Heather
Spurle

LATEST SNIPPET

 

Direct access to this web page: http://bit.ly/aRoHvu

Bio
Results
Schedule

Photo Gallery
Contact:
E-Mail
Related Issue: Women Racers Directory, Women in Racing, Women Racers, More Women in Racing, Race Schedules, Notable Women

Bio

Bir: 22 December 1959
Birth Place: Bedfordshire, England
Current Home: Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Fax: +61 7 5563-7148
English born, New Zealand raised now domiciled in Australia.
Born Dec 1959, lived in England until age of ten. Family (Mum, Dad & 3 children) migrated to Auckland New Zealand in Aug 1970. Mum & Dad migrated to Gold Coast Australia in 1990. I migrated in 2001.

Married Brian Lawrence in March 1993 in Auckland, New Zealand. Brian is 3rd son/2nd generation racer of a well known NZ motorsport family. He has multiple NZ & Australian motorcycle racing titles & older brother is a multiple Grand Prix winner & former Tasman Champion in F5000\'s & Formula Pacific (Atlantic)
Who started you: Motorsport was a family interest but I was the first to compete
Biggest influence: Entire family - raised with a 'can do' attitude & everyone supported each other
Women you admire: I admire all women who race as equals with men, in particular Sybil Lupp (NZ), Shirley Muldowney (USA) & Lela Lombardi (?)
Father's Thoughts: He loved it (passed away in 1997)
Your encouragement to others: It's a tough but rewarding interest. You have to prove yourself first but once there - enjoy
Description: Love women who race hard against other racers (male or female) but don't like those who don't really have talent so rely on pink cars & good looks to go racing - it belittles real racers !!!

Heather Spurle has set 4 Women’s World Water Speed Records (GP Hydro), 3 New Zealand National Speed Records (2 x outright Diesel & 1 x class record), 12, 18 & 24 hour New Zealand Outright & Diesel popwered endurance records and 6 New Zealand National Endurance Records in her career. Racing in a variety of classes including Formula Ford, Formula Pacific, TraNZam, V8 Touring cars and FIA Sports racing cars Heather has achieved success and proven herself to be a fast and consistent driver. Her results include 6th in the New Zealand Grand Prix (1992), 10th Sandown 500, 23rd Bathurst 1000 and 5th Bathurst 24 Hour (2003).

In 1989, Heather was invited to attempt to break the Women’s World Water Speed Record for Grand Prix Hydroplane boats. She was successful in claiming both World Grand Prix and Unlimited (outright) records and became the official holder of the title of the Worlds fastest woman on water. English woman Gina Campbell successfully challenged both records setting a new speed of 234kph (146mph). Six weeks later Heather reclaimed both with a stunning average speed of 271kph (169mph) Both records still stand today.

She raced at Nurburgring (Germany), Spa Franchorchamps (Belgium), Sepand (Malaysia, Bathurst & Sandown (Australia) plus multiple venues in NZ New Zealand

Awarded Queens Medal (MBE) Commemmoration Medal & numerous Outstanding female' awards

Her motor sport achievements include an MBE medal in the Queens 1991 New Years Honours list, a New Zealand Commemoration medal the same year, a 1994 Achiever Award of Merit and being named ‘Outstanding Female’ at the 1996, 1997 and 1998 Motorsports Sportsperson of the year awards.

Victory wave after reclaiming the Woman's World Water Speed Record in May 1990

Results

Schedule: Bathurst 12 hour enduro (Australia) in Feb 09 that may lead on to a full season in the Australian Production Car Championship

4 x Woman's World Water Speed Records (GP Hydro)

3 x New Zealand Land Speed Records (2 x outright Diesel & 1 x class record)

12, 18 & 24 hour New Zealand Outright & Diesel popwered endurance records

6th New Zealand Grand Prix 1992

5th Bathurst 24 hour race 2003

Raced at Nurburgring (Germany), Spa Franchorchamps (Belgium), Sepand (Malaysia, Bathurst & Sandown (Australia) plus multiple venues in NZ New Zealand

Awarded Queens Medal (MBE) Commemmoration Medal & numerous Outstanding female' awards

Schedule

*    *    *



WomenInRacing.org
©1996-2023 by Gordon Clay