The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-02-17
ONLY WOMAN PILOT
IN RACING EVENT
Has Driven Her Car in
Various Contests
Since 1905.

While many women drive their own
cars, Mrs. Joan Newton Cuneo has the
unique distinction of being the only
woman racing driver in this country.
She has participated in many events,
and has had many varied experiences
as the pilot of fast racing cars.
Many people have asked me how l
happened to enter the automobile racing
game, and what satisfaction could have
resulted from risking my life in such a
manner, Just for the love of driving q
car, writes Mrs. Cuneo in Country Life
In America My answer has always
been that felt that If anything seemed
worth doing | always wanted to do it
to the very best of my ability. and,
looking over my racing records, it is
with great satisfaction that | find that
each event under the varying conditions
was an improvement on the previous
one, and each cup and each medal and
trophy meant one step higher in the
automobile racing world
During the summer of 1905 | had en-
tered and driven my car through the
Gldden tour, and in September a chal-
Ienge came TO me through the news
papers TO come to Atlantic City and
show what l could do in handling a car
at speed on the beach.
Ny car was in the shop being painted
and overhauled, but out she came and
was shipped by express to Atlantic City,
anu competing Will 4OuI ulcu uTlNlIlK
gasolene cars. ! came in second in the
one-mile race, being timed l minute
IS 2-5 seconds. l was proud of my first
record, but not satisfied; | knew If l
ordered a 1906 model. and. before the
body was put on, being invited to give
an exhibition at the Duchess County
Fair, at Poughkeepsie, September 20,
and had my first experience at track
racing.
Raced at Point Breeze.
November l, 1905, drove my car in a
three-mile race on Point Breeze track,
at Philadelphia, winning a silver cup
from three other contestants; time, 4
minutes and s seconds-which was good
time for an 1S-horsepower car in those
days.
At the Rockland county fair, Orange
burg, N. Y, in September, 1906, drove
an exhibition mile on the half-mile
track in l minute 81 seconds, which was
a record for that track, and still stands,
I believe. This added another gold and
diamond medal to my collection.
Touring contests then kept me busy
until the New Orleans Mardi Gras cele-
bration, when there were three days of
automobile racing on the track there,
February q, %, and %, 1909 Competing
with Ralph de Palma, George Robert
son, Louis Strang, Robert Burman, jim
mic Ryal, and others, l beat the last
three named in every event 1 drove in,
and George Robertson in all but one.
In July, 1909, l gave a one and five
mile exhibition at the Jamaica track.
In October, 1909, l lowered the one and
five mile records in exhibition at the
county fair at Danbury, Conn. II was
two days later that De Palma met with
his accident endeavoring to lower my
time there.
I had made record time in practice on
the Fort George, Fort Lee, and Wilkes
barre hill climbs, and for the Briarcliff
and Long Island Derby road races, but
was not allowed to compete, because,
unfortunately, / am a woman!
After driving from New York to At
lanta on the Herald tour without even
puncture to break the monotony of
the trip, drove my car around the new
Atlanta motordrome, two miles, in l
minute IS seconds, carrying full tour
ing equipment and four passengers
The same day, the first time had ever
sat in the car, I drove a big racer
around the same two-mile track in l
minute As seconds. Under the same con-
ditions 1 drove still another racer the
two miles in minute 50 seconds.