Women in the Automotive Hall of Fame
The Automotive Hall of Fame is the Oscars for automotive accomplishments. They have inducted 275 members as of 2018 and out of the 275 inductees there are only 4 women. These 4 women broke barriers and have cemented their place in history by achieving what was once thought to be impossible.
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4 trailblazing women inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.
Bertha Benz inducted in 2016. Karl Benz patented his historic Motorwagen in 1885 and struggled to market his 3-wheeled vehicle to the public. On August 5, 1888 Bertha Benz, Karl's wife, took the Motorwagen and headed on a 60 mile long ride to visit her mother. That ride would be the first long distance trek ever made by a vehicle. Bertha turned heads as she drove by the townspeople and proved the
power of the motorwagen.
Denise McCluggage inducted in 2001. The first journalist to be inducted Denise found her passion on the track amid the rise of amature road racing. Female reporters were not allowed
in the pits so Denise had to participate as a racecar driver to report on the sport. Because of her passion participatory sports journalism was born. She began competing as a professional racecar driver in the mid-50s and won multiple races.
Shirley Muldowney inducted in 2005. The Michigan native is the first woman to be licensed to drive a Top Fuel Dragster in 1973. Muldowney faced resistance from others that believed women should not be on the track. Muldowney went on to win 3 NHRA world championships, 1 IHRA championship, and 18 career NHRA victories. “NHRA fought me every inch of the way, but when they saw how a girl could fill the stands; they saw i was good for the sport.” - Shirley Muldowney
Alice Ramsey inducted in 2000. The first woman to be inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame. In 1909 Alice took a Maxwell Touring car and gathered 3 companions to embark on a 3,800 mile long drive from New York City to San Francisco. The trip made her the first woman
to drive a vehicle across the U.S. Her adventures are written in her book Veil, Duster and Tire Iron.
Who should be inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame next?
