Kathleen Coad Petre, known as Kay Petre, was an early motor racing star.
13 Facts About Kay Petre
1.
2.
Kay Petre was born in York, Ontario, now part of Toronto.
3.
Kay Petre spent her later schooldays in England, but returned to Canada in her twenties.
4.
The abiding image of Kay Petre is a tiny woman seated in a huge 10.5 litre V12 Delage.
5.
Kay Petre raced an Invicta and a Bugatti in which she won a handicap race in 1935.
6.
Kay Petre was ninth in the Mountain Grand Prix at Brooklands in a Riley 1.5 in 1934, against tough opposition.
7.
Between 1934 and 1936, Kay Petre 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.
8.
Kay Petre partnered some big names, such as Dudley Benjafield and Prince Bira of Siam.
9.
Kay Petre drove in rallies and was an accomplished hