that rolled. During her
time with this club, Sharon has volunteered in several areas, some
of which included selling 50/50 tickets to officiating in the pits,
and was elected for a one-year term as Vice-President of the Lower
Island Track Racing Association. While involved with L.I.T.R.A.,
Sharon's won several Best Appearing Car, Hard Luck, and Member of
the Year Trophies.
|
In 1996, she joined the International Mini Stock 4-Cylinders Club
(IMS 4's).
She soon became a member of the Board of Directors. She has won
several
trophy dashes, a couple of heats and a main event. Her main event
win at
Saratoga Speedway in Courtenay, British Columbia was a special one,
as she
was the first woman to win a main event there in a long time. Besides
her
driving, she is still volunteering wherever needed.
Sharon's achievements in the IMS 4's include: Won Championship
Race-1998,
Most Improved Driver-1998, Placed 7th overall-1998, Placed 5th
overall-1999, Member of the Year-1999, Placed 4th overall-2000,
Placed
3rd overall - 2001, Member of the Year - 2001, Trophy A-Dash Wins-1997,
1999, 2000, 2001.
Her sweetheart and crew chief, Gary Madden, was inducted into the
Victoria
Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2001, and is presently serving as Vice-President
of the IMS 4's.
For now, Sharon will continue to be involved with the IMS 4's.
Her goal is
to win a season championship.