THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 12, 1995 TAG: 9510110193
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
IT WAS OFF to the races - if she did her homework.
Donna Duncan was 15, so she couldn't drive to the drag races. She had to rely on older brother Emil to take her.
``He said he wouldn't take me unless I knew about race cars,'' she recalled. ``He wanted me to be able to talk with his friends. He gave me study sheets. By Friday, if he felt I'd learned enough, he'd let me hang out.''
Emil Boos, now working for a logging company in Michigan, recently told his sister in a telephone conversation, ``Here I am being bored, and you're racing.''
She races a ``funny car,'' a very souped-up Oldsmobile Achieva, an average of 217 miles per hour. It is fueled by alcohol, which gives more horsepower and burns cleaner, has a 2,400-horsepower Hemi motor and 17-inch, slick rear tires.
Duncan, a vibrant 43-year-old Perrysburg, Ohio, native, drives for the Mike Murphy Drag Racing Team of Portsmouth.
``I've been in racing about 30 years,'' Murphy said. ``Donna is my third driver. I quit driving because it's easier for me to do maintenance than doing both.''
Saturday, the funny car will be parked at Tidewater Community College during Girl Scout Expo `95. It will remain stationary, but the motor will do its loud thing, giving visitors the feel of being trackside.
``I was a girl scout when I was a kid,'' Duncan said. ``That's where I learned leadership skills.''
Her driving skills take her down quarter-mile tracks as she competes against other drivers of ``funny cars.'' The races are sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association.
``We're seeking sponsorship,'' Duncan said. ``If we get that, we can make the complete national tour.''
If they can get some changes made on the car, that 217 miles per hour can jump to 230 in 1996.
``Also next year, I'd like to run 16 or more races. We do about eight now,'' said Duncan, who has been on the tracks just over a year, after graduating from Hawley's Drag Racing School in Gainesville.
Her determination to race encouraged Murphy to put her behind the wheel after his driver retired for health reasons.
``I'm not where I want to be as far as performance is concerned,'' Duncan said. ``My highest finish was sixth. Eventually, I'd like to be division champ. I hope I can accomplish that in a couple of years.''
She is one of 40 drivers in Division 2, covering the southeastern states. There are seven divisions in the country.
Duncan is involved in Just Say No to Drugs, and will participate in a gathering Oct. 21 at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach.
She and her husband, Charlie, have two children and one grandchild.
``I waited till late in my life to race because I never wanted to be a parent who looked back and regretted not having gone to their ballgames and ballet recitals,'' she said. ``I relate very well to kids. They touch my heart.''
In addition to her anti-drug work in their behalf and visits to area schools, she keeps busy in other constructive ways.
Duncan is a Rotarian, Parents-Teachers Association treasurer at Western Branch Middle School in Chesapeake, and vice-chairperson of the Chesapeake Drainage Commission.
She owns Machine Services Inc. in Chesapeake. Her husband runs the machine shop.
Duncan runs as many tracks as she can, always helping with the maintenance.
``Some people say I should've been born a boy,'' she said. ``No thank you - I like my fingernail polish.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Donna Duncan will display the ``funny'' car she drives Saturday at
Girl Scout Expo '95.
by CNB