Looks like it just came out? It was really good, especially the early part. I started majoring in physics at Union College in 1963 and biked over to Northeast Speed to hang around with Jack Muldowney, who was turning the wrenches there. I only saw Shirley a few times and never watched her race because I didn't have a car. The speed shop was over on the east end of Schenectady.
Thanks for posting - got to meet her, with my wife. still have poster that she autographed for us. she broke the rules and set the standards early. as stated over and over in video she was unfiltered.
I 1997 she asked me to pack her parachute on the car for the weekend. Her and John were the nicest people in the world to me, a scared kid (29 years old). All I could think and even said to her what if it don’t open! I don’t want to kill a legend. “She said to me it wouldn’t be the first time and I’m still here!” I love that woman.
Cool video those men that didn’t want her to compete in NHRA drag racing Shirley must of had very small penises thanks for posting
That was good. An overview that hit the high points. I was an active racer back then so I was aware of some of the stuff that went on. The way she drove was just as aggressive as anybody else.
My now deceased ex brother in law used to race his '58 Pontiac at Fonda in 1962-63 when she was racing there. He told me that the main thing that stuck in his mind about her was that she was the first woman that he ever heard use the word "fuck" on a regular basis.
When we race vintage (stock cars) at Fonda we pit in the infield like they did in the early days. The drag strip is in the infield of the oval track on the Montgomery County (NY) fairground and is a mess now, the black top is heaved and cracked and the scales for the regular weekly oval track are built on part of it. Both the oval track and drag strip were NASCAR, that's right Shirley Muldowney got her start in the NASCAR drags!
I remember seeing Shirley at Cordova, IL at the 50th World Series of Drag Racing. That year was her Last Pass tour and true to form she ran her car out the back door to 314 mph, when the other booked in pro’s were clicking it off early. Quite a lady, tough as nails but personable to talk to also.
To paraphrase she said John Force’s injury wouldn’t have happened to her as she always wears Bell Helmets and he doesn’t. Which people took offence to without considering why she said it. It was her normal reaction from a time when racing was far less safe. “It won’t happen to me because”: I always wear a Bell helmet. I always do my belts up. Dave always packs the chute. I’m better in the wet than he was. I’ve got Mr Whoppit with me (you might have to look that one up).
Sounds more like “it’ll never happen to me” knee type reaction. In other words, a mind game she believes.
The Jalopy Journal
