SHIRLEY SAYS: A NEW COLUMN BY SHIRLEY MULDOWNEY
just a few seconds. Of course, when I started driving the cars were a
lot slower than they are today, but it’s all relative, isn’t it? From the second you strap on that helmet you step into another world. You’re still aware of everything around you, but at the same time it’s kind of like you’re in some kind of isolation booth. Your crew can be talking to you, and even though you can hear what they’re saying, their voices seem to come from far away. As you sit there, strapped into the car waiting to run, you can look out and see the fans, but it becomes just a mass of colors. And even though your crew might be running all around the car after the engine fires, it’s just you and that car. You become one.
I won’t describe what a run is like because everyone who’s ever been down the track knows the feeling, and it doesn’t matter if you were driving a 15 second Stocker or a Top Fuel dragster. Like I said earlier, it’s all relative, isn’t it?
I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT A FEW THINGS
I have always loved drag racing. There’s nothing else like it. It’s the only thing I know of in which all of your senses come into play in just a few seconds. Of course, when I started driving the cars were a lot slower than they are today, but it’s all relative, isn’t it?
From the second you strap on that helmet you step into another world. You’re still aware of everything around you, but at the same time it’s kind of like you’re in some kind of isolation booth. Your crew can be talking to you, and even though you can hear what they’re saying, their voices seem to come from far away. As you sit there, strapped into the car waiting to run, you can look out and see the fans, but it becomes just a mass of colors. And even though your crew might be running all around the car after the engine fires, it’s just you and that car. You become one.
I won’t describe what a run is like because everyone who’s ever been down the track knows the feeling, and it doesn’t matter if you were driving a 15 second Stocker or a Top Fuel dragster. Like I said earlier, it’s all relative, isn’t it?
Now that my driving career is over I have to admit I wish I was 30 years younger and still out there. At the same time, I wish I was fortunate enough to have found a sponsor that would have kept me out there as a team owner. I haven’t given up on that, though. If I get lucky and land something, I’ll be back. In the meantime I’ll go to the races I can afford to visit, and I’ll share some of my thoughts and feelings with you from time to time.
When I’m at the mall and see teenagers walking around with iPods stuck in their ears, or see them frantically text messaging their friends I realize how technically old school I am. The things these kids know about the electronic marvels they live with every day just knocks me over, but if there’s one thing I do know, it’s that time definitely does march on. The Internet is a perfect example of that. Heck I remember when I thought a Fax machine was really something. E-mail? What a concept!
What I have to admit I hate about the ‘Net is how easy it is to spread falsehoods about someone. Just because someone has a blog doesn’t mean what they’re writing is the truth. The same goes for some of the sites that are devoted to drag racing. Stories that I’ve seen called “news” sometimes don’t even qualify as rumors, but by the time everyone figures that out the damage is done.
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One of things I love about the Internet is how easy it is to make hotel or restaurant reservations, or find out if that special resort is really a place you can afford. What I have to admit I hate about the ‘Net is how easy it is to spread falsehoods about someone. Just because someone has a blog doesn’t mean what they’re writing is the truth. The same goes for some of the sites that are devoted to drag racing. Stories that I’ve seen called “news” sometimes don’t even qualify as rumors, but by the time everyone figures that out the damage is done. I’ve heard from more than one racer about how a story on a web site – to say nothing of something that appeared in a chat room – really ended up hurting them with a potential sponsor. All it takes is for some jerk to make some comment in a chat room like “I heard that So-And-So got arrested for DUI after the Memphis race and is losing his deal for next year.” Where does this stuff come from? First of all, where’s the proof that the driver really did get arrested?
People really need to think about what they’re doing when they post something because the damage could be long-lasting. Without even meaning to, something like this could ruin a driver’s career. We’ve all seen this kind of thing in the entertainment industry, and sometimes we’ve laughed about it. But when you get right down to it, professional drag racers are absolutely in the entertainment industry. The only difference between Hugh Jackman and Jack Beckman is that one does his acting out in front of a camera, and the other does his behind the wheel. Then there’s that difference in income. Jackman earns seven figures for faking it, and Beckman earns maybe a tenth of that for playing it as real as it gets. But God, that Australian guy is gorgeous!
If I learned nothing else during my career it’s that you’re never going to make everyone happy. I’ve met thousands of really wonderful people in my travels, and there are memories that will last forever. There’s no provable percentage, but I feel safe in suggesting about 98.5% of the fans I spoke with and signed autographs for were caring people who it was a pleasure to talk with. I always tried to have a few words with every fan, just as I tried to sign things so you could actually read my name later. I never had any patience for the guys who just scrawled something on a handout photo and figured that was good enough. When you make eye contact with someone, and sign your name so they can read it, they feel they’ve made a personal connection with you, and that’s not only important to them, it should be important to you.
When it came time to get ready to run the car almost every fan was understanding when I’d say it was time to race, but there were always a few people who thought I should have stayed to keep signing until the last second. I guess those were the ones who had no clue what driving a 300 mph race was all about. It’s not exactly like backing out of your garage and heading to the 7/Eleven! I’ve even had fans walk up to me when I was strapped into the car and shove a program in my face expecting me to sign. I’ve seen it happen even now at the national events, and then those people get mad when some crew guy will step in and tell them to come back later. Those people never seem to get the idea that the racers are there to put on a show for the whole crowd, not just them.
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I’m guessing that some of the nastiness that’s been directed my way in a couple of chat rooms lately is coming from those same “fans.” If some jerk is still mad because I wouldn’t sign his T-shirt or pose for a photo with him when I already had my firesuit and helmet on and was trying to climb into the car I’m sure as hell not going to apologize now.
And believe me, with the crud I went through in trying to make it in drag racing, I can take it when people say nasty things about me. But what I refuse to stand for without fighting back is the people who, for whatever reason, start lying about me. I’ve always tried to be honest, and I know there were certainly times I should have kept my mouth shut instead of responding to some comment, but that’s just not the way I am. If you want to hear how wonderful everyone and everything is, better ask some other driver. If you want to hear what I really think about something, ask me and I’ll give you a straight answer. But don’t just start spouting off and say things about me that you know, deep down in your heart, are bull. Because if you do, I’m not going to let it go without responding.
Next time we’ll talk about some of today’s drivers. Now, that’ll bring you back for more! – Shirley Muldowney
Shirley Muldowney is a four-time champion (3 NHRA, 1 AHRA), and was the first woman to be licensed to drive a Top Fuel dragster. Her 18 NHRA national event victories are the most ever by a female nitro racer. Muldowney earned both Person of the Year and the prestigious Ollie Award as part of the All-Star Drag Racing Team program, and is a member of the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, the Motorsports Hall of Fame, the Hot Rod Magazine Hall of Fame and both the Michigan and New York State Halls of Fame. – Ed.
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