European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 24, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday. August 24, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 13 car Corner Success on the european drag strips she feels at Home with 450 he in Kin Tiik re cent Ink million us drag racing festival at . The German press people at the circuit issued a release headlined super fast Chris was born to  they were miking about Chris Brunk Horst. The girl racer from Clinton. Iowa who drives the 450 horsepower noisy toy Chevrolet Vega a car that she and her husband  built together in go racing. Competing in Only her second year of drag racing this season she has Bee highly successful so far with a Victory in the it elapsed time bracket in the National race in Austria Early this month. And she recorded Well earned second place finishes in Giebels Ladt and in the recent International race at Hock Nheim. Along with her racing abilities she s also a top notch howler winning air Force tournaments this year in Best in Europe division Best in air Force and placing third in the combined All sen ice tournament. A senior arinian stationed at Rhei main a Chris refuel aircraft for a living and she has weekends off which helps her pursue her drag racing career. She s obviously a natural at the sport of drag racing with a big interest in cars and motorcycles As a background. I be Ridden motorcycles All my life Chris said during an interview at Hock in him. And my Mother had to lock me in my bedroom to make me put on a dress so i guess you could say i veal ways had what you might Call non Domestic interests. Drag racing was among the activities that attracted my attention and i watched my first one Over Here in 1987. Lee look me to that one. Last year i decided to build a car. And i bought a Chevy Mon a for drag racing. But it was too complicated for me. So Lee and i agreed to build one together. So 1 sold my Mon a and we bought the Chevy Vega. It was also less expensive that Way. The Chevy Vega we race now is the re sult of our work and i be Learned a lot about mechanics that s for certain. Lee s been in drag racing almost All of his life and after we had the Vega ready to go he suggested i give driving a try. Brunkhorst. Irom Lake City minn., is a Supply division no at stars and stripes. I took some runs As a passenger Chris said and it frightened me a Little. But when i drove and Lee was the Pas Senger i had no fear. Drag racing a car is a lot different than simple Riding along in one. I had my first Competition runs last year and now this is my first full season and i m really enjoying it. A lot of women ask me How to get started in drag  she said and i can Only say that it Lee had t helped me. I would have had a difficult Lime Ofil and probably would not have enjoyed the scene like i m enjoying it now. So when i m asked. I always say find a Guy who is experienced in drag racing be cause you ii need male help along the Way. I did t know anything technically about cars but since working with Lee i think i could build a drag racing car by myself if 1 had to. During my drives last year. Lee rec uni de my abilities and he decided to let me do the driving and he would Takecare of the car and direct our team. And that s How it s gone. We also work closely As a team with Bill and Adelheid Hales and Robin and sue Gregg. We All help each other As much As possible. Our car is much quicker this season than it was last. Lee put in new alumni num rods a new steel Crank and we bought new Heads. Other things too. The Chris trunk horse heels up the tires Fiir u his Speed run As her Hushi ind  at front of car makes final Cheeks. Money it costs she said. But we would like to move up. Gel into the or 10second class. And we Hope to sell the Vega Here before we move to the stale sin november then buy a new car  the Brunk horses will leave Europe in november for reassignment in Virginia where they plan to do a lot of drag racing there on  is the Only Servic woman who competes in International drag racing i Europe and on the matter of beating men at their own game she says la does t really Mailer because i m racing to win. That s the big thing. But i know that a lot of Guys asked Lee Why he let me drive the car and now they know the answer. A lot of Guys really hate losing to a woman that s for sure. I be even heard them muttering beaten by a woman. I can l believe in. I enjoy hearing  what is the Mccrel of her rapid racing Success she was about to answer and it involved her method of getting off the line when the lights Flash but then her Hus band Lee said hey let s not give the secrets away Okay everyone Laug cd and Chris decided to take her husband s advice and remain mum on the  in the states she plans to stay in the air Force four More years then re turn to College to study electrical Engi Neering. Her husband with 10 years in the service plans to retire Ai inc 20-year Mark and Ihen continue in the world of drag racing. The Brunk horses Neil race is sept. 9 10 in Mulhouse France. Randy Burnet Auto columnist a Good listener Chris gels some advice before driving onto the dra strip. Engine really sings now. We could make the car even quicker by lightening it maybe by even 600 pounds bul Lee always stresses safely. He wants a fast car but a Safe  regarding the question what makes a Good drag racer?." Chris stressed the concentration Factor. You must always concentrate. And listen to the car As Well. You know what that engine is doing by listening. And if you feel something s wrong shut in Down. Consistency too is inc big thing especially in the it bracket and i m get Ting that Down with every run i make within a tenth of a second of my pre Vious one. In inc so alas we would race Inich super Street class but they Don t have thai class Here so we have to do  Al Hock Nheim she was turning limes in the 11-second area for the Quarter mile and this pleased her. I be Only done 12s  she said but on lit new track Here it s another  like most Drivers regardless of what Type of racing category she looks for Ward to gelling into bigger and faster machinery. But the faster you go. The More off Road rally set sept. 3 in Hanau if you own a 4-wheel-drive vehicle and want to Pul in to the lest the Mark Down sunday sept. 3, on your activities Calendar. On that Day the Hanau Abrams association of the . Army Ausa and jeep military sales will stage their third annual 4-Whecl-drive Oit read rally Al the Campo Pond training area in Hanau. The Competition course about 3 Miles Long will contain mud holes Sandpit water ditches and other various obstacles to offer some Lough challenges to the dry cars and their vehicles. Food and refreshments will be available throughout the Day. The organi cars say and a Mili tary vehicle display will also be Amon the attractions of the program. The off Road rally is open to owners of any Type 9f 4-Whccl-drive vehicle. Registration is Sio per entrant and spectators will be admitted free. Registration will be held sunday sept. 3, from 7 30 to 9 30 a.m., and the rally begins at 10 a.m., ending about 7 . Winners will receive awards. Pre registration is available by Pho Ning military 322-8911 or civilian 06181-88-8911 Between 6 30 and 9 . Daily. Those numbers also May be called for additional details on the rally.