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]

Biography

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]

References

  1. 1 2 Traub, Alex (December 26, 2023). "Paula Murphy, Once 'the Fastest Woman on Wheels,' Dies at 95". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Paula Murphy". www.mshf.com.
  3. 1 2 3 "Paula Murphy". Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  4. ↑ Pash, Phil (April 13, 1975). "Only Woman Who Drove There Prefers Back Seat at Indianapolis". The New York Times. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Paula Murphy". Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ "The Shoe and Miss STP are Back!". Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Paula Murphy". Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Paula Murphy". Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  9. ↑ What's My Line? - Colonel Sanders; Alan King; Martin Gabel [panel] (Dec 1, 1963), retrieved May 28, 2023
  10. ↑ Taranto, Steven (December 21, 2023). "Paula Murphy, trailblazing female race car driver, dies at 95". CBS Sports.


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