Driver:
Sharon Constantine
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Known
as 'Shar' and, by
some of the younger drivers at the track, as
'Mom', Sharon was born in Victoria BC (birthday April
8th). Sharon's spouse, Gary Madden was inducted
into the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame on February
24, 2001. Between them, their family includes three cats,
Pumpkin, Squeeks, and Sage; Sharon's two sons, and Gary's son
and daughter. Sharon has five grandchildren and Gary has a grandson.
Began racing career in 1985: "I was in
the pits one day and hopped into a Hit-to-Pass car for
a novelty race. I didn't even know how to get in it.
After some quick advice from the driver, Tim Woelk,
I was ready. The first driver had to drive one lap and
then get out of the car and put a bib on the second
driver, me, and feed you a hamburger combo (the size
of Mt. Everest..!). Then I get into the car and drive
one lap to the S/F line. Being new at this, I drove
to the S\F line and stopped right there. Didn't know
they meant go over the line. Was first, but ended up
third after restarting the car and lurching across the
line and stalling. I couldn't get out of the car. The
Race Director had to pull me out the driver's window.
Both of us laughing didn't help the situation. Learned
fast after that one! I owned my first race car
in 1988 - a Claimer."
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| Racing
Achievements |
V.I.S.D.A.
(Vancouver Island Stunt & Demo Drivers Association)
Member of the Year - 1987
L.I.T.R.A.
(Lower Island Track Racing Association)
Member of the Year - 1988, 1995
Placed 6th overall in Claimers - 1988
Placed 5th overall in Rollovers - 1995
Hard Luck Trophy in Claimers - 1989
Hard Luck Trophy in Rollovers -1995
Best Appearing Claimer - 1991, 1994
Best Appearing Rollover Car - 1995
Served on Board of Directors - 8 years
IMS 4's
(International Mini Stock 4-Cylinders)
Won Championship Race - 1998
Western Speedway Driver of the Week - 1998
Most Improved Driver - 1998
Placed 7th overall - 1998
Placed 5th overall - 1999
Member of the Year - 1999, 2001, 2002
Placed 4th overall - 2000
Placed 3rd overall - 2001
Hard Luck Trophy - 2002
Placed 7th overall - 2002
Special Appreciation Award - 2002
Placed 4th overall - 2003
Sportsman of the Year - 2003
Placed 7th overall - 2004
Special Appreciation Award - 2004
Served on Board of Directors - 1997-2004
Promotions Committee - 2005
Placed 7th overall - 2005
Elected to the Board as Treasurer - 2006
(for one year then decided to take some time off)
Re-Elected to the Board as Treasurer for 2010
Other
In 2002, Sharon was one of six selected to serve on the Committee for the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame, of which she is still an active committee member.
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Interests:
Being involved in any aspect of racing, working on my
race car and, of course, racing it.
Hobbies: Collects
penguins of all kinds (books, calendars, ornaments,
stuffed, clothing, stickers, etc.)
A penguin is strapped to her race car.
Personal Vehicle:
A bronze coloured 1980 GMC shortbox stepside dubbed
"Rock-n-Roller".
Race Vehicle: A
1969 Datsun 510 dubbed "Lil' Rock-n-Roller".
Favourite Music:
50s and 60s, Country, and pianist "Giovanni".
Favourite Food:
Mashed potatoes and gravy!!
Racing Hero: "
Gary Madden, of course!" The Late Davey Allison and Mark
Martin.
Most Memorable Racing Achievement:
1997 winning her first Trophy Dash and being congratulated
with a kiss from former racing buddy, Randy Wiebe.
2nd Most Memorable Racing Achievement:
1998 winning her first Main Event and it was on the club's Championship Night at Saratoga Speedway.
Best Part of Racing:
"The feeling you get when you've had a good run. Your
peers coming over and letting you know you did well."
Worst Part Of Racing:
Mechanical problems ("having your steering wheel come
off going into a corner doesn't cut it either!")
Racing Goals: To
continue racing the IMS 4's Class. She enjoys it and is
improving every year. Maybe stepping into another class
in a year or two.
