Baby, You Can Drive My Car

Alice's DriveThis has nothing to do with parenting or LGBT rights, but I thought I’d pass along this timely tidbit on a groundbreaking woman:

On June 9, 1909, Alice Huyler Ramsey set off on her successful journey to become the first woman to drive across the United States from coast to coast. Three other women accompanied her, friends who didn’t themselves drive, but who presumably helped change tires the 11 times they blew during the trip. Ramsey later became the first woman to be inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.

She chronicled her journey in the book Veil, Duster, and Tire Iron, now republished as Alice’s Drive. Her best line, though, is perhaps the one she gave to Ms. magazine in 1975:

“Good driving has nothing to do with sex. It’s all above the collar.”

In honor of the 100th anniversary of Alice’s journey, a father-daughter team is now attempting to recreate it in a replica car, “with multiple events along the way to pay homage to women’s accomplishments during the last century.” They also hope to raise money in support of Women for Women International, which helps women survivors of war rebuild their lives. You can follow them via their blog or on Twitter.

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