Friday, September 18, 2009

These Curves are Dangerous...!

I just finished re-reading the most amazing book!
The first time through it shook me up so much that I had to go straight back to the beginning and read it again.

Its called "Dangerous Curves" and is the autobiography of racecar driver, model and entrepreneur Terri O'Connell.


Whether you are a race fan or not, this book is a must read.
It is a compelling, heart wrenching story of beating the odds, and of the sheer force and power of the human spirit.

I haven't been around the race world for very long - it's only been a couple of years, but one thing is certain, this is the domain of the alpha male - a man's man's world. Dirt track, quarter mile or paved oval, the testosterone hangs so thick in the air you could cut it in slices. (and frankly, I love that!)

So its not hard to see how controversial Terri has been in this sport...

You see, Terri was born a hermaphrodite, in a small provincial town in Mississippi, in a time where genetic testing wasn't prevalent, and the smaller medical communities weren't adept at recognizing and identifying such biological anomalies.

CB: In my teens, growing up in a small, provincial place I had a friend who was a hermaphrodite. I witnessed first hand how cruel humans can be when faced with a situation they've not been educated about, and the pure havoc this lack of knowledge and accompanying fear enables the masses to inflict on the life of another human being. My friend underwent exploratory surgery at age 20 and they found all the female reproductive biology inside. But that didn't change the gossip, innuendo and cruelty that she had to face in the outside world...

Terri was raised as a boy, J.T Hayes, who became a spectacularly successful racecar driver, but who from the age of three, knew she was a girl.

Dangerous Curves is the story of all she had to endure, the mountains she had to climb, in order to make it to the other side of what is still an ongoing ordeal. The prejudice, the hate campaigns, the injustice, coupled with an overwhelming need to survive, and a racer's fierce competitive edge and refusal to accept anything short of a win.
While you are sitting there shell shocked by what has just transpired, Terri shifts gears and jumps into her 800hp sprint car and takes you to the dirt track for a hair-raising spin that ends with her holding yet another trophy in the winner's circle.

From chapter to chapter you don't know if you'll be in a crumpled heap on the floor, or cheering her on in a win!

Early on in the book she talks about being a 5 year old at Christmas, desperately wanting Santa to bring her a Barbie, then lying in bed Christmas night, silently crying bitter tears because Santa too wouldn't listen, wouldn't hear her baby voice, and gave her a train set instead.
There were times in this book when I was reduced to tears, and times when I was so inspired by Terri's indominatable will.

Terri won over 500 professional motorsports events in 5 different racing series. She won 3 National Championships, and made it to America's most popular racing series, The Nascar Sprint Cup.
She designed and built most of the cars that she won in.

After biological re-alignment surgery at age 30 Terri was able to move forward with her life as a very beautiful woman.

NOTE: Terri is not Trans Gender, as is often written. She was born with both male and female biology. The only surgery she had was urological re-alignment and breast augmentation.

I've read comments where she has been accused of having her shoulders, ribs and hips reduced. Huh??? NO. She has always had the same body. She is my height - 5 foot 6 inches, and weighs 117 lbs. Which has pretty much always been her weight. When she lived in Charlotte she was a fashion model.
She is a slim, intensely feminine, gorgeous woman who is always described as being witty, clever and charming. Even her biggest critics and detractors are blown away when they meet her. Most don't realize that this is the same person that they have been slandering...





If you enjoy a little juicy gossip and intrigue, the book divulges much interesting info from behind the scenes in NASCAR, there's a crooked congressman - all kinds of good stuff!

Dangerous Curves is a memoir about women's issues and professional sports wrapped in the social dynamics of a small town in the deep south. It is the story of a family struggling to come to terms with a very difficult situation in a time and place where there was no road map to guide you through.
Its a story where bigotry and true southern deep love and compassion walk hand in hand through heart breaking pages. You meet some truly heinous characters, and also some of the most loving, kind humans, who's devotion and true friendship know no boundaries, and help a wounded soul beat the odds in the face of personal danger and extreme drama.

It reads like a novel, and at times you forget that you are reading an autobiography.


Terri is making a professional motorsports comeback with Dick Barbour of Dick Barbour Racing. She has built a company that specializes in super cool Tshirts for female race fans, and is in negotiations for a reality show based on her life.





I hope you will read this incredible book. I'll be giving it to all my friends for Christmas this year.

You can find out more about Terri on her website www.goterrio.com
Follow her on twitter at: goterrio
Check out the Dangerous Curves facebook page

And buy this great book on Amazon.com Click Here

9 comments :

  1. I recently heard about Terri O'Connell's plight from a very good friend of mine; I will have add this to the top of my list of books to read!!

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  2. I read this book!!! Its amazing!!!
    I wish her the best of luck in her future. She is a true winner and will continue to prevail.
    It was coureageous of you to write about her.
    I love all your make up tips too!
    Keep up the good work

    Cindy Smith
    Omaha Nebraska

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  3. The book is awesome....Terri is awesome, courageous, honest and ambitious--not to mention a heck of a driver (read the stats in her book). I have great admiration for this lady and you will have a lot of respect when you read all that she has gone thru over the years and how she never let go of her dreams. She is a mentor for all of us.

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  4. I challenge more men to keep an open mind and heart and read this book. Put yourselves in the situation and image how you would live thru all the challenges. WOMEN...YOU ROCK!

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  5. terri sounds like such a cool lady..
    i'm definitely going to pick the book up..
    i can't wait to read it!!

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  6. What an incredible journey she has made and continues to make. It's time for this issue to see the light of day. Props to you for helping do just that!

    Katrina
    Las Vegas, NV

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  7. I've read Terri's memoir Dangerous Curves, and it is one hell of a book. It put me on a roller coaster ride just reading it!! The life ride that Terri has endured is incredible!!

    I've met Terri. I've talked to Terri. I know Terri. She is one hell of a classy lady who desrves nothing more than respect. She's a kick ass racecar driver and doesn't need to prove a thing!

    Let's just hope that sometime soon, she's able to find a race team and a car that is able to handle HER!!!! Looking forward to seeing her back on the track!!!

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  8. This was a fantastic book! I know nothing about racing, but it didn't matter. I couldn't put it down and I hope that Terri will continue to write. I want to mention that,despite her difficulties and heartache, her writing style is doggone funny and parts of the book had me rolling. Maybe she might do a book as a humorist?

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  9. I met Terri from facebook and involved in the racing world, I have a show I put on called Let's Talk Racing, I used to race myself and am a little bit older than she is, I know how the guys treated the women when it comes to driving. Ever since I have talked to her & read the book after the interviews we did, I have to applaud what she has been through & what it takes to survive in this world. She is not the only person I have met with her biological problem. I personally am going to help in any way I can to get her back to her racing career! I am setting up a new race team in ARCA & Nationwide series, with some truck races as well, she will have a ride once we get this all in place, giving her a chance to show you she backs up what she says!! I believe she will do as Tony Stewart has and put all the nay sayers in there place!!

    Roger
    Rubbinz Racing

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