RIP Denise McCluggage

[herr_oberst]

I grew up reading AutoWeek when it was printed on newsprint, and Ms McCluggage was always one of my favorite columnists. She had great stories to tell and she told them very well. Oh, and by the way, she was a winning driver in the golden age of amateur sportscar racing.

Godspeed.

Female journalist/racing pioneer Denise McCluggage passes away | FOX Sports

[f5niac]

Drove for Ferrari in the '50's, if I'm not mistaken. She was one fast broad, and a good writer to boot. RIP Denise. " Drive, she said. "

[techweenie]

That's a shock. Very accomplished automotive figure, regardless of gender.

[GH85Carrera]

She was a rare talented driver - writer and a good story teller. RIP.

[Paul_Heery]

[Baz]

Good friend of mine here in NSB was an airline stewardess for Bahamas Airways and used to race Porsches in the Bahamas when she was young & actually raced with Ms. Mccluggage. I'll get her take and post it here at some point.

RIP Ms. Mccluggage.....

[dafischer]

What a life she lived. Always read and enjoyed her columns from when Autoweek was on newsprint, as she had a great way of telling a story based on first hand experience. We only wish we had been able to associate with the people she did, and she'll be sorely missed.

Read Denise McCluggage's first Autoweek article...from 56 years ago | Autoweek

RIP Denise.

[Ferraripete]

Originally Posted by dafischer

What a life she lived. Always read and enjoyed her columns from when Autoweek was on newsprint, as she had a great way of telling a story based on first hand experience. We only wish we had been able to associate with the people she did, and she'll be sorely missed.

Read Denise McCluggage's first Autoweek article...from 56 years ago | Autoweek

RIP Denise.

nicely said. rip...a grand lady of motorsports

[Ferraripete]

and I will also miss competition press

[Ferraripete]

Originally Posted by Paul_Heery

great find!!!!

[intakexhaust]

Absolutely enjoyed her writing. There's a piece she wrote about drivers lack of safety and apparel of the 1950's. Humorous too as for her being a lady and fashion. In all seriousness, she made it clear the stupid crazy risk they took and all the luck needed for not getting tossed or burned up.

Sad loss.

[tcar]

She recently had a discussion group every Tuesday in Santa Fe, NM for years.

Anyone could drop by and chat with her and others.

[tchanson]

The current issue of AW arrived today, with Denise's column. Like herr O, I've been reading her since I was a kid and AW was a newspaper.

I was truly saddened by this news. By almost any account, hers was a life amazingly well lived.


Sebring 1961:



With Phil Hill:

[FastCarFan]

A life well-lived indeed. I highly recommend her book, "By Brooks Too Broad For Leaping" (published in 1994). I bought a used copy a few years ago & it is very good. My copy has an inscription from Denise to someone (I can't make out the name) & her signature. Her writing style was superb.

I e-mailed her years ago with a question & she promptly replied with an answer.

[Doug E]

Great writer and racer indeed ... RIP.

I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to her at RRI. Here she is decked out in her Porsche gear signing an autograph after our conversation.

[Noah930]

Don't know how I missed this until I came across an article on R&T online.

RIP Mrs. McCluggage. Thank you for the wonderful stories.

[nut11]

She was just wonderful to read. This weeks Autoweek has some heartfelt remembrances.
RIP, Denise.

87 blk coupe
11 GTI

[G60SuperCharger]

When David E. Davis started Automobile in 1986, she wrote a column for them for quite a few years that I always enjoyed. She will be missed.

Auto journalism is a fading career these days. If good writers can't make a living at it, I fear they will choose careers that pay the bills.