The first female pilot of a jet dragster
Although Paula of Shirley Muldowney renown never attained her degree of celebrity and acceptance, she nevertheless plays a crucial role in the history of the early years of drag racing. She was a seasoned veteran when she received her NHRA license, making her the first woman to hold such a license to operate a supercharged gas vehicle. At a time when very few racing car drivers received any sponsorship, she was a successful race car driver and drove a Funny Car sponsored by STP. She set a women’s land speed record in Bonneville in 1963 of 161 mph, and she later beat her wife’s record of 236.37 mph.
Walt Arfons’ Jet Automobile can go 1 mph.
She won Olympic drag racing, broke the 200-mile barrier in the quarter mile, and continued to dominate fun car racing until a ride on a rocket-powered vehicle at Bonneville in late 1972 convinced her to switch to rocket racing. Her engine failed at more than 300 mph during her first full pass of Sears Point, leading to an accident that put an end to her bright career.