Kay Petre
| Kay Petre | |
|---|---|
| Born |
10 May 1903 Toronto, Ontario |
| Died | 10 August 1994 (aged 91) |
| Occupation | Racing driver |
| Spouse(s) | Henry Petre (m. 1929) |
Kay Petre (born Kathleen Coad Defries; 10 May 1903 – 10 August 1994) was an early motor racing star. She was born in Toronto, Ontario and came to England in her twenties, where she married aviator Henry Petre in 1929.
Kay Petre was a star at the legendary Brooklands track, and the exploits of this 4' 10" lady caused a media sensation at the time. The abiding image of Kay is a tiny woman seated in a huge 10.5 litre V12 Delage. This was the car in which she battled for the Women's Outer Circuit Record at Brooklands with Gwenda Stewart. Kay gained the upper hand on 26 October 1934 with a 129.58 mph lap, but in August 1935 Gwenda fought back with a faster lap. A determined Kay took her record back the same day with a 134.75 mph pass but Gwenda, driving the Derby-Miller, had the last laugh three days later at 135.95 mph.
At Brooklands: "Kay Petre got three lap records, her first two in 1934, first in a Bugatti at 124 mph then in a Delage at 129.58 mph. In 1935 she used the Delage to achieve 134.75."
Although she is always associated with the Delage, Kay started racing in a Wolseley Hornet Special bought for her by her husband. She also raced an Invicta and a Bugatti in which she won a handicap race in 1935. However, she was most successful in a series of Rileys. She was ninth in the Mountain Grand Prix at Brooklands in a Riley 1.5 in 1934, against tough opposition. Her first visit to Le Mans was also that year. She and Dorothy Champney finished thirteenth, driving a Riley Ulster Imp. The Riley connection continued next year but Kay and Elsie "Bill" Wisdom failed to finish with a blown engine.
Between 1934 and 1936, Kay was a regular at all the big British races like the Brooklands 500 Miles and Double Twelve Hours, plus sports car races at Donington Park and Crystal Palace. She partnered some big names, such as Dudley Benjafield and Prince Bira of Siam. She also drove in rallies and was an accomplished hillclimb driver, claiming the Ladies' Record at Shelsley Walsh twice.
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