AUTO RACING: Tennessee High Teacher Pursues Fast Hobby At Bristol Dragway

By Allen Gregory
Sports Writer / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: June 25, 2008

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Tara Brookshire devised a unique plan for her birthday party. She wanted to celebrate with a mix of thunder, smoke and speed.

Meet the fastest geometry teacher in the Mountain Empire.

The 28-year-old Brookshire is part of the thriving Street Fights program at Bristol Dragway.

While most of the Street Fighters prefer muscle cars and import zoomers, Brookshire opts for a motorcycle. In fact, Brookshire rides a sleek and highly advanced 2008 Ducati 848.

“It’s a big adrenaline rush,” Brookshire said. “There is so much concentration and timing involved. “You have to make sure to get everything right at the launch point with the bike. It’s very competitive.”

The 4-foot-11 Brookshire knows competition. Her athletic resume includes participation in regional horse shows and United States Figure Skating Association events.

For pulse-pounding excitement, Brookshire said nothing compares to matching up with the diverse motorcycle gang at Bristol Dragway. Motorcycles have been part of the Street Fights since the inception of the program eight years ago, with 25-30 riders participating this season.

“I only live 10 miles from Bristol Dragway, and it’s awesome to have the opportunity to ride on a track this great,” Brookshire said. “I’ve been riding for about two and a half years, then started drag racing last year.

“It’s a friendly and relaxed atmosphere out here, with everybody supporting each other.”

And Brookshire does more than ride. In her maiden run in the Ducati three weeks ago, Brookshire posted a time of 11.1 seconds, which equates to roughly 125-miles per hour. Her top speed is 128 mph.

“The Street Fights are really nice for stress relief, and it actually gives me something to talk to my kids about,” said Brookshire, a King College graduate who teaches at Tennessee High School.

“If I have a bad run with my bike, they will tease me about it the next day.
They all think it’s pretty cool, though. I’ve had several students come out to watch and actually bring their cars out to race.”

So far at least, none of her Brookshire’s pupils have called her out for a grudge match race.

“I know some students are planning to get bikes, so I am waiting on that,” Brookshire said. 

Brookshire has been encouraged by the success of female drag racers in the National Hot Rod Association ranks. With her small frame and charismatic personality, Brookshire has already drawn comparisons to three-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Angelle Sampey.

“I’ve been asked about [Sampey] a couple times,” Brookshire said. “There are actually three female riders at Bristol Dragway, and it’s really cool that other female racers like Angelle have been so successful. It’s definitely something to shoot for.”

Another step in the dues-paying process came this past weekend when Brookshire competed in the Street ET class at the AMA Dragbike Summer Nationals at Thunder Valley.

According to her peers at Bristol Dragway, Brookshire has already earned respect the old-fashioned way.

“Tara is better than most of the riders out here each week,” said Bristol’s Keith Norris, a regular in the Street Fights motorcycle class. “Tara is just a cool and very fun person.”

When it came to her birthday, Brookshire said there’s no better way to party than powering down the quarter-mile in her Ducati.

“I always try to have fun, and there’s nothing like riding one of these bikes,” Brookshire said. “Yeah, it’s a good way to celebrate a birthday.”

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