Shirley Muldowney 'Early Stocker'

[Paul Ceasrine]

At the beginning of 1965,,,,,,,

Shirley was given a 'black' 1963 Plymouth Fury (426/415 HP)
'Steel-Nose' Max-Wedge to race in AA/SA by Plymouth,
as 'factory-backed' Top Stock Eliminator Racer.

Shirley 'Match-Raced' this car against other 1962, 1963 and 1964
'Max-Wedge' Mopars, as well as 1964 and 1965 Super/Stock Hemi's.

Names included;
* Chuck McJury
* Charlie Lendrum
* Doc Burgess
* Bill Rubin
* Jay Miner

Usual 'appearance fee'..........$150 for a Guarantee of '3' Match Races against another Super Stocker, or AA/S and/or AA/SA car.

All were other 'upstate New York' 'Super/Stock' Drag-racers.

For a brief period in 'early-1965', she held the East Coast 'AA/SA' National Record,
when she ran a 12.12 @ 117.85 MPH at Milton, Vermont in defeating Charlie Lendrum
in an 'Eastern Drag News' sponsored event.

The record was later broken by Don Owen, who ran a 12.09 @ 118.38 MPH.

Shirley is located at the last car ('black' 1963 Plymouth Fury, 426/415 HP'
'AA/SA' {non 'Ram-Air' - Steel-nosed car}.

Photo from 1965



The Fonda Speedway 'Drag Strip' ran through the 'infield' of an Oval Stock Crar Track.

Yes, to the left was the 'Cow Palace', a meat butcher facility.

This Fury was lettered with 'It's Not A Hemi' on the front fenders.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Nico,

Shirley Muldowney did race a '1963 Plymouth Fury' {426/415 HP} in 1965.

Classed in AA/SA - which was ''Factory-Dealer Sponsored' by the Albany-Schenectady-Troy
Chrysler-Plymouth Dealers Association.

They didn't feel she was quite 'ready' for a 1965' S/S 'Race Hemi Lightweight Car,
so they gave her a 'freshened up' - '2-year old'....1963 AA/SA car.

Shirley Muldowney

[Paul Ceasrine]

In 1966 at South Glens Falls........ her first attempt with a 'Rail'.

A Chevy 327, 'Hilborn Fuel Injected'......"Junior Fueler" classed in.......B/Dragster'

Running at.......South Glens Falls



Classed in 'B/D'.....1966 and 1967... featuring... 'Weed Burner Headers'

[Paul Ceasrine]

Rico,

The 327 'Junior Fueler' ran in 'B/D'.

That was for 'Non-Supercharged Dragsters' with a Cubic Inch-to-Weight
factor of 3.00 - 3.99 Wt/Cubic Inch.

This B/D was 'Drag Raced' during 1966 and 1967.

[Paul Ceasrine]

The 'Big Time'

June 1968 at the NHRA Springnationals @ Englishtown, New Jersey

Travelling from upstate - (Schenectady) New York to Madison Township, New Jersey.

Running a Don Long 'chassis' and a 'Blown' 327 Chevy.

B/Gas Dragster

[Paul Ceasrine]

1969

Classed in 'BB/D'

Push Car,,,,,Buick Riviera

[Paul Ceasrine]

Shirley Muldowney's 'first stomping ground',,,,,,, Fonda Dragstrip

Wednesday Nights, running through the infield of the Fonda Speedway 'Dirt Oval Stock Car Track'.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Shirley running her....... 'black' 1963 Corvette Sting Ray 'split window coupe'.

Purchased from Mohawk Chevrolet (Schenectady, New York)
* L75 (327/300 HP)
* 4-Speed Muncie
* 4.56 Gears
* Posi-Traction

(1964 Photo)

Classed in 'C/SP'

[Paul Ceasrine]

In 1964 at Fonda Dragstrip

The 'black' 1963 Corvette {327/300 HP} wad classed in C/SP.

One Wednesday Night (on a rain-slicked track) Shirley lost control
as she came off the line, went sideways and went directly into a Telephone/Light Pole.

The Corvette 'split in half' as it hit the pole, and the Fiberglass body shattered.

Frustrated at the complete destruction of her Corvette, Shirley tore into the Track Owner
(Ed Fuez) and Track Manager (Jim Gage) after the mishap.

Shirley called Fonda Dragstrip,,,,,,,,, 'A dump, and a place where no quality drag racer would ever be caught dead running at'.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Rico,

Mark L. out of Pittsfield, Massachussets found this car, and is under-way in his restoration.

The Muldowney's...........'red' 62' Corvette was a 327/300HP - '4-Barrel' combination that ran in 'C/SP'.

It was ordered and purchased with the following 'options';
* Color..................'Roman Red'
* Engine...............'L-75' - 327/300 HP
* Transmission.....Borg-Warner T-10 'Close Ratio'
* Rear-End...........4.11 Gears - 'Posi-Traction'
* Suspension.......Heavy-Duty (Code #687)

* Soon after, they installed 'Headers' and '4.56 Gears', and a 'Race Clutch Set-Up'.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1962 NHRA 'C/SP' Class Record.......13.69 @ 102.50 MPH

National Record Holder........................1957 Corvette - 283/283 HP....'Fuel Injection'

Other Corvette's Classed in 'C/SP'
* 1961.......283/275 HP.... 'Fuel Injection'
* 1960.......283/290 HP.....'Fuel Injection'
* 1959.......283/290 HP.....'Fuel Injection
* 1958.......283/290 HP.....'Fuel Injection'
* 1957.......283/283 HP.....'Fuel Injection'

Jack and Shirley Muldowney's Corvette was capable of running 13.60's @ 103 MPH.