Violette Cordery
| Violette Cordery | |
|---|---|
Violette Cordery at the wheel of the
"Eric-Campbell" 10 h.p. in 1919 |
|
| Born |
10 January 1900 London |
| Died | 30 December 1983 (aged 83) Oxshott, Surrey |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Racing driver |
| Spouse(s) | John Stuart Hindmarsh (1931-1938; his death) |
| Children | Two |
| Relatives | Noel Macklin, brother-in-law |
Violette Cordery, (10 January 1900 – 30 December 1983) (married name Hindmarsh) was a British racing driver and long distance record breaker.
Cordery was born in London to Henry Cordery and had an elder sister (Lucy)/Leslie and a younger sister Evelyn who also participated in her driving exploits.
Cordery was employed as a driver to captain Noel Macklin of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) at Dover, he had been invalided out of the Royal Artillery in 1915 and subsequently transferred to the RNVR. Macklin was married to her elder sister Lucy.
In 1920 she competed in the South Harting hill climb driving a Silver Hawk, manufactured by Noel Macklin. Cordery also competed in two British Motor Cycle Racing Club handicap events driving an Eric-Campbell, also manufactured by Noel Macklin. In May 1921 she won the ladies' race at the Junior Car Club meeting, averaging 49.7 miles per hour (80.0 km/h).
In 1925 she publicised the new Invicta car, also manufactured by Noel Macklin, by racing and breaking records. At the West Kent Motor Club meeting at Brooklands she won the half mile sprint in a 2.7 litre Invicta, and went on other victories and records.
In 1926 she set a long distance record at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy, when she co-drove a 19.6 hp Invicta for 10,000 miles (16,000 km) at 56.47 miles per hour (90.88 km/h). In July 1926 she averaged 70.7 miles per hour (113.8 km/h) for 5,000 miles (8,000 km) at Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry, Paris, and became the first woman to be awarded the Dewar Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club.
In 1927 she drove an Invicta around the world in five months, covering 10,266 miles (16,522 km) at an average speed of 24.6 miles per hour (39.6 km/h). She traveled through Europe, Africa, India, Australia, the United States, and Canada accompanied by a nurse, a mechanic, and a Royal Automobile Club observer.
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