In the early 1930’s Muroc Dry Lake was little more than a remote desert expanse with a water tower, railroad tracks, an Army Air Corps base and a nearby working ranch. In February 1935 Pancho Barnes bought that ranch. Pancho Barnes, a fearless pilot, single mother and fierce competitor had earlier broken Amelia Earhart’s speed record in 1930, becoming the ‘fastest woman in the world.’
Every weekend, hot rodders from Los Angeles and surrounding towns, as well as several Army airmen from the nearby Base, showed up to tinker with their cars and race them to their limits on the lakebed. To post the fastest times on the dry lakes, racers hit the course at dawn, before the heat rose and dust from earlier runs clouded the air. To be ready, they’d arrive the night before and camp in tents right on the lakebed, catching sleep under the stars until morning.
Pancho admired the hot rodders, their courage, their obsession with speed, and their unshakable grit. As she often said, “Life’s too short for slow.” Pancho made sure they had what they needed: food, drinks, a place to camp on her land, and someone in their corner. Supporting racers came naturally to Pancho. Her life was all about encouraging and backing dreamers and anyone bold enough to chase the limits of what was possible.
Pancho Barnes didn’t start the racing at Muroc, but she sure helped keep it alive and thriving.
Pancho, with her young son Billy tagging along, loved soaking up the roar and dust of the hot rod races. As the cars tore past in a blur, she threw up her arms and shouted with a grin, “You’re all a bunch of Speed Demons!”
And just like that, the nickname stuck, and so did the legend.
