You guys need to get the April 2009 issue of Hot Rod magazine. Big Shirley feature in there with lots of photos all captioned in her own words. Great read.
There's an article (of sorts) in the latest HOT ROD with Shirley - kind of a "memory lane" type deals, she comments on old photographs and such - titled Uncensored. dv
Met her a few years back and got a pic with her. Signing autographs and happy. Of course, older age slows down most. She may have been a bitch at times and an angel at times. Like many people, good days-bad days. I still appreciate what she did to help open doors for a lot of racers.
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I'm with Jalopy Joker .I'm sure she had good days and bad days, and said things that she wished she hadn't, very much like everyone else..myself included. She had to be tough and I'm sure she was under a lot of pressure.She can be proud of her accomplishments.That wreck in Canada could have easily killed her;as soon as she was able she jumped right back in the car and went as fast as ever. Steve (V7)
That and Funnycar Summer are prolly the best drag movies I have seen. But FunnyCar Summer doesnt have an actor though...I remember watching her at the drags In early 80`s, Pioneer was her sponsor then...She is very approachable...
Got the oppertunity to meet Shirley on several ocasions. She has always been friendly especially to my wife...discussing shoes or shopping. My fondest memory is sitting behind Team Kalitta at the 07 Budweiser Shootout party at the Hard Rock in Vegas. Shirley was having a better time than anyone there.
This is probably the same response he gave me. I actually had a good chat w/ Connie at Englishtown in 1995 or so. I was interning w/ the old Roger Primm TF dragster, and his trailer was the next one over. Interesting fella...
Researching Shirleys early rails. Not much available photo wise. Ran Fonda-South Glens Falls And Dover .Need to confirm she bought Kent Fuller car from Ron Abbott( Hellzapoppin)...contacting Ron .and looking for more Photos.
Met Shirley last fall at the Ididit car show / open house, she is a first class person very nice and a real pleasure to meet and talk to!
ive had the pleasure to meet some famous drag racers and get thier autographs Shirley is still on my list hopefully ill meet her someplace
When I was in tech school, I had her cousin Mike Muldowney as a teacher. He was arrogant but a good teacher. He said for a short time he dragged bikes at the same time but it just wasn't his thing. Sponsors were trying to promote them as a drag racing family. It was hard to tell how much of what he said was true or not. I hadn't thought about trying to substantiate it till now with this here internets.
Just saw her on TV (guest commentating) this weekend at Houston. When Kallitta's face came on camera and Paul Page mentioned, "There is someone you are familiar with" (Connie Kallitta) Silence from Shirley....... I used to go to Fremont in the 70s and 80s and the times I did see her she was pretty abrasive. Even to the fans. Maybe she wasn't good at handling stress.
Can't recall what year but one time at the Valley, she was running a funny, tree came down and she was stuck at the line, when she did go she set a low et. Said the tranny stuck, flipped off the crowd as they towed her back! Years later I bought a supercharger manifold from her ex, Jack, for $25. Wish I still had it! I heard after they reconcilled, she would warm up her dragster and do burnouts on State Street when visiting.
This all reminded me, has anyone heard when the new "snake and mongoose" movie is due out?? it looks good!
I had my shop in Campbell, Ca. (San Jose) A friend had her chassis in after she 'walled' it, and I was conferring with him about diagonals...(left side was stressed) In walks (or, in SLAMS an angry hatchet, 'What the fuck's this', and 'Who the fuck's this'... My 'host' explained that we had 'lined' the center, pulled, and were ready to do final welds... She stormed out the door, slamming it as hard as she could... I chuckled, "Who the hell does she think she is, Big Momma?" Two minutes later, she comes back in, asks my pal 'when will it be ready, Hon'?' At the same time, she shoves two Tee shirts at me... "Large, right?" I said, "Yeah, large...Thanks..." She left, this time more quietly. I said, "What......?" My host said, "She's always like that." I said, "Poor Connie!" Laughter... Then, some months later, Turlock Swap Meet: I'm there with some pals, got my Shirley 'Cha-Cha' Muldowney shirt on...Some loud, fat lardass comes up and says, "Oh look, he wears a girl shirt to Turlock!" Stupid ass didn't know what I could have done to him... I just said loudly: "Hey, Fatso! When YOU blow Big Daddy Garlits' doors off, I'll wear YOUR shirt.." Sounded like the whole swap meet roared...
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