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Femme of rpm
By day, Francey McCall grooms animals at her pet salon in Niles. By night, she zooms around the asphalt oval at Barberton Speedway.
By John Bassetti
NILES
Photo
Francey McCall
On weekdays, Francey McCall is a pussycat.
On race nights, she’s a greyhound.
As if unleashed on command, the 44-year-old pet groomer turns her attention to the 1/4-mile asphalt track at Barberton Speedway for the thrill of racing in the Hobby Stocks division.
So far, the Liberty Township resident who owns Francey’s Fuzzy Friends, a pet grooming salon in Niles, has raced five times, finishing fourth once, sixth once, seventh twice and eighth once.
Among 13 competitors, she’s fifth in the standings in a 1980s Buick that has the shell of a Monte Carlo.
Francey and her husband, Brett, run their car under the McCall Racing banner, but share equipment, mechanical skills and the burden of breakdowns with a group of racers.
“It’s akin to backyard racing,” Francey said of the co-op, known as Bre Racing. It comprises Francey McCall in Hobby Stocks and Jeff Mundell, Sam Ritenour and Steve Horkey in the Sportsman division. An alternate is Jeff Christy. Dick Berry organized the Bre team.
The range of speeds for Hobby Stock cars is 50-80 mph, Francey said, but because of engine problems and a lost transmission, the McCalls’ vehicle hasn’t performed satisfactorily.
“We haven’t had it up to power yet because it wasn’t running right. Hopefully, we got it right where it needs to be.”
In addition to the grooming part of her business, Francey also sells caskets and urns for animals.
What’s behind the tender-to-fender transformation when the animal lover turns race car driver?
“I work all week, then get out there and let my hair down to have fun,” Francey said of her passion. “What is it they say? I feel the need for speed.”
Usually, Brett McCall will drive if his wife can’t. Francey believes she is one of a few women racing at Barberton.
“As a baby, my mom and dad took me to the tracks where I’d sleep through all the noise,” Francey said of the hobby that’s practically in her blood.
Francey started in go-karts on dirt in 1998, then worked as a flagger at Good Hope Speedway in New Springfield for three years. This is her first year on asphalt. Barberton’s season runs until Sept. 11.
In addition to Francey’s Fuzzy Friends, which celebrated its 25th anniversary on May 1, sponsors of Francey’s car are: White’s Service, Pet Memorials by Francey, Melmor and Associates, Pappada’s Heating & Cooling, Duffy’s Body Shop, Roses of Wood, Porter’s Auto Wrecking, Robert P. McDermott Memorial Home, DAF Racing Supplies, Best Muffler and Manfredi’s Pizza.
Right now, she has more graphics on her car than victories, but she won’t stop trying.
“We haven’t won any yet, but, hopefully, we’ll get where we run in the top 4-5 every week.”
Although she grooms by day, some customers don’t know that she vrooms by night.
“I don’t say anything unless they ask me,” McCall said.
About 15 or 20 do know because of her role as membership secretary for the Twin State Auto Racing Club.
Conversely, racers don’t know what Francey does during the week.
“But they know what I do on Saturdays because everybody’s out there doing the same thing.”
What’s important is that she can distinguish between a feline and the finish line.