I remember Shirley well from back in the day, but didn't know where the "Cha Cha" came from. Cool interview and story.Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney
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CraveOnline: How did you get the nickname “Cha Cha?”
Shirley Muldowney: I got it in the late 50s when nicknames were synonymous with the sport of drag racing. I think that is sadly missed today. It was a major part of the sport and I think they need to go back to that and just give us a break with some of this corporate stuff. But I went to a race out in Sanford, Maine back in 1959. That’s when they wrote your class number on your window in shoe polish. I was driving a 58′ red Chevrolet with white top, a convertible all lowered, pretty jazzy looking.
The tech guy wrote it on the car in shoe polish along with the permanent number for that day. It was very small but it looked cute and we decided that we would stay with a nickname cause it was shorter than ‘Shirley Muldowney.’ Tommy Ivo told me I was making the biggest mistake of my racing career if I didn’t keep the name “Cha Cha” on the car and paint it pink so I took his advice.
One-On-One Interview: Legendary Race Car Driver Shirley Muldowney
The "First Lady" of drag racing discusses her spectacular NHRA career, her role as a pioneer and the 60th annual U.S. Nationals.www.mandatory.com