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5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
About the Author Aug 26, 2008
By Thomas Gober
I have known Terri for several years now and have been intrigued by her vast knowledge in virtually all topics of importance. Her decision to be herself despite the struggles that brought is a testimony to her faith in the potential of an enlightened mankind.
Tom Gober
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Inspiring and insightful story of the underdog takes the high road Oct 27, 2008
By Robert M. Wilford
The book is a series of life vignettes that tell the inspiring and sometimes awkward story of an underdog who has managed, against many odds, to remain hopeful despite wild circumstances. It is like reading a personal diary of the authors life, it moves fast and speaks to life's lessons, hardships, lots of awkward circumstances (which I could relate to), and what it takes to stay ahead of the naysayer. The struggles are universal and so are the feelings explored in the book. It is inspiring and well organized and takes lots of unexpected twists. A good read. Robert W.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Down to earth telling of a highly dramatic story May 27, 2009
By N. Correal
"Amy Winters Bain"
As a long time citizen of Corinth Mississippi I was always aware of the Terri O'Connell "story". Mostly told in crass form by people that really had no idea what Terri was going through and what she had to overcome. My mother gave me a copy of the book a few weeks ago and I have to say that I literally could not put it down. As a mental health proffesional it was especially interesting to me and educational. This is a subject that has not been widely covered and rarely told with such honesty and depth of emotion. From the inside look at racing to the laugh out loud descriptions of her journey to complete womanhood, I can't praise the book enough. A must read for anyone interested in mental health, racing, gender issues or just humanity in general.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
An incredible story that educates, challenges, and entertains readers. Apr 14, 2009
By Jennifer Winters
"Professor J"
Reading Terri O'Connell's memoir is like sitting down next to a friend and having her tell you her life story. Her narrative is warm and natural, with a good ol' downhome twang. As for the story itself, it is an incredible roller-coaster ride of emotions, challenges, near-defeats and, ultimately, victory. Terri explores deep South sexual politics, gender roles and how a person's sex influences his or her power (or the lack thereof), along with giving a bang-up account of life in the racing circuit. She would literally have me laughing to the point of tears on one page, only to have me crying out loud on the next. It's her story; told her way, in her voice.
Terri's journey is one that I am happy to know about. As a fellow product of Corinth, Mississippi, I appreciate her oh-so-vivid descriptions of our hometown and love the fact that she preserves that rich, musical Southern accent in her writing style. As an educator, I'm amazed at how she takes a story that could be a one-issue narrative and opens it to explore multiple issues related to gender, power, and family dynamics. Not to mention, she taught me alot about the sport of racing!
Go, Terri! I can't wait to see you on the racing circuit, leaving everyone else behind in a cloud of smoke.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Days of Gender Jun 16, 2011
By Samuel Rafael
Whether you're a Christian or not, the significance of the following statement is pretty clear, at least it was for a young person grappling with gender identity and on the verge of suicide.
"There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).
It was in a moment of despair so deep that putting an end to life seemed to be the only alternative, that after reading these prophetic words, J. T. Hayes, an up-and-coming auto racing star, decided on the course of action that would allow him to transition from a male gender role to a female one. Now, and for the past 20 years, J. T., a former racing pro in midget, sprint, stock and NASCAR racing, has been known as Terri O'Connell. In her present incarnation, as a former fashion model and business owner, Terri is just now rekindling her racing career as a driver for the all female Dick Barbour Racing team in Atlanta, GA.
While reading "Dangerous Curves," now available on Amazon Kindle, I found myself blown away by learning about the life that Terri has led, and how she navigated through her racing career, interspersed with her fulminating gender issues, to take "that puppy," to use the author's own vernacular, to the rich and rewarding life she has attained today.
And what a book this is, as exciting as it is gut-wrenching! You can almost hear the engines building revs and smell the tires burning rubber, as the author takes you on the incredible journey through her transition, not only to a new gender role, but to personal self-actualization. As a memoir, "Dangerous Curves" pulls no punches. With a "take no prisoners" approach, Terri names the names and you will love to hear the "good ole boy" stuff, particularly knowing how the story turns out.
This is the memoir on gender issues I had always wanted, providing the candor I didn't get in the autobiography of Christine Jorgensen and many other folks. Terri, by the way, is an "intersex" individual and not "transgender." Although, I must be honest and say that I didn't "get" that at first, making the same incorrect assumption that many folks have done, some well-meaning and some not so well-meaning, and out to do her harm.
Well, I'm the type who can be found standing in front of a stack of 64 oz. mayonnaise jars at Costco and not see them. Now, the scales are finally lifted from my eyes. Not only did the results of Terri's chromosome test indicate XXy for her sex chromosomes, but the word, "intersex" is the operative descriptor here. Her parents had certainly avoided the issue, just wanting it to go away. And then, there was having to deal with "normal" societal prejudices and the extra ones that were particularly rampant in The South of the 60's, 70's and 80's.
There is such pain and agony to Terri's story that and I was moved to tears on several occasions as she describes the fight to "realign" her gender to that which rightfully should have been hers in the first place. So few people understand how painful a thing it is being out of sorts with one's gender. As a Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in gender issues, I also see many other different types of clients, some in agony with serious bipolar issues or other problems. But, of all the areas of human emotional suffering I see, I firmly believe that gender dysphoria is among the most painful and disconcerting.
That one cannot live one's life as their true self is a horrible and painful deceit that many have to bear. And what we hear about and know about gender issues is just the tip of the iceberg. Because, for everyone who transitions, like Terri, there must be a score of others suffering from gender identity issues to one degree or another, who never get to live in the gender role in which they belong, because of societal guilt and shame brought about by our paternalistic way of life, where the idea of religion over biology dictates what is right and what is wrong.
As the author says, "mom's, dads and the entire families really need to read it ... it really is about family dealing with such a "CRAZY" biological situation and making sanity out of it ... my life was not West Hollywood ... this was the war zone. But we all made it, and brought a lot of people along on the tour of planet life in the mean time."
Although I know a good deal about gender issues, I know next to nothing about auto racing. However, Terri O'Connell's book, "Dangerous Curves" got me so hopped up I bought four new high performance tires for my 2004 Acura RSX 5 speed, had a wheel alignment and found myself driving aggressively for the first time in years. And what fun that was!
"Dangerous Curves" has got me inspired in more ways than one and I heartily recommend this wonderful memoir.
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