The Female Racing Drivers of the Brooklands Automobile Racing Club from the 1930s

The Brooklands Automobile Racing Club was founded in December 1906. Women were not allowed to participate or compete in the racing. This rule was lifted in 1908, and by 1920, female drivers were permitted to compete in both female and mixed races. In 1933, Brooklands became the ultimate heyday for female race drivers when the Royal Automobile Club granted female racers equal rights to drive in Open meetings at Brooklands that were held on equal terms with men

However, the Club eventually ended its operation after World War II broke out. The Club had to be amalgamated with the Junior Car Club after peace returned despite the high hopes of the public. During that time, Brooklands ended up being demolished, and the anticipated recovery costs turned out to be too high. The Club changed its name to the British Automobile Racing Club and moved to the Goodwood Circuit in 1949.

#1 Violet Cordery, 1930.

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#2 Miss J Alwynne, a motor mechanic at Brooklands race course, July 1931.

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#3 Elsie Wisdom at Brooklands, 1930.

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#4 Kay Petre at Brooklands, March 1930.

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#5 Fay Taylour at Brooklands, 1930.

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#6 Kitty Brunell tunes up her AC Ace Sports engine, 1932.

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#7 Mrs Elsie “Bill” Wisdom and Miss Joan Richmond, July 1932.

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#8 Miss Paddy Naismith pushing her car onto the track for one of the events at Brooklands, June 1933.

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#9 Mrs Gordon Simpson and the young racing driver Joan Richmond sitting in the latter’s 1921 3-litre GP Ballot racer, July 1934.

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#10 Eileen Ellison in a Bugatti during the ‘mountain race’ at Brooklands, 1934.

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#11 Gwenda Stewart, 1935.

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#12 The three racing MGs were entered for Le Mans by land speed record breaker George Eyston and nicknamed the ‘Dancing Daughters’ after a popular variety act of the time. The drivers were : Car 54 – Margaret Allen & Coleen Eaton, Car 55 – Doreen Evans & Barbara Skinner, Car 56 – Joan Richmond & Miss Jo

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#13 Doreen Evans taking over the sash during a relay race at Brooklands, July 1935.

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#14 Racing drivers Gwenda Stewart, Doreen Evans, Kay Petre, Elsie Wisdom, September 1935.

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#15 Doreen Evans taking a refreshment, July 1936.

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#16 A Brooklands’ mechanic fastens the buckle on Miss Dorothy Turner’s helmet, July 1937.

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#17 Kay Petre poses with her V12 Delage, July 1937.

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#18 Women drivers at Brooklands, 1937

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#19 Mrs Aclace signals from the pits during the JCC 200 mile race at Brooklands, August 1938.

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#20 Kay Petre at Brooklands, March 1938.

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#21 Miss Patten, Baroness Dorndorf sits on the door of her Peugeot, May 1939.

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