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| Kay Petre behind the wheel of one of the many race cars she drove between 1932 to 1939. (Photo Credit: Newspress) |
Even as motorsports have resided as a male-dominated domain since its inception in the early 20th century, the majestic scene of an automobile in motion refreshingly won the attention of some women. When it comes to the history of women in auto racing, it’s intriguing to realize how a Canadian-born driver became one of the sport’s earliest female stars.
Born in 1903 in what is now part of Toronto, Ontario, Kathleen Coad DeFries spent her young life in both Canada and England. She would be popularly recognized as Kay Petre after her 1929 marriage to her second husband Henry Petre, a decorated First World War aviator and pioneer pilot who remained an active enthusiast for airplanes and other machines throughout his life. It was Henry who introduced her to the spectacle of auto racing with Kay’s affection for the sport quickly resulting to her getting behind the wheel. Completing for first laps with a black 4.5-liter Invicta in 1932, her husband would later buy her a Worlseley Daytona Hornet Special.
Racing often at Brooklands (considered the United Kingdom’s original Mecca of speed), Kay Petre was not the only woman she met in competition. Intrepid female drivers were actually quite common at the race course. In addition to Petre, other women associated with Brooklands during the 1930s were Elsie Mary Wisdom. Gwenda Stewart, Rita Don and Doreen Evans.
While standing just 4-foot 10 inches, Kay Petre demonstrated a willingness to drive some absolutely monstrous racing machines for the era. After racing the Daytona Hornet Special, she would seek a faster Bugatti in 1933. Besides her own vehicles, Petre also had the opportunity to race other people’s cars. It was with a borrowed V12-powered Delage in 1934 where she drove at a speed of 129.58 miles per hour at Brooklands. The next year, with another Delage, Kay Petre bettered her personal-best lap as she faced off against Gwenda Stewart in a spirited competition for Brooklands women’s lap record. Petre’s 134.75-mile per hour lap would briefly grant her the women’s record at the race track before Stewart claimed it with a 135.95-mile per hour one day later. Petre and Stewart are the only two women among 17 drivers to record a lap at Brooklands at a speed exceeding 130 miles per hour. Petre would win several events at Brooklands including ones on the banked 4.453-kilometer outer circuit.
Beyond Brooklands, Kay Petre steadily raced across the United Kingdom such as the 3.219-kilometer track within the Crystal Palace Park. Hill climb events including one held at Shelsley Walsh (that still operates to this day proclaiming itself as the oldest motorsport venue) proved to be a popular place for Petre to shine winning the ladies event on numerous occasions. In 1937, she was recruited to the Austin factory racing team becoming one of the first women to be professionally supported by an auto manufacturer.
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| Gaining the support of an automaker on the track is a massive achievement for any professional race car driver. In 1936, Kay Petre's talent in competition gained her the factory support of British manufacturer Austin. Pictured inside the closest Austin 7 race car. (Photo Credit: Brunell from National Motor Museum) |
Perhaps the most famous event the Canadian-born lady participated in was the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Kay Petre was involved in three editions of the prestigious event pairing with a fellow female driver on two of those occasions. Her first visit to Le Mans in 1934 with Dorothy Champney co-driving a Riley Nine Ulster Imp was the most successful outing finishing 13th place overall (5th place in the 1.1-1.5 liter class) travelling 2,327.92 kilometers during the 24-hour race. Petre co-drove another Riley Nine in 1935 alongside Elise Wisdom and competed in the 1937 event with co-driver George Magnan sharing an Austin 7 Grasshopper. Outings in 1935 and 1937 both ended with engine failures. Petre indicated a desire to run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway but plans to do so would never be materialize.
During a trip to a grand prix in Africa where she competed with a Riley, Kay Petre was granted an opportunity to drive the mid-engined Auto Union Type C race car. She was one of two women entrusted to handle the 375-horsepower, supercharged V16 engined machine.
Kay Petre’s seemingly burgeoning racing career drew closer to a finish line after a crash in her Austin 7 during a race later in 1937 practicing for the Brooklands 500 kilometer event. Sustaining serious injuries, she recovered but made only a brief return to auto racing the next year entering the Welsh Motor Rally driving a Morris Twelve. Escaping from another crash with minor injuries in 1938, her competition days would come to an end prior to the start of the second world war conflict. In 1939, Pe)tre did participate in the Scottish Rally that operated more of a skills competition than a proper race event. She finished 14th place in her class Describing herself as someone who doesn’t live in the past, Petre reportedly sold all of her trophies shortly after her racing days ended.
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| Advertisement printed in 1952 for Austin Cambridge citing Kay Petre as a colour adviser providing input on interior colours and materials. |
Interviewed by a reporter for The Globe and Mail in May of 1952, Kay Petre recognized the talent women drivers should be placed in one of two categories; very good or very poor (categories that can just as easily be attached to male drivers). She credited Canadian women behind the wheel at the time for being better, more mature motorists compared to those in England. The observation came during her visit back to Canada for a fact-finding mission exploring what women look for in automobiles.
While gaining interest in journalism after her racing days, Kay Petre found new fame in the role of an interior styling adviser for the British Motor Company (formed in 1952 through a merger between Austin Motor Company and Morris Motors Limited). Petre’s handiwork was applied to a number of production vehicles from the auto company including the Austin Cambridge and most impressively the original Mini.
Kay Petre died on August 10, 1994 at the age of 91 but her achievements during her racing career has garnered her recognition with the history of Brooklands as well as with a 1995 induction to the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame.
References:
“Canadian Women, Good Drivers, Says Famed Racing Champion.”, The Globe and Mail., May 21, 1952, Pg. 11.
"Speed Queen Challenges Men Racers.", New Jersey's The Courier News., February 22, 1936
"Kay Petre For Welsh Motor Rally.", Western Mail & South Wales News., May 18, 1938
“Veteran to Classic: Kay Petre-A Tribute.”, Motor Sport., October 1994, Pg. 1098-1099.
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