What Drives You Crazy:
Drivers who continually blame their driving problems
on their car, or on another driver.
Fans:
Sharon likes the enthusiasm of the fans. She especially loves it when the kids come into the pits and ask her for an autograph, and she hands out pictures and candy.
Greatest Influences On Life:
Family and Friends.
Articles:
Sharon has written articles for "Island Racing News" and "Geared For Racing" magazines, the Goldsteam News Gazette and the Time-Colonist newspaper. She is also a contributing writer for the Pacific Motorsports Magazine website and another website dedicated to women involved in motorsports, "Thunder Valley Racing", and has been a featured driver on their site. |
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 Crew
Chief:
Gary "Mad Dog" Madden
- Sharon's "sweetie". Her pet name for him is "CROW", as he likes chrome and other shiny car tid bits! Gary was inducted into the Victoria Auto
Racing Hall of Fame on February 24, 2001. He's won championships in 3 classes and has always contributed to the sport of auto racing. He started
his racing career in 1968 and semi-retired by the early
1990's. When Gary does race, he still wins trophies.
Gary was Vice-President of the IMS 4's Club for 2 years, and has recently been elected President for 2004 but only wants to do one term. As of 2005, Gary has now retired but is still active on the Hall of Fame Committee. |
 Crew:
Carol Bradstock
- Sharon's lil' sis. She's one of Sharon's biggest supporters. Carol keeps Sharon calm before
and after races, and helps her get ready before a race.
She helps with car preparation by
recording tire pressures and temperatures, cleaning windshield,
topping up gas, and notes qualifying times. In 2002, Carol served on the IMS 4's
Membership Committee. She has also helped Sharon where needed at the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame events. |
 Crew:
Peter Stringer
- A good friend for 13 years. Peter drove in the L.I.T.R.A. Claimer Class with Sharon, and has several wins to his credit. He now wrenches on the #96. Peter is a great competitor and is always ready to back-up drive (for anyone!). In 2002, Peter got his wish and drove Matt Mansell's IMS car in an Open Competition race, and placed 2nd in the Main! 2004 saw him backup drive again claiming 2nd in the Main, driving Sharon's #96. |
 Crew:
Sean Constantine
- Sharon's youngest son. After driving his
mother's Claimer in 1995, Sean was anxious to sit behind the wheel again. In 2002, Sean drove his Mom's Datsun 510 in an IMS 4's Open Competition race and placed 8th in the Main, and in another Open Competition race in 2003 placed 6th. 2003, he drove in the Claimer division of L.I.T.R.A. for a few races. Ready for action, he now has his own Mini Stock! 2004 was the beginning of the "Mother & Sons" team. As a rookie, 2004 saw Sean receive an 8th place trophy. Sean is now racing full time and has to step down from crewing on Sharon's car, but will still be there to help when he can. For 2006, he'll be driving the #96 Datsun under his #3. He repainted and revamp this car to his liking. |
 Crew:
Carl Constantine
- Sharon's oldest son. Started his involvement by helping crew for his Mom and brother. Between a Claimer and the IMS 4 car, this would be a challenge, due to total differences between the two classes. Carl also wanted to experience racing and drove in the "5th Annual Denomination Derby" 2003. Unfortunately, he crashed on lap 7 of the 15 lap event, disappointed but not deterred, he gave it another try in the 2004 "6th Annual Denomination Derby". Carl is now wrenching on his brother's and mother's IMS 4's cars...big task ahead of him, but he's eager to learn! As of 2004, he's a major part of the "Mother & Sons" team. |
 Crew:
Pat Chalmers
- Sharon's friend for over 20 years. Pat enjoys helping out on race days. After Sharon's steering wheel came off during a race in 2000, Pat says she's in charge of the wheel! You get Pat and Sharon together and it's like "Lucy & Ethel"! Pat's own son, Shawn, drives in the Hit-to-Pass car division of L.I.T.R.A. Her daughter, Miranda, is one of the Western Speedway trophy girls from Illusion Models. |
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This
diverse crew helps Sharon improve each year.
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