About AWTAR

The first race took place in 1947, from Palm Springs, California, to Tampa, Florida. The Florida Chapter of The Ninety-Nines held the Florida All-Woman Air Show that year and invited races to select Tampa as their race terminus as part of the air show. The California Ninety-Nines, spearheaded by pioneer Chairman Mardo Crane, organized several entries to race from Palm Springs, California, to Tampa. Only one team, Carolyn West and Bea Medes, took off to Tampa. Their flight in Carolyn West's Ercoupe took 21 hours and 45 minutes. Inspired by this unofficial race, Mardo Crane's committee organized the fully-inaugural all-woman cross-country air race the next year – and the tradition was born.

Jacqueline Cochran was the race sponsor in 1948 and 1949 while The Ninety-Nines was the major sponsor in 1950. By then the race had grown to become a separate non-profit corporation with its own board of directors. The race was conducted under the Sporting Code of the world body, the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), who oversaw the timing, scoring, and overall conduct of the race. In the early years, all racers were members of The Ninety-Nines — of whom a large contingent were WASPs in World War II. To encourage additional participation the race was opened up in 1951 to all women pilots.

As the race grew, so did the number of people and organizations who were involved to make the race a success. A full-time staff and set of volunteers coordinated marketing, operations, fundraising, inspections, and scoring; and the participation of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), NAA (National Aeronautic Association), FCC (Federal Communications Commission), National Weather Service, Air Traffic Control, Civil Air Patrol, Zonta, Ninety-Nines Chapters; and numerous local and state officials, airports, and chambers of commerce. Race routes changed every year spanning the country from west to east, east to west, and even north to south.

In 1967, for the 20^th Anniversary race, the Powder Puff Derby was documented in a 50-minute color TV film by WCBS-TV. In 1972 a 25-minute documentary was filmed by a German company for worldwide distribution. These films further spread the fame of the race worldwide, and fueled enthusiasm of entrants and supporters alike.

However, in the fall of 1973, a national emergency with the shortage of petrol resulted in the difficult decision to cancel the 1974 race. While a Winner's Wall was dedicated in Riverside, California, the race never really recovered. At a joint AWTAR and Ninety-Nines board meeting, the directors decided 1976 would be the last race. And what a race it was — with 200 teams and racers from as far away as South Africa and Japan.

In the fall of 1976, AWTAR directors visited the new National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, to inspect the race trophy and other memorabilia stored there. Jack Whitelaw, Deputy Director of the Museum, said to them "It's a shame to end the Powder Puff at 29 years. Why not round it out to 30, following the first route? We could consider it our July 1977 'Milestone of Flight." Thus, the 30^th Commemorative Flight of the Powder Puff Derby was born. Rather than a traditional speed race, this final event was a series of proficiency contests for fun. Enthusiasm was so great that entries were capped at 150 teams, with 331 pilots and 55 different make and model airplanes. The 1977 event was a grand finale highlighting 30 years of women's racing accomplishments.

Banner image left, left to right: standing: Ilovene Potter, Susie Sewell, Lois Feigenbaum, Mary Able, Mary Vial, Kay Brick, Alma Hitchings, Jo McCarrell, Audrey Schutte, Betty Wharton; seated: Janet Green, Thon Griffith, Pat McEwen, Marian Banks, Barbara Evans, Wanda Cummings (1975, joint 99s-AWTAR board meeting).
Banner image middle, left to right:  rear: Pat Appel and Toni Kuhns, 6^th; Pauline Glasson and Donna Golden, 7^th; Sophia Payton and Pat Fairbanks, 8^th; Margaret Mead and Lucy Moori Brooks, 9^th; Landon Storrs and Trina Jarish; 10^th; front: Marian Banks and Dottie Sanders, 1^st; Helen McGee, 2^nd; Bernadine
Stevenson, 3^rd; Helen Wilke and Kathy Long, 4^th; Marion Jayne and Patricia Jayne, 5^th(1972 Top 10).
Banner image right, left to right, standing: Lauretta Foy, Aileen Saunders (Mellott), Shirley Blocki (Froyd), Carolyn West, Fran Bera, Marcella Duke, Mary Ann Noah (Hamilton), Claire McMillen (Walters); kneeling: Iris Critchell, Dottie Sanders, Marian Banks, Gini Richardson, Jean Parker (Rose)(1974, past winners at dedication of "Winner's Wall").