1961 Pontiac Ventura. Lloyd Cox ordered this car brand new with the 348 tri-power options. This car had power windows, which were actually lighter than the mechanical linkage back then. Note the eight lug aluminum integrated wheel and brake, very trick and very rare. This car featured the very first set of Doug's Headers for a Pontiac because Doug and Lloyd were friends. Same for the Lakewood 90/10 front shocks; this car was not only the prototype, the car was used in Lakewood advertising.

In the society of the early ‘60s, women were assumed to be weak, physically and emotionally. So of course, it stands to reason that women were banned from racing. Exactly what the arguments were for this aren’t relevant now; you just have to understand how this sexist concept of women permeated the fabric of society. But the 1960s were also the decade when things changed a whole lot in America in general and racing in specific.

You probably know the story of Shirley “Don’t call me Cha-Cha!” Muldowney. You might know about Bunny Burkett or Judy Lilly. Add to that list the name of Carol Cox. Actually, add Carol and her husband, Lloyd Cox, to the list.

We met our now good friend, Steve Cox, at a night race in Las Vegas. Sister publication Mopar Max’s Senior Editor, Alex Rogeo, was racing the Mopar Max “Maulin’ Magnum” and had beaten a racer named Kevin driving an altered in the quarter finals to make it into the semifinals. When Alex went to collect her semi-finishers cash payout Steve was there getting his payout for another class. If you don’t know him, Steve is a man of few words. He’s been racing since he was old enough to do it legally and is very successful at it.

Steve looked over at Alex and asked, “You beat Kevin?”

“Yep,” was all that Alex replied.