Racer, Editor Denise McCluggage Dies

Denise McCluggage, a pioneering American race car driver in the 1950s and early 1960s and longtime auto writer and editor, died on Wednesday at age 88.

A graduate of Mills College, she began her racing career driving an MG TC sports car before moving up to a Jaguar XK140, Ferrari 250 GT and a wide variety of other marques.

McCluggage dominated the ladies' racing events to which she was frequently relegated, won class victories at Sebring and the Monte Carlo Rally and in 1960 finished fifth in the Watkins Glen Grand Prix. She also held her own against such male competitors as Juan Manuel Fangio, Phil Hill and Sterling Moss.

Widely adored by the automotive press corps, she co-founded Competition Press, now known as Autoweek, in 1958. She was a regular contributor to both. She also wrote a syndicated column, "Drive, She Said," that appeared in dozens of North American newspapers.

McCluggage is the only automotive writer inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.