Paula Murphy did some amazing things, racing automobiles of all types. From what I read and remember, she was a daredevil in an attractive woman's body. Read below about her exploits ! https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nhra/a46212628/paula-murphy-the-fastest-woman-on-wheels-dies-at-95/
I liked her because she didn't make a big deal about being a woman racer, much the same for Janet Guthrie, who I have met at Rolla Vollstedt's birthday parties.
Godspeed Paula. A woman that did it all, ovals, Bonneville, drags and cute as a button to boot with nerves of steel. Her exploits make me feel like a slacker.
May she rest in peace. I can remember when she was accomplishing those feats there never seemed to be a big wooptie doo over it, just a story about how she set another record or did this that or another in the racing world.
Condolences to the Murphy family and friends in the passing of Paula...women did a lot in go fast despite it being male dominated...I have always enjoyed seeing them involved and they were a force... Avenger jet car to 243.33 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1965 ...Images above are the Indy 500 in 1963 and Bonneville 1963... https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/gallery/racer-paula-murphy-in-photos-1234842156/ May she rest in peace...with a little go fast here and there...the angels are going to have a challenge keeping up with her... Thanks for sharing this loss to the community @Marty Strode
I was at Sears Point 1973 when she went through the finish line ended up on the hill there was a lot of smoke i know she was ok at that time.
I did read she did sustain a broken neck injury in a rail later in her career that left her bedridden for 1/2 a year but she got through that.
An amazing person who loved going fast, and happened to be a woman when that was a hindrance to her ambitions. What a life, what a legacy.
She lived 95 years and accomplished all those things......Sounds like she got her money's worth out of life. R.I.P.
The Jalopy Journal
