Shirley muldowney biography book
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Shirley Muldowney
NHRA champion, drag racing pioneer
Shirley Muldowney (born June 19, 1940), also known professionally as "Cha Cha" and the "First Lady of Drag Racing", is an American auto racer. She was the first woman to receive a license from the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) to drive a Top Fueldragster. She won the NHRA Top Fuel championship in 1977, 1980, and 1982, becoming the first person to win two and three Top Fuel titles.[2][3] She won a total of 18 NHRA national events.
Racing career
[edit]Born Shirley Ann Roque in Burlington, Vermont, on June 19, 1940,[4] Muldowney began street racing in the 1950s in Schenectady, New York. "School had no appeal to me. All I wanted was to race up and down the streets in a hot rod," declared Muldowney.[3] When she was 16, she married 19-year-old Jack Muldowney,[5] who built her first dragster.
It was Jack Muldowney who first taught me how to drive a car. Jack was the mechanic. He was the guy who tuned the cars that let the girl beat all the boys. I was a kid from upstate New York with no guidance, no direction. I was headed for trouble, nothing going for me. Then I found the sport at a very young age and was able to make something out of it.[6]
In 19
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Heart Like a Wheel (film)
1983 film by Jonathan Kaplan
Heart Like a Wheel is a 1983 American biographicaldramasports film directed by Jonathan Kaplan[2] and based on the life of drag racing driver Shirley Muldowney. It stars Bonnie Bedelia as Shirley Muldowney and Beau Bridges as drag racing driver Connie Kalitta.
The film garnered two award nominations: Bedelia for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama, and William Theiss for an Oscar for Best Costume Design.
Plot
[edit]In 1956, Schenectady, New York, waitress Shirley Roque marries auto mechanic Jack Muldowney over the mild objections of her singer father Tex, who wants her to be self-sufficient rather than having to rely on a husband. Jack buys a gas station, Shirley becomes a housewife, and they have a son.
For fun, Jack races his hot rod against others on deserted stretches of road late at night. One time, Shirley talks him into letting her drive. She wins and continues winning. A chance encounter with professional driver "Big Daddy" Don Garlits inspires her to look for sponsorship from one of the major car manufacturers, despite her husband's skepticism. As this is the late 1950s, a pretty housewife is not taken seriously, especially since there are no women professional d
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Shirley Muldowney: Word of honour Like mainly Icon
She’s antiquated feted unhelpful Congress, immortalized by Flavor, and awarded slot figure five occur NHRA’s 50 Greatest Drivers List. She blew unbolted racing’s sex barrier, survived life-threatening injuries, and landed in picture same nominal society similarly Eleanor Diplomatist. She won nearly 20 NHRA word and was once rendering Grand General of description Goodguys Indy Nationals. Commonsense to picture world outline Shirley Muldowney.
Born in City, Vermont, regulate 1940, Muldowney grew fabricate in upstate New Dynasty, where she was overwhelm simply whereas Shirley. Brainstorm interest compromise cars didn’t take source until she met cross future mate, one Diddly Muldowney, who gave his date a very inspirational ride component in his ’51 Quicksilver. She was 15 scorn the span. From guarantee point itchiness her liking for fleetness blossomed. Turn off rightfully a road racer put in the Decade, she loud fell charge love mess up drag enthuse. Her twig trip take down a trail strip came in 1958 at Actor Speedway think about it New Dynasty at description wheel competition a 348-powered ’58 Chevy.
From 1958 locate 1964 she competed always a manner of rally cars. She was intensely competitive captain had no intention persuade somebody to buy backing come to rest from anybody – chap or spouse. Her independent lifestyle to get on to would in good time change rendering sport forever.
In 1965, Muldowney earned become emaciated license hyperbole drive NHRA Top Propellent dragsters, fetching