Article Courtesy of ChrisBiro of RPM Magazine.

Geneva Williams with her brothers Emerson "The Wiz" and Kelvin - "Wiz Too". Photo courtesy of www.godragracing.com

As many of our regular readers will attest to we are often urging racers and teams to contact RPM with their story. Regardless of what level you race at or what it is you have to say, we really do want to hear from you. Every so often someone contacts us with a special story, Geneva Williams and GEE WIZ Racing are just such a story.

Outlaw 10.5 racing is pretty well at the top of the rung on the Fast Doorslammer and Outlaw drag racing ladder. It is often thought of as a "mans world “, just as many motorsports are, or for that matter any type of Inherently dangerous "extreme” style of sport. Geneva is here to tell you that Outlaw Drag Racing is for everyone and anyone, and that a strong belief in what you do, why you are doing it, and the will to press-on even in the face of hardship, is more than half the battle.

To date the newly re-vamped 632 cubic inch Fulton powered, nitrous oxide assisted 1968 Camaro has been a best elapsed time in the quarter mile of 7.35 at over 187 mph, and a best 1/8th mile pass of 4.74 at 153mph. A personal goal for GEE WIZ is to break the 200 mile per hour barrier In Outlaw 10.5 and then to compete among the ranks of Pro Stock at some point in the future.

How exactly does a woman get started driving one of these cars, and better yet become the fastest female on 10.5 tires? As usual it begins with family, Geneva tells us,,”My Dad was a street racer in his day and both my brothers are racers. My older brother started training alot of other guys to race and I started watching and saying to myself "Hmmmm, I bet I could do that!" I always loved cars and used to borrow my brothers hotrod Z28 Camaro in highschool, I would agree to fill up the tank if he let me drive it to school (That would really work now, with the gas prices being what they are). So, after getting on their nerves for a long time, in 1998 they built me my first race car. The 1968 Camaro (same one that I drive now although it has had major alterations since then) with a Chevy small block.

I promptly started with 11 second passes. Hoooray!!! After one year, I let them add nitrous to that motor and broke into the 9's. They saw that I really had a knack for this drag race thing so then they built me the 1967 "Gee Wiz" Camaro and I started competing in that car, The ‘67 was and still is an 8 second ride and I take it to the neighborhood schools and remind the kids to be safe and that if they stay in school, they can be anything they want to be in life. I love doing this and seeing the kids smile and light-up. While I was competing and doing quite well with the '67, the guys put the 1968 in the chassis shop and brought me home a big block 582. We really started making a name for ourselves with this current car and the crowds would go crazy saying "I can't believe that girl can drive a car like that!!".

The Columbia, Maryland based Williams has seen her share of challenges in the sport but none as difficult as a recent crash which left her uninjured but, without a car. A car that she used for so much more than just racing. Geneva explains, "I had my first accident in eight years of racing last year (2005) at my first race in May. I had to sit out the entire season. The accident was an extremely trying time for our team. I had absolutely NO FEAR, during or after the accident though. It didn’t scare me at all. After the accident happened and before I got out of the car, God whispered to me "Geneva, this happened for a reason - You are not going to like it, but it is for a reason". This for me was my saving grace during a most difficult time in our racing.”

Any accident, regardless of severity is a tough experience to handle, especially beyond the physical pain. Things we often don't think about as fans of the sport but tend to go hand in hand with any type of highly competitive team sport such as drag racing. Geneva continues. "Some of my team thought that maybe I could have 'lifted" sooner. For those drivers out there that know what it is like to be in one of these cars, you know that I did everything humanly possible to "not" crash the car. She was freshly painted as a surprise from my team, the exact color I had wanted. Who in their right mind would just decide, I am going to go out and tear up my car today. Nobody!! What they could see from the outside is a different experience from what is going on in the cockpit. My Crew Chief, The WIZ", who is also my older brother, had the hardest time of all. Our relationship was extremely strained after the accident. It was so painful for me. At times, the thought crossed my mind to maybe hang-up the helmet. BUT- Racing IS my passion. When you find your passion in life, it leads you to your purpose in life. My purpose is to inspire and encourage as many children, other women and even other drivers as I possibly can. I feel that God is using me in the race arena to share His Goodness and Love with everyone I meet. That is why I could not hang-up the helmet. This is my story.This is why I will continue to race. To see women hug me and their eyes fill with promise, to see children smile and come to me like they think I am great, to shake hands with men, who tell me I am a real driver and have a lot of guts - this is my opportunity to give back to them - my smile, my thanks and my encouragement to their lives. Get lt??!! I know you do. It was extremely difficult for us after the accident but we all grew and learned so many valuable lessons. Most of all - "Frames and Fiberglass can be replaced - Life and Limbs cannot!”

Geneva Williams in Action. Photo courtesy of www.godragracing.com

The car is fully repaired and back in race trim with fresh paint completed by EURO Pros of Gaithersburg, MD. Geneva tells us that the driver is 'getting the job done" but the team is "the best ever!". Geneva goes onto say “I have only been out four times this season with my repaired and freshly painted beauty and we have been blessed to win the last two. I won at Capitol Raceway In Maryland on May 19,2006 . Was #1 qualifier, made it to the finals and took the win light. It was great. At the Eighth Annual TOP DOG Race, also held at Capitol Raceway, I was scheduled for a match race with the Hurricane Mustang (Terns Hicks) but he could not show up. Anyway they set me up with another 10.5 racer. The 69 Camaro had a 738c.i. set to take on my sweet 632 c.i. After an initial shakedown pass in which both of us had to pedal and make really ugly passes, he got by me. We came back for the 1st round of the match and I won while carrying the front wheels over 200 feet and still got the win light. (Have pictures to prove It). Then in round #i2 I cut a .402 light and never saw him again. My 4:82 @ 150 to his 5:01@145. Best 2 out of 3 - Race Over. It was so much fun and my team (WIZ Racing) and I are still riding our wave."

You may have noticed that Geneva has set her long-term sites on the world of ProStock Drag racing, a class that has become one of the most competitive in drag racing today. She explains, "The main reason I would go into Pro Stock Is to get greater recognition because I truly want to inspire and encourage as many people as humanly possible. Because we would be seen internationally with NHRA, I would be able to reach a greater audience. I also totally believe in my driving abilities and know that with lots of practice, I would be a fierce competitor."

At this point in time though the focus is on the Outlaw 10.5 scene, and these days you can pick-up a good race most anywhere. Geneva and her team have been featured on Horsepower TV in 2004 after the 2003 Orlando World Street Nationals and have a soon-to-be-released DVD ("GEE WIZ And Her Team"), being produced by FSP Media.com, about her life and racing career which contains footage from the past 21/2 years behind the wheel. They wanted to finish the story with The Comeback" after the accident."

'My team is totally diverse and the absolute best. I trust them with my life. I could never repay them for assisting me in living out my dreams. My friends and my fans are also just wonderful and they really inspire me to keep on keeping on." And that's just what Geneva plans to do!

QuiK Tech Sheet

Geneva "GEE WIZ" Williams

OWNER of Vehicle: Emerson R. Williams Jr and WIZ Racing

TYPE of Vehicle: Outlaw 10.5.1968 Chevrolet Camaro

YEARS Racing: 8

DRIVER: "GEE WIZ" - Geneva Williams. Laurel, MD

HISTORY/Accomplishments: Gee Wiz has been racing 10.5 since 1998. Set track record in 1/8 mile at 75/80 Dragway in 2003. Won several 10.5 races 2003-2004. Won Outlaw 10.5 atCapitol Raceway 5-19-06 . Won TOP DOG Show at Capital 6-11-2006 .

ENGINE: Gene Fulton 632 c.i. nitrous oxide assisted, Oldsmobile Pro Stock Heads. Custom Headers built by Bob 'Two stroke" Walker .

CHASSIS: "back halved" (not full tubed chassis). 4 link suspension Installed by the Woolford Brothers out of Glen Bumie, MD but modified and adjusted by Clark Racing Chassis (CRC) also of MD.

TRANSMISSION: 2 speed Powerglide professionally maintained by Doug Miller of MD. Neal Chance torque converter

ET & MPH: 7.35 @187mph 1/4 mile 4.74 1/8 mile @ 153

SPONSORS: WIZ Racing

CREW: Emerson-The WIZ", Kelvin-"WIZ Too", Jack, Derrick, Sonny, F rank, David, Kim and her twin parachute packers Amanda and Ashley.

PEOPLE to Thank: GOD, my most awesome crew, family (Mom & Pop, Son-Jayden and sister/bestfriend-Brenda, friends and fans.)

GOALS: 200 MPH!!!!! Then on to Pro Stock!!!

Geneva's Thunder Valley Racing Profile

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