After she died last week, the funeral home carried out her wishes to be in the driver's seat of a Corvette when people came for public visitation.
Mims specified that the vehicle be a 1979 model -- in pink, of course.
Her friends call it a fitting tribute for the first woman to win the Sports Car Club of America's national championship.
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That was in 1963, the year Julia Child's "The French Chef" premiered, Tenley Albright became the first female U.S. world figure skating champion and four African-American girls died in an Alabama church bombing.
Mims died a few days ago in Bridgeville, Pa., from complications of a stroke. She was 82. Ironically, her death comes during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when many Americans are wearing pink ribbons.
In her heyday, she posted "Think Pink" stickers on the back of her cars, which were always pink. Her penchant for pink vehicles earned her the nickname, Pink Lady.
The Associated Press summed up her life this way:
Mims worked for Yenko Chevrolet and the company's sports car division and started racing in 1958, according to Beinhauer Family Services. Mims' association with the car company led her to race cars, including the Camaro, Austin Healey, MG, Corvette and Corvairs.
Mims participated in the original Cannonball Run, where her 1968 Cadillac limousine was wrecked with her teammate behind the wheel. She also became known as "Think Pink," "Donna Amazing" and "Free Maui."
