Heart Like A Wheel (1983)

This biopic follows the story of Shirley Muldowney (Bonnie Bedelia), the first female top-fuel drag racer. Much of the film takes place in upstate New York but locations in Washington substituted as well as racing scenes in Arizona and California.

After being married, Shirley and Jack (Leo Rossi) emerge from the Old Thurston County Courthouse in Olympia, which served as the state capitol building from 1905-1928.

Address:

600 Washington Street SE

Olympia, WA 98504

The Memorial Day picnic scene was filmed in Sylvester Park, across the street from the above location.

GPS Coordinates:

47.029397,-122.913281

One driving montage shot shows Shirley and crew driving down Lakeridge Drive SW in Olympia toward Capitol Lake.

GPS Coordinates:

47.029397,-122.913281

Shirley's photo shoot and horrific crash in Montreal were recreated at Orange County International Raceway in Irvine, CA which was closed in October 1983.

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