Chasing the checkers
Mulder back behind the wheel of her late model
Posted: Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Steven Allspach - Auto Racing
Steven Allspach - Auto Racing
Posted from 07/13/06:
What is it about Betty Boop that can still haunt your dreams long after her rivals fade away? - Chicago Tribune, circa 1930s.
Maybe Laura Mulder, female stock car driver knows.
Two striking drawings - three feet tall - of the long-ago animated cartoon character grace Mulder's limited late model stock car, which, of course, is painted black.
Arguably the first successful female stock car driver in Siouxland, the Sioux Center businesswoman was conspicuously absent from the racing scene last year.
But....She's back.
When she was running in two different competition divisions at Park Jefferson in 2004, Mulder's sassy independence was a mirror of Boop's. Mulder has never been a foil for male drivers just as Boop wasn't for the general male populace.
Mulder raced to the checkers ahead of the men many, many times. Track championships were her realistic goals.
But, just before Christmas of 2004, Mulder was stricken with a strange case of encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain.
"It was so weird," remembers Mulder, who has returned to racing on a limited basis, running at Rock Rapids. "I felt very ill on a Saturday and went to bed early and by Sunday I was saying things my husband (Darlo) and sons (Ryan and Corey) didn't understand.
"Well, it turns out I was thinking I was back to when I was 11, 12 years old. I called my husband, Mark, which is my brother's name.
"At that point he decided he'd better get me to the hospital."
The road to recovery has been a long one and in the process, Mulder also incurred nerve damage in her back.
"I have to drag one leg along behind at times, but not very often," says the incredibly upbeat and outgoing driver. "It's been difficult, but I'm going to beat this thing.
"As for the racing, I'm not doing very well, but we'll get better. I'm just overpowered right now. We haven't changed the car much at all since 2004. We went out just a couple of times at the end of 2005, but it wasn't good."
As for the Betty Boop thing, Mulder has always been a fan.
"When we bring the car out of the trailer everyone does a double-take. Dr. Tim Allard in Akron has been vitally important to my recovery.
"When it came time to repaint the late model I came up with the idea of Betty Boop. And, obviously, you'll see a new prominent sponsorship on the car. Guess who?"
The most enthusiastic cheers at Interstate Speedway last Sunday night were for young driver Greg Taylor.
Taylor, struck down the the rare Guillain-Barre syndrome several weeks ago, was released from the hospital for a three-hour outing and family and friends took him to the the place he likes best - the race track.
Taylor is still confined to a wheelchair and bed, but is regaining some muscle control.
The Sioux County Fairgrounds in Sioux Center will run an enduro on Monday, July 17 (7 p.m.) and then run a big show on Tuesday, July 18, as part of the Sioux County Youth Fair.
The purse includes a $1,000 check to the IMCA Modifieds feature winner and the hotshoe taking the checkers also qualifies for the Lucas All-Star Challenge in Boone during the Boone Nationals. Second in the IMCA Modifieds feature will pay $600.
The IMCA Stock Cars and B-Mods will play 350 to the winner and $300 to the IMCA Hobby Stocks winner.
Blackbird Bend Motorsports Speedway will have a regular IMCA program Friday and there'll be regular programs Saturday and Sunday at Park Jefferson and Interstate, respectively.
Next Thursday (July 20), though, Interstate will host River-Cade Race Night.
There'll be competition in the 360 Sportmods, Hobby Stocks and both Hornet divisions, but the big draw on the official River-Cade event will be the appearance of one of those popular Nextel Cup Simulators that have become a fan favorite.
The Chevy Rock & Roll 400 on Sept. 9 in Richmond, Va., is the last race before the start of NASCAR's Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.
The race is already a sellout, the 30th straight at Richmond International Raceway, which holds 107,097.
Driving partners Sam Hornish Jr. and Helio Castroneves rank 1-2 in IRL points and they could stay that way after Saturday's Firestone Indy 200 at Nashville Speedway. The two, who drive for Marlboro Team Penske, have won six of the eight IRL races this season.
Roger Penske's open-wheel team has never won an IRL championship, but did so nine times in the rival Champ Car series before making the switch to the IRL.
Your tax money at work.
The U.S. Navy announced recently it would continue to sponsor Dale Earnhardt's Busch Series team though 2007.
Earnhardt also said last week NASCAR should limit the number of races that the so-called "Buschwhackers" - Nextel Cup drivers who race in the Busch Series in their spare time - can run in each season.
Do you agree or disagree with the "Robbing Peter to pay Paul" mentality of the big dogs?
