Barbara Hamilton
When she passed NHRA’s licensing test in August 1964 young Barbara Hamilton wasn’t interested in making history. Rather, she was determined to conclude two years of petitioning NHRA officials to let her drive the supercharged 1937 Willys Gasser that she and friend Nancy Leonello had built from scratch. Once licensed Hamilton went on to win C/GS class honors at the NHRA Springnationals and set a NASCAR national ET record. Nevertheless, the first female ever licensed to drive supercharged vehicles was among the four women whose licenses were subsequently revoked by NHRA just prior to the 1967 Nationals. Several months of pressure from Hamilton and fellow Hall of Fame inductee Paula Murphy helped persuade NHRA to reinstate the four existing licenses and grant a fifth to Shirley Muldowney. She subsequently moved up to B/GS before retiring in 1972. Barbara’s 1937 Willy’s was restored to its original racing condition and is now on display at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing.