Great Lakes Dragaway-Battle of the Sexes

Saturday, at Great Lakes Dragaway, was the Car Chix sponsored Battle of the Sexes highlighted by the Zolper Family Grudge Match between Joe and Jenny. Over the last two years, Jenny has had the title of the Fastest Zolper. Joe decided he would reactivate his Plymouth GTX Pro Mod to challenge Jenny's claim. This was run, in conjunction with, a Car Chix women's only bracket race. The winner of the bracket race would then face off against the winner of the regular Great Lakes Dragaway's bracket winners. Jeanette DesJardins held the Car Chix Driver's Meeting in front of the Car Chix merchandise trailer.

In speaking with Jeanette, she explained they are sponsoring three events in 2018. This one, there bread and butter event at Byron Dragway on August 18th and a new event, Car Chix Outlaw, at Cordova International Raceway on October 13th.

Also, earlier in the day, Bobby Churchill won the Junior Trophy race. This was Bobby's first time racing at Great Lakes. A little backstory was that Bobby's grandfather, Bob, last raced at Great Lakes in the UDRA days in a Funny Car in 1991 with the same color scheme as Bobby's junior dragster.

While this was going on, the regular bracket race started its time runs.

And on the Grudge Match front, Joe Zolper was prepping both cars.

The Grudge Match was to consist of a best of two out of three races with the winner taking home the trophy and the bragging rights to being the fastest in the Zolper family.

When asked what she would do with the trophy when she won, she stated," Its going to look good laying in Joe's spot in the bed!" I guess that means Joe would be sleeping on the couch.

In the first race, it was Joe winning with a time of 8.749, 157.97 mph to Jenny's 9.028 and 149.95 mph. That was uncharacteristic for Jenny. She said the car just seemed to lay down. Joe looked at the engine and discovered that late last year, Jenny experienced some burnt valves so they adjusted the engine to run a little richer and forgot to take that out.

In the second race, it was Jenny all the way running an 8.584, 156.46 mph to Joe's 8.798, 154.29

With the Grudge Match all tied up, the trophy was on the line for the third race. Joe and Jenny did not disappoint with both running their personal bests. It was Jenny with an 8.468, 159.54 mph taking the win light to Joe's 8.522, 157.23 mph.  Joe presented the trophy to Jenny and after hugs announced that this was not the end, that another match would be necessary. Both thanked all that attended and gave to the charities which benefited from the match.

I had to leave before all the racing was completed because of a bracket race at Route 66 in the morning.

To see all the images from the day, please click here.