This week’s post was spurred by news that earlier this year, Fox Sports had run a documentary on National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) legend and ’70s icon, Shirley Muldowney. My plans to watch and then recommend Shirley immediately went awry when I learned the film is not available online. But the woman is far too interesting for me to just walk away.
Thank you for this great, well researched story. I met Shirley at some auto event, not the drag strip. There was a line to get her autograph. I was a late teenager in the mid 1980’s with my parents. Shirley had the most inviting, graceful demeanor and struck up a conversation with my mom (also born in 1940). I just recall that it was like running into a friend at the grocery store.
I saw her race in the early to mid-1980’s at Baylands Raceway in the SF Bay Area and watched Heart Like a Wheel in the theater. Shirley Muldowney is a great American! Thank you for keeping her achievements and her memory alive!
Thank you so much! I love your story about meeting the legend. From everything I’ve seen/read, hearing that Shirley Muldowney was so nice in person sounds just right.
Fascinating woman and career.
Thank you for this great, well researched story. I met Shirley at some auto event, not the drag strip. There was a line to get her autograph. I was a late teenager in the mid 1980’s with my parents. Shirley had the most inviting, graceful demeanor and struck up a conversation with my mom (also born in 1940). I just recall that it was like running into a friend at the grocery store.
I saw her race in the early to mid-1980’s at Baylands Raceway in the SF Bay Area and watched Heart Like a Wheel in the theater. Shirley Muldowney is a great American! Thank you for keeping her achievements and her memory alive!
Thank you so much! I love your story about meeting the legend. From everything I’ve seen/read, hearing that Shirley Muldowney was so nice in person sounds just right.
One other thing: I hated that “Cha Cha” nickname. Obviously given to her by a man. It didn’t fit her persona at all.
Agree. And I think she was happy to shed that nickname.