Cheryl Linn Glass
Nicknamed “The Lady”
December 24, 1961 – July 15, 1997
Pioneering Professional Racing Driver
She was a businesswoman. She ran her own ceramics company while still a child, selling some of her creations to Frederick & Nelson; then became a clothing designer, designing wedding and formal evening wear out of her studio in Pioneer Square.
She was an electrical-engineering student who, with her dad, co-founded an engineering program for minority students at the University of Washington.
Organizations and publications saluted her as a trailblazer, an achiever, one of America’s Top 100, one of Washington’s Top 100
Family and Early Life
Cheryl Linn Glass was born on December 24, 1961, to Marvin and Shirley Glass in the San Francisco Bay Area town of Mountain View, California, Her parents, executives in the aerospace and telecommunications industries, raised a child prodigy. She was a trailblazer in the world of motorsports, earning recognition as the first black female professional race car driver in the United States. Cheryl was the eldest of two daughters born to Marvin and Shirley Glass. Her family relocated to Seattle in 1963, where her father served as a vice president of Pacific Northwest Bell, and her mother worked as an engineer for Boeing.
As a scholar and young businesswoman, Glass was recognized for her intelligence and ambition. Thanks to her father’s passion for motorsports, race car driving was soon added to a mounting list of achievements. At nine, her career began with quarter-midgets and continued into half-midgets until she was 18. On the regional level, with Washington’s Skagit Raceway serving as her personal training ground, Glass developed into a serious short-oval competitor and regular winner.
Cheryl’s educational journey began at Nathan Hale High School, where she excelled and graduated with honors at the young age of 16. She pursued her passion for electrical engineering at Seattle University.
Courtesy John Mahoney
Early Entrepreneurship and Racing Passion
At the remarkable age of 9, Cheryl embarked on an entrepreneurial journey by establishing her own business. She meticulously crafted high-end ceramic dolls, which she successfully marketed to local businesses like Frederick & Nelson. These exquisite dolls, each requiring three months of dedicated craftsmanship, were sold for prices ranging from $150 to $300. Simultaneously, her interest in racing was ignited when she stumbled upon a newspaper article about local youngsters participating in quarter-midget race cars. With her own earnings, coupled with her father’s unwavering support, Cheryl acquired the necessary equipment and commenced her racing journey in the midget circuit. In her debut year, she achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first girl ever to be named Rookie of the Year. Over the subsequent five years, Cheryl dominated the state and regional circuits, consistently ranking among the top ten drivers nationwide. As she progressed, she transitioned to racing the more formidable and faster half-midgets.
A Trailblazing Racing Career
At the age of 18, Cheryl made the bold decision to leave college, marking the inception of a pivotal chapter in her life. She acquired her first sprint car and ventured into racing at Skagit Speedway in Mount Vernon, Washington. Notably, she became the first woman sprint car driver at this venue. Her inaugural year saw her named the Northwest Sprint Car Association’s Rookie of the Year. Following her triumph at Skagit Speedway’s season championship race, Cheryl embarked on a prolific career, participating in over 100 professional races. In doing so, she etched her name in history as the first African-American female professional race car driver. Fondly known as “The Lady,” her dreams encompassed competing in the prestigious Indianapolis 500 and ultimately becoming a Formula One driver. Regrettably, her racing career faced an untimely halt, potentially due to injuries or insufficient funding. Her final race, which took place at the Phoenix International Raceway in April 1991, concluded in a dramatic crash.
Beyond Racing: Entrepreneurship and Advocacy
In February 1983, Cheryl embraced a new chapter in her life by marrying Richard Lindwall. Notably, she designed her own silk and lace wedding gown, a testament to her creativity. Subsequently, she ventured into the world of fashion by establishing Cheryl Glass Designs, a custom design studio. Over the course of 12 years, she specialized in crafting exquisite wedding and formal evening wear. Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, Cheryl was a passionate advocate and motivational speaker. She frequently addressed gatherings of students and political action groups, including a poignant speech delivered to 1,500 junior high school students in Washington D.C. in support of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s initiatives against drunk driving and drug abuse.
Challenges and Tragedy
In 1991, Cheryl experienced a harrowing incident when she survived a home invasion and rape. Tragically, the authorities dismissed her rape report, citing insufficient evidence to press charges. This distressing episode cast a shadow over her life.
On July 15, 1997, Cheryl Linn Glass tragically took her own life by jumping from the Aurora Bridge in Washington, leaving behind a legacy marked by courage, determination, and pioneering spirit.
The official cause of her death, as determined by the coroner, was drowning. Detectives from the Seattle police department concluded that her death was a result of jumping off the Aurora Bridge into Lake Union, classifying it as a suicide.
However, her family vehemently rejects the idea that she willingly chose to take such a fatal leap, plunging 167 feet into the water below. All of this still has It’s worth noting that no suicide note was discovered at the scene.
Awards and Honors:
Cheryl Linn Glass received several notable awards and honors, recognizing her remarkable achievements and contributions:
- Candace Award for Trailblazing from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women in 1987.
- Wendell Scott Greased Lightning Award from the Wendell Scott Foundation.
- Recognition as one of America’s Top 100 Black Business and Professional Women by Dollars and Sense magazine.
- Featured as one of five African Americans in an hour-long TBS special titled “The Achievers” during Black History Month in 1988.
Cheryl Linn Glass’s legacy endures as an inspiring figure who defied barriers and paved the way for aspiring African American women in motorsports. Her tenacity and groundbreaking accomplishments continue to resonate within the racing community and beyond.