Central city drag racing brings out the riff-raff

DRAG RACE: Competitors, from left, Andrew Bybber, Helen McGrath, Daniel Urlich, Eddie Stocks, Rachael Milner, Sue Roberts, Scott Sandwell and Lex Anderson. (PETER DRURY/Waikato Times)

Source: http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/waikatotimes/0,2106,2837788a6579,00.html

08 March 2004

There was drag racing in Garden Place on Saturday, but not a boy-racer in sight.

The drag racers – blokes dressed as women and women wearing men's clothing – were taking part in a series of fun races organised by the CBD Lions Club to raise awareness and money for Women's Refuge and the Dress for Success programme.

The programme provides professional clothing to help people in job interviews.

CBD Lions spokesman Hal Woolfrey said many people thought Dress for Success "deals in hand-me-down-clothes, but they're not.

"They're Gucci suits and things and they really help people out," he said.

"And Women's Refuge are bloody saints really. They do a fantastic job for women and children as well."

Mr Woolfrey said the CBD Lions Club was changing the image of Lions clubs, which had a popular image of older people with spare time on their hands.

"Who would have thought ... the Lions would go for something like this?"