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Paula Murphy (June 16, 1928 – December 21, 2023) was an American automobile driver who was first and/or fastest in many speed endeavors. In 1975 she was described as “the fastest woman on wheels” by the New York Times. [1]
Paula Murphy was born in Ohio on June 16, 1928, [2] and moved to California in 1956. [3]
As of 1975, Murphy had been "the only woman to have been allowed to drive an Indy car at speed on the track. That had been in 1963" [4] in a Studebaker car with a Novi engine. [5]
Murphy was also "the first woman to drive a jet-engined car on the Salt Flats". [6]
Murphy was also the "first woman licensed to drive a nitromethane-fueled car" [7] and the first woman to have a fuel funny car license from the National Hot Rod Association. [3]
In the 1960s and 1970s she set numerous speed records, including a Mexico to Canada route, a New York to Los Angeles route, the women's land speed record, and the NASCAR women's speed record. [3] She became part of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2017. [8]
Murphy appeared as a guest on the December 1, 1963, episode of What's My Line?, introduced as "test car driver". [9]
Murphy died on December 21, 2023, at the age of 95. [10] [1]
![]() | You can help expand this article with text translated from
the corresponding article in Greek. (March 2023) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Paula Murphy (June 16, 1928 – December 21, 2023) was an American automobile driver who was first and/or fastest in many speed endeavors. In 1975 she was described as “the fastest woman on wheels” by the New York Times. [1]
Paula Murphy was born in Ohio on June 16, 1928, [2] and moved to California in 1956. [3]
As of 1975, Murphy had been "the only woman to have been allowed to drive an Indy car at speed on the track. That had been in 1963" [4] in a Studebaker car with a Novi engine. [5]
Murphy was also "the first woman to drive a jet-engined car on the Salt Flats". [6]
Murphy was also the "first woman licensed to drive a nitromethane-fueled car" [7] and the first woman to have a fuel funny car license from the National Hot Rod Association. [3]
In the 1960s and 1970s she set numerous speed records, including a Mexico to Canada route, a New York to Los Angeles route, the women's land speed record, and the NASCAR women's speed record. [3] She became part of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2017. [8]
Murphy appeared as a guest on the December 1, 1963, episode of What's My Line?, introduced as "test car driver". [9]
Murphy died on December 21, 2023, at the age of 95. [10] [1]