The Fresno Bee Lewis Griswold column
By Lewis Griswold, The Fresno Bee | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Born and raised in
"That was a big deal back then," she said. "I was before women's lib."
Her professional racing career extended from 1966 to 1972.
"I still can't believe that people remember me, remembering what I did," Shahan said. "I feel humbled and honored."
Along with eight others at a banquet in
She learned about cars growing up because her dad raced jalopies.
"I was just naturally mechanically inclined," she said.
In the 1950s, she cruised
"We used to drag (race) off the stoplight," she said.
An official drag race involves two cars racing a quarter-mile straightaway. The first to cross the finish line wins.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Visalia Vapor Trailers hosted drag races at the
"It was proving your skill, that you really were fast," she said.
Married at 17, she and her husband
Her big break came in 1959 at the first March Meet in
Shahan went pro in 1966, racing top-of-the-line factory super stock cars from Chrysler --
During that time, she appeared on "Hollywood Squares" and "
After her racing career, she went back to work for
She's now married to
SCHOOL MASCOT:
The Mt. Whitney mascot is The Pioneer, but this is believed to be the first mascot uniform in school history, said cheer adviser
He'll appear at football games and events.
Until now, someone would wear a buckskin coat or other garb, but there was never a full mascot uniform, she said.
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