Story By: JO ANN DAVIES / CLINTON COUNTY FAIR CAR SHOW – MORRISONVILLE, NY – A classic Clinton County Fairgrounds event, the annual Car Show, is back in full force for 2022 on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
The CCAF Board of Directors invites you to come to see a beautiful display of cars on the Fairgrounds from great classics to new cars alike.
This year the CCF Car Show welcomes a special guest, and extends an invitation to everyone to come out and meet three-time National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) champion, the First Lady of Drag Racing, Shirley “Cha Cha” Muldowney! Come join the fun!
Born in Burlington, Vermont in June 1940, Muldowney knew at a very young age she was born to race and pursued her dream to win in a male-dominated sport after the family moved to Schenectady, NY when she was eight years old.
Her love of street racing led Muldowney to the beginning of her drag racing career in 1958 at the Fonda Speedway dragstrip (Fonda, NY) and in 1965 she became the first woman Top Fuel dragster to be licensed by the NHRA.
Muldowney has known the highs and lows of her chosen field including three NHRA championships (1977, 1980, and 1982) as well as numerous other accolades. In 1976 she was named Drag News “Top Fuel Driver of the Year” and voted to the Auto Racing All-American Team for the second time by the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association.
In 1984 Muldowney survived a horrific drag race accident while competing in Montreal when the car she was racing went out of control for about 600 feet. Muldowney spent a determined 18 months recovering from serious injuries to her legs, hands, and pelvis that required many surgeries.
Showing great perseverance, Muldowney returned to racing in 1986, eventually retiring from the sport in 2006. Today, she spends her time promoting drag racing through her appearances at many venues and fundraising for deserving kids in the racing community through her foundation, “Shirleys Kids”.
The Clinton County Fair Car Show invites everyone to come out and meet the legendary Shirley “Cha Cha” Muldowney and to view a display of her memorabilia.