|
LATEST SNIPPET
I have trained my Godson, Gary "Lil Bear"
Pritchett, to drive my second funny car and we
match race when ever we can work out both of our
schedule. I am in the middle of building /
resurrecting a nostalgia 1979 Corvette Body Funny
Car, painted Pink, campaigning Breast Care
Awareness at this time. Will be racing in alot of
nostalgia events along with my match racing during
my 45th year of racing.
Direct access to
this web
page: http://bit.ly/9b6re8
Profile
Results
That
Day
Schedule
Snippets
Related Issue:
Women
Racers
Directory,
Women
in Racing,
Women
Racers,
More
Women in
Racing,
Race
Schedules,
Notable
Women
Contact: eMail
| www.bunnyburkett.com
Profile
Birthdate: 5/29/45
Birthplace: Franklin, West Virginia
Current Home: Spotsylvania, Virginia
Phone: 540-582-8560
Who started you: Husband MO
Biggest influence: Husband MO
Women you admire: Melanie Troxel
Fathers Thoughts: He Approved
Your encouragement: GO FOR IT!
Description: I just want to be known as a GOOD
Driver/Racer, not a Lady Driver/Racer. 2010 is my
45th Anniversary in Drag Racing and glad to report
that I am now 65 years old.....And still going!
Photo: IHRA.com
Snippets
Results
IHRA World Champion
NHRA Div 2 Champion
Only woman to win a National Event in Top Alcohol
Funny Car
East Coast Hall of Fame
Lil\' Guys Nationals Hall of Fame
Super Stock Hall of Fame
Legends of MIR Hall of Fame
Legions of Honor @ York US30
Schedule
The Birth of Bunny
Bunny has helped to shape the face of racing to
what we know it as today. A symbol of
determination, courage and inspiration, she has
faced at times what seemed to be insurmountable
obstacles to remain true to her beloved sport.
Left without a vehicle and blessed with the
arrival of their second daughter, The Burkett's
were faced with a decision. Bunny had not been
working during this time and they were in need of
work transportation and a race car. Fortunately,
Baltimore was not that far away from their home in
the eastern part of Virginia. In search of work,
Bunny heard there was a Playboy Bunny Club there
where she might be able to make some money. "I knew
all I had to do was push'em up and smile," Bunny
said." It was a classy place and it worked for
me!"
Using a borrowed car for transportation, she
worked just long enough to save up the $4000 needed
to purchase a 1967 Mustang. It wasn't long before
she took her new steed off the road and turned it
into a racecar. With the purchase of a ramp truck
they were off racing three nights a week.
In recognition of her desire to get back on the
track, Nelson Grimes painted on the back of her car
" Lead Foot Bunny." Over time it was the inevitable
"Bunny" that would give her the identity that would
stick with her udoubtedly for the rest of her
life.
In 1973, Bunny started on her way to becoming a
professional driver behind the wheel of a
nine-second Pinto Pro Stocker. She later traded it
for her first Funny Car.
With no highschool diploma, two children and a
racing habit to feed, Bunny knew that in order to
take the next step, she would need to come up wiyh
some more money. She decided to take a position
with an office supply company. Applying the same
dedication and determination to her work as she did
toward racing, it wasn't long before she found
herself working up the chain of command.
"Working three days a week, I managed to get
enough money to get to the track," Bunny added.
"Eighteen years later, I worked my way to a Vice
President's position and I did it all without
having an education." Over time, it became a
challenge to maintain her busy schedule, and Bunny
was faced with a decision to keep her job or
continue racing.
" It's very hard to juggle family, husband and
racing, so I told the job to take a flying
leap."
Going Pro
Being a female in the world of drag racing had a
few perks for Bunny. She began match racing, which
was an ideal situation seeing as how she was paid
to race at a track as opposed to paying to race at
the facility. At the time there were few other
females in the ranks, but as time went on, she and
carol henson were the two that managed to hang
on.
