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Judy Smith, the Grand Ol’ Dame of Off-Road Racing was honored by the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in the Class of 2008. Having moved from Connecticut to SoCal in the 40’s, she was introduced to off-road with her husband in the 1960’s. Over the years she told many a racers stories as they competed in the desert. Her favorite column was the “Losers” where she interviewed those who didn’t make it to the finish line.

Rich got a chance to interview Judy by telephone with her nurse, Jennifer facilitating the call. In Judy’s own words, she doesn’t get out much anymore, but the spirit is willing if you’d like a companion to a race. The oral history of the ones who came before is such a treasure. Thanks for paving the road, Judy.

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6:14 – back then, California teenagers were very different from Connecticut teenagers

10:59 – that’s good for women, and I wondered what I could do?

19:13 – I was always happy if there was another racer broken in the same place 

23:25 – no one was there to say, “you didn’t do that right”

30:06 – I remember one guy telling me if I ever beat him, he wouldn’t come back – I don’t know whatever happened to him. 

38:56 – how could you be that dumb on a place like the Peninsula and not know where South is?

Take a look at one of Judy’s “Loser” stories here:  https://simplebooklet.com/1988volume5number3dustytimesmagazine#page=25

Digitizing Dusty Times has been an ongoing project of the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame, we are fortunate to get to access the writing of history.

Special thanks to the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame for their support of this podcast. Legends live at ORMHOF.org

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