In the ‘50s serious female racers had to battle sexual discrimination in order to compete at all. When Ohio-born Murphy started racing sports cars she had to run in “ladies only” events. In ‘56, Murphy won the first such race she competed in, driving an Alfa Romeo. Later Maserati Birdcage, winning often in that car. By ‘63, the sexual barriers loosened, and Murphy competed and won against men.

That same year STP’s Bill Dredge invited her to participate in long-distance record attempts. Working with Barb Nieland and the Granatelli brothers, the record-breaking bombardment saw 370 marks fall. Her personal best was a 161.291 mph run in an Avanti, earning her the record.

In ‘66, Murphy became the first woman Funny Car driver; first man-handled a Mustang with a blown 392 Chrysler; and later a Plymouth Duster that she ran through 1972. During a run in a jet car on Sears Point’s drag strip, the engine failed to shut down. Blasting off course at 300 mph plus. Murphy emerged with a broken neck and other injuries, but recovered to race again. In ‘76 she was teamed with 1950 Indy winner Johnnie Parsons, Sr. hearkening back to a day in 1963 when, in one of the Granatelli Novis, she became the first woman to race at Indy.