Marva has been traveling with the team since
1997. She recently took her first trip down the drag strip in her
everyday, go to work, driver (a slick, black, 1993 Z-28). Now she is
hooked!
After watching, and pulling for, other woman drivers, she wanted to drive
too. By doing so, she becomes the first woman driver on Bracket
Masters Racing Team.
She is very much ahead of the game. After serving as the pit crew
for Houston's Pro-Mod racer for the last two years, Marva knows much more
than your average rookie racer.
Marva has the Bug!
4/13/01 - Marva competed in Pure Stock class for the first
time. Marva's first reaction was, "There's too many things to
think about!" After a couple of time trials she had her first
winning time slip. In her first real race, she had a "Red
Light". I overheard Houston saying "I sure hope she
has enough of this, I don't want to work on that car too".
Her car is a 1993 Camaro V-8 engine, 350 automatic transmission, without
N20 (-: , and street tires.
HER FIRST TIMES: 14.629 AT 94.74 MPH
14.624 AT 94.19 MPH
14.682 AT 94.21 MPH
(Consistency
counts, and we won't list RT's yet)
Marva said, "I REALLY THOUGHT I WOULD BE MORE NERVOUS THAN I
WAS. I GUESS IT'S WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO. I'M REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING TIPS FROM BRACKET MASTERS TEAM MEMBERS.
"THAT IS, OF COURSE, IF BRACKET MASTERS CAN GET PASS THE SHOCK OF A AFRICAN
AMERICAN FEMALE DRIVER (-: OK, I PROMISE NOT TO GET COCKY
WITH THIS RACING BUSINESS (-: "
Marva raced on 4/27/01 and had a
.515 RT. That's super for anyone. Now all we have to do is
teach her finish line tactics. She broke out!
5/19/01
- Well that didn't last long. Marva has decided to retire from drag
racing. Her last comments were, "Now I know what he's going
through. I won't ask anymore, Why did you red
light?". We all love and respect Marva for giving it a
try. Somehow, I don't think she is finished.
6/2/01 - Marva has come out of retirement!
After taking the trip to Houston Raceway Park, the bug has gotten the best
of Marva again. She has talked Houston Hawkins into allowing her to
take the Pro Mod down the track (I want to be there for that!). In
Houston, where Bracket Masters Racing Team went to relax for the weekend,
Marva helped with the club cars as we let them know who we were. She
can't wait to get the "Other Black
Camaro" back on the track. During the stay in Houston, Marva
met Chandra, Van Johnson's Daughter, and talked to her about her driving
adventures. Now, more than ever, Chandra wants to drive.
6/25/01 - Marva has a new 2001 Monte Carlo, Tasmanian
Devil Model. She says it WILL NOT GO ON THE TRACK! It is
a beautiful car.
12/5/01 - Marva announced that
she and Houston are engaged. The wedding and reception, for friends and family,
will take place at 4:00 PM, on December 15, 2001, at
the Ramada Inn and Conference Center, Nicholson Dr, Baton Rouge, LA
12/15/01 - Marva and Houston were married today. The wedding
was at 4:30 PM today. Mrs. Marva
Hawkins! Many of the racing team members were present, along with
many, many family members from both sides. The food was excellent
and everything was beautiful, including the bride! Houston cleaned
up pretty good too!
2/3/02 - Not only was
this Super Bowl Sunday, but Marva took "The Taz" for a trip down
the 1320' at State Capitol Dragway for a fantastic 10.75 (restrained)
pass! She thought the pass was about a 14 sec. pass and was completely
surprised when Houston told her it was a 10 second pass. Now she's
ready to drive for real.
She thinks she is the first Afro-American Woman driver to make a 10 second
pass at State Capitol Dragway! Last time she was seen she had the
time slip in her purse and was telling everyone who would listen about her
pass.
Marva is ready to leave the street class and move into Comp. Street.
I don't think she will be there very long.
4/27/02 - Marva took The Taz for
a Time Trial down the Memphis track while the team was there. By the
rules, she had to keep the time above 11.00, which she did, and made a
very good run.
5/20/02 - Read the story on Bracket Masters
from Afro-American On Wheels Magazine "Around The Track"
Marva's
Page Two
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