In 1973, Bunny started on her way to becoming a
professional driver behind the wheel of a
nine-second Pinto Pro Stocker. By 1975 it was too
slow to keep her interest and she quickly tired of
it. A year later, she and Mo made a decision that
would impact both of their lives as well as that of
the sport. In a trade deal,she bartered her Pro
Stock car for a Mustang Funny Car. In 1986 Bunny's
racing career hit a high as she earned the World
Championship in IHRA Funny Car. In doing so, she
also became the first female IHRA champion. During
the same season, she finished no. 4 in NHRA and won
the Division 2 NHRA title.
It was time for rejoicing and enjoying what
seemed like a lifetime of hard work. "I had wanted
to win a chapionship my whole life," Bunny said.
"We proved that we can do whatever we want to do. I
worked very hard at it and it paid off."
The Crash
After winning the championship, Bunny continued
to chase her dreams on the national and local
circuits, racing whenever the opportunity presented
itself. Still working on a small budget, she began
to make her living on the match racing scene. A fan
favorite still to this day, Bunny is known for
putting her fans first and putting on a dazzling
show. Bunny has fans standing with one of her
signature burnouts.
In 1995 Bunny debuted a new car and took it to a
match race at Beaver Springs Dragway in
Pennsylvania, a race that she had attended the
previous ten years. As the competitors for the
day's race drew for lanes, a fellow race drew
longtime driver Carl Ruth. Not wanting to compete
against Ruth, he traded his draw with Bunny, a move
that would change the rest of her life. " Carl is
my friend. I've raced him all my life and I said I
would race him again," Bunny recalled.
As Bunny and Ruth did their burnouts all seemed
normal. " He was the slower car and got out in
front of me. He bobbled some and I thought he was
coming over. He was in high gear, crossed lanes and
hit my wheelie bar. I made a dead left-hand turn
and head down into the grass wide-open." That was
the last thing Bunny would remember about that day
or the following four weeks that ensued. " I never
knew what happened." With broken arms, legs, and
vertabrae, the fate of Bunny's life was left
hanging in the balance. If she survived, would she
ever walk again? Would she remain in a vegetative
state? Racing wasn't even a consideration.
Life or Death
"I passed away and was brought back to life
three times." - Bunny Burkett
The one thing she loved the most, the thing that
kept her going was irrevocably ripped from her.
After 39 hours of surgery and seven days of not
knowing if she would live or die, Bunnys spirit and
determination continued to pull her through. After
three weeks of being in a coma and despite
devastating injuries to her body, she had defeated
the odds and survived her ordeal. The road ahead
would not be easy, but as always, Bunny would face
all the obstacles and find a way to continue
towards her goal of returning to the sport that had
nearly taken her life.
Recovery
Bunny's life had changed. No longer could she do
the simplest of things. She spent the next nine
months paralyzed , with a catheter. "I felt so
sorry for myself, and had worked myself into a fit
of depression," Bunny said.
In the midst of trying to come to grips with the
new chance at life she had been given, she was
unsure what her future would hold. It didn't take
long for Bunny to figure out what her next move
would be. Knowing that racing was the one thing
that would motivate her to get better, she struck a
deal with her husband, Mo. "Mo told me that 'if you
can get better, we will get you another race car.'"
That was all the motivation that she needed. "Mopar
stepped up to the plate and said that when I got
'my' body fixed they would give me a new one.
One year later, Bunny climbed into a Junior
Dragster and made her return to the track official
by making a pass down the 1/8th mile. "Nothing can
stop you if you want it bad enough." For Bunny,
nothing will ever be the same. She still suffers
from paralyses and is forced to deal with the
handicaps and ramifications of having her body
destroyed.
" I can't drive the way I used to and that is
very hard. I see the dissapointment in the crew and
I want badly to go rounds," Bunny said. "It forced
me to move on and set my goals higher. The Lord
just nudged me along the way."
In 1997 Bunny Burkett climbed back into the seat
of her Funny Car and made her comeback at Virginia
Motorsports Park. After completing her first pass,
the skies opened up and it began to rain. " I take
that as God saying 'You Go Girl'!"
* * *
WomenInRacing.org
©1996-2023 by of Gordon Clay
|