Racers, owners and fans: Journal auto racing reporter Steven Allspach is interested in hearing your stories. Contact Journal sports writer Steven Allspach at 712-297-9820 or e-mail at steven.allspach@lee.net
Posted from 07/13/06:
What is it about Betty Boop that can still haunt your dreams long after her rivals fade away? - Chicago Tribune, circa 1930s.
Maybe Laura Mulder, female stock car driver knows.
Two striking drawings - three feet tall - of the long-ago animated cartoon character grace Mulder's limited late model stock car, which, of course, is painted black.
Arguably the first successful female stock car driver in Siouxland, the Sioux Center businesswoman was conspicuously absent from the racing scene last year.
But....She's back.
When she was running in two different competition divisions at Park Jefferson in 2004, Mulder's sassy independence was a mirror of Boop's. Mulder has never been a foil for male drivers just as Boop wasn't for the general male populace.
Mulder raced to the checkers ahead of the men many, many times. Track championships were her realistic goals.
But, just before Christmas of 2004, Mulder was stricken with a strange case of encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain.
"It was so weird," remembers Mulder, who has returned to racing on a limited basis, running at Rock Rapids. "I felt very ill on a Saturday and went to bed early and by Sunday I was saying things my husband (Darlo) and sons (Ryan and Corey) didn't understand.
"Well, it turns out I was thinking I was back to when I was 11, 12 years old. I called my husband, Mark, which is my brother's name.
"At that point he decided he'd better get me to the hospital."
The road to recovery has been a long one and in the process, Mulder also incurred nerve damage in her back.
"I have to drag one leg along behind at times, but not very often," says the incredibly upbeat and outgoing driver. "It's been difficult, but I'm going to beat this thing.
"As for the racing, I'm not doing very well, but we'll get better. I'm just overpowered right now. We haven't changed the car much at all since 2004. We went out just a couple of times at the end of 2005, but it wasn't good."
As for the Betty Boop thing, Mulder has always been a fan.
"When we bring the car out of the trailer everyone does a double-take. Dr. Tim Allard in Akron has been vitally important to my recovery.
"When it came time to repaint the late model I came up with the idea of Betty Boop. And, obviously, you'll see a new prominent sponsorship on the car. Guess who?"
The most enthusiastic cheers at Interstate Speedway last Sunday night were for young driver Greg Taylor.
Taylor, struck down the the rare Guillain-Barre syndrome several weeks ago, was released from the hospital for a three-hour outing and family and friends took him to the the place he likes best - the race track.
Taylor is still confined to a wheelchair and bed, but is regaining some muscle control.
The Sioux County Fairgrounds in Sioux Center will run an enduro on Monday, July 17 (7 p.m.) and then run a big show on Tuesday, July 18, as part of the Sioux County Youth Fair.
The purse includes a $1,000 check to the IMCA Modifieds feature winner and the hotshoe taking the checkers also qualifies for the Lucas All-Star Challenge in Boone during the Boone Nationals. Second in the IMCA Modifieds feature will pay $600.
The IMCA Stock Cars and B-Mods will play 350 to the winner and $300 to the IMCA Hobby Stocks winner.
Blackbird Bend Motorsports Speedway will have a regular IMCA program Friday and there'll be regular programs Saturday and Sunday at Park Jefferson and Interstate, respectively.
Next Thursday (July 20), though, Interstate will host River-Cade Race Night.
There'll be competition in the 360 Sportmods, Hobby Stocks and both Hornet divisions, but the big draw on the official River-Cade event will be the appearance of one of those popular Nextel Cup Simulators that have become a fan favorite.
The Chevy Rock & Roll 400 on Sept. 9 in Richmond, Va., is the last race before the start of NASCAR's Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.
The race is already a sellout, the 30th straight at Richmond International Raceway, which holds 107,097.
Driving partners Sam Hornish Jr. and Helio Castroneves rank 1-2 in IRL points and they could stay that way after Saturday's Firestone Indy 200 at Nashville Speedway. The two, who drive for Marlboro Team Penske, have won six of the eight IRL races this season.
Roger Penske's open-wheel team has never won an IRL championship, but did so nine times in the rival Champ Car series before making the switch to the IRL.
Your tax money at work.
The U.S. Navy announced recently it would continue to sponsor Dale Earnhardt's Busch Series team though 2007.
Earnhardt also said last week NASCAR should limit the number of races that the so-called "Buschwhackers" - Nextel Cup drivers who race in the Busch Series in their spare time - can run in each season.
Do you agree or disagree with the "Robbing Peter to pay Paul" mentality of the big dogs?
Racers, owners and fans: Journal auto racing reporter Steven Allspach is interested in hearing your stories. Contact Journal sports writer Steven Allspach at 712-297-9820 or e-mail at steven.allspach@lee.net
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