Arlene Hiss

Arlene Hiss (born 1954 according to Mortorsport Database or born 1941[N 1]) is an American former race car driver and schoolteacher. Hiss has the distinction of being the first woman to start an Indy car race, doing so in the 1976 season. She is the ex-wife of 1972 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Mike Hiss.

Arlene Hiss
NationalityAmerican
Born1941 (age 79–80)
Derby, Connecticut, United States
Awards1974 Most Outstanding Woman Driver
Champ Car career
1 race run over 1 year
Years active1976
Team(s)Copper State Racing
Best finish40th (1976)
First race1976 Jimmy Bryan 150 (Phoenix)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 0 0

Personal life

Hiss worked as a dance teacher at Fullerton High School in Fullerton, California,[3] and was married to Mike Hiss, 1972 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year,[6] although by the time of her USAC career they were no longer married.[5]

Racing career

Hiss started her racing career in 1964,[3] competing in Sports Car Club of America-sanctioned Showroom Stock racing,[2][4] winning two California club championships.[3] In 1974, she was named "Most Outstanding Woman Driver" by the Sports Car Racing Enterprises for Women.[3]

In 1976, having received a USAC competition licence for the first two races of the 1976 USAC Championship Car season,[7] she became the first woman to start an USAC Championship Car – "Indy car" – race when she entered the Jimmy Bryan 150 at Phoenix International Raceway.[3] Hiss drove the No. 51 Copper State Racing Eagle 74-Offenhauser[8] that had formerly been driven by Lloyd Ruby.[9] Hiss qualified 21st out of 22 cars with a speed of 128.940 mph (207.509 km/h), while pole sitter Al Unser, Sr. had a speed of 140.845 mph (226.668 km/h).[2] In the race, Hiss was black flagged for going too slow. She said of this issue "I went up high on the track to let faster cars past. I guess the officials were concerned I was tired, so they brought me in to check. I told them I wasn't and went back out."[4] Hiss ultimately finished in 14th place, albeit with only 128 of 150 laps complete.[10]

Hiss also announced that she would enter the Indianapolis 500 and she tested at Ontario Motor Speedway, a track nearly identical to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Her best lap speed was around 176 mph (283 km/h).[2] Ultimately, Hiss was not entered at Indianapolis and Lloyd Ruby drove the car.[11] Instead Hiss moved to the United States Auto Club Stock Car series,[12] running five races over the course of the remainder of the year.[13] Her best finish was a 9th in her first race at Texas World Speedway,[5] driving the No. 9 Steve Drake Dodge Charger, although she finished 20 laps down to winner A. J. Foyt.[14]

Later that year, Hiss entered the 1976 season finale for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, the Los Angeles Times 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway in the No. 38 Let's Dine Out Chevrolet Monte Carlo owned by Tom Williams (whom Hiss had previously driven for in USAC[13]), but failed to qualify.[15] In 1977, she entered the West Coast 250 at Ontario Motor Speedway, an event for the NASCAR Pro Series West in a Chevrolet, but failed to qualify.[16]

Hiss retired from racing in June 1978, to pursue a business career.[5]

Criticism

During Hiss' brief career in Indy cars, she attracted criticism from people in the sport. Gary Bettenhausen said, "This is a man’s business and she has to be measured by a man’s standards if she is going to compete. By those standards, she didn't measure up."[4] Bobby Unser, who won the Phoenix race,[10] blamed the press for pressuring USAC to allow Hiss to run.[17] He remarked on Hiss, "It's a sad day when some woman gets in a car and pokes around the track slower than anybody else and then all the writers and television cameras crowd around her and ignore the professionals."[5] Bill Vukovich II was also critical of Hiss.[1] Drivers discussed boycotting the next series event, at Trenton Speedway, if Hiss was allowed to compete, due to her being considered "dangerously slow".[18]

However, Hiss said most drivers were supportive, and that A. J. Foyt "told everybody what a fine job I'd done" after her first USAC Stock Car race in Texas, while she and Unser later became friends.[5]

Racing record

USAC Champ Car results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

USAC Champ Car results
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Rank Points Ref
1976 Copper State Racing PHX
14		 TRE INDY MIL POC MCH TWS TRE MIL ONT MCH TWS PHX NR 0 [19]

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series
NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 NWCC Pts Ref
1976 Tom Williams Racing 38 Chevy RSD DAY CAR RCH BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT
DNQ		 NA 0 [20]

References

Notes

  1. Some period sources give Hiss' age at the time as being 28, giving a birth date of 1948,[1][2] however other period sources give an age of 35,[3] which is agreed with by more recent retrospectives.[4][5]

Citations

  1. Hungness, Carl (1976). The 1976 Indianapolis 500 Yearbook. Carl Hungness Publishing. ISBN 0-915088-10-X.
  2. Pash, Phil (March 14, 1976). "Arlene Hiss Getting Her Chance in Big Time Today". The New York Times. New York. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  3. "No Special Favors For Arlene Hiss". The Terre Haute Tribune. Terre Haute, IN. 4 March 1976. p. 19. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  4. Waltz, Keith (March 23, 2010). "Schoolteacher Arlene Hiss Is First Female Indy Car Driver". Speed Sport. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  5. Dunne, Patrick (March 14, 1986). "From Horsepower to Horse and Buggy Power : Hiss Takes a Turn in Road to a Slower Life". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  6. "Hiss challenges best of men". Fremont Argus. Fremont, CA. 12 March 1976. p. 20. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  7. "Arlene Hiss Granted USAC Race License". The Times Recorder. Zanesville, OH. February 26, 1976. p. 17. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  8. "Jimmy Bryan 150". OldRacingCars. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  9. Miller, Robin (8 March 1976). "If Practice Counted, Mrs. Hiss Couldn't Miss". The Indianapolis Star. p. 25. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  10. "1976 Jimmy Bryan 150". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  11. "1976 Indianapolis 500". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  12. "Speedway Once Again Opens Gates". The Eagle. June 3, 1976. p. 26. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  13. "Arlene Hiss". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  14. "Texas 500". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  15. "1976 Los Angeles Times 500". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  16. "West Coast 250". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  17. Woolford, Dave (May 15, 1976). "Axle Axioms". The Toledo Blade. Toledo, OH. p. 15. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  18. James, Brant (June 6, 2012). "IndyCar drivers ready for Texas, but fence posts and other issues remain". Autoweek. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  19. "Arlene Hiss – 1976 USAC Champ Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
  20. "Arlene Hiss – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
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