Find out about three remarkable women who achieved great success in the male-dominated sport of motor racing and speed record breaking in the 1900s, 20s and 30s. Dorothy Levitt ‘the fastest girl on earth’ was a pioneer for women drivers. She was the first English female racing driver and won her class in the 1903 Southport Speed Trial. She went on to break records both on land and on water and championed the ‘women’s right to motor’. May Cunliffe, a Southport resident, broke the women’s record at Shelsley Walsh aged just 20 in 1926. Sadly her career was curtailed by a tragic accident on Southport Sands. The third remarkable woman is Gwenda Stewart-Hawkes, from Preston, who broke many speed records on both motorcycles and cars. Gwenda was regarded as the greatest woman driver of the 1930s.
Talk by Peter Cowley
The image is of Dorothy Levitt ‘the fastest girl on earth’.
Part of the First Ladies Exhibition
We are also looking to hear from you about your first ladies. Get in touch and nominate the lady in your life that has inspired you, or that you simply adore! All you have to do is tweet us using #AtkFirstLadies and tell us who you are nominating. We will randomly pick 5 people and their guests that tweet us to join us at the special preview on 2 June.
