Racing Palestinian girls speed into record books

[ensho]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100626/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_palestinians_speed_sisters;_ylt=Aov6LvPmgcWR4RnLTX25Wh.s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTQxMjNmbHAxBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwNjI2L21sX3BhbGVzdGluaWFuc19zcGVlZF9zaXN0ZXJzBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDNARwb3MDMQRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX2hlYWRsaW5lX2xpc3QEc2xrA3JhY2luZ3BhbGVzdA--


Palestinian women are speeding into the record books by competing on an all-female car racing team — the Speed Sisters.

Along the way, they're crashing through another gender barrier in this conservative Muslim society.

The eight women have entered a popular race called "Speed Test." Souped-up cars race around a track, weaving their way around obstacles and spinning circles around others. The all-female team is a first for the event.

"I love sports that are tough and dangerous, because I am a dangerous woman," said Nour Dawood, 20, after a race this week outside the West Bank city of Ramallah.

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It's another step for Palestinian women who have been claiming more positions of influence in a still very much male-dominated society. This year, the first female Palestinian governor was appointed to oversee the West Bank district of Ramallah. The mayor of the district's main city is a woman, as are four ministers in the Palestinian Cabinet.

-snip-

The British Consulate paid for a two-day driving workshop and repaired a banged-up car donated by the Palestinian Union for Race Car Drivers. The union also waived the $70 entry fee.

On the field, the Speed Sisters still need to prove their mettle. Only one woman so far reached the top 10 in this year's three rounds. They've got two rounds to go.
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West Bank women feel need for speed

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/06/2010626112930869907.html


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An all female motor-racing team is challenging stereotypes in the West Bank.

The 'Speed Sisters' have been taking on the men in Ramallah for more than a year.
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speed on sisters! wishing you all well

[aquart]

1. I love it.

Talk about working out frustrations.

And don't forget, Ramallah is a university town. http://www.birzeit.edu/

[ensho]

2. that's what I was thinking, and you know those young women know

tough when they see it.

I'm hoping they get more cash help

[aquart]

3. Not likely. Too much else needs desperate help.

But they seem to be doing very nicely on their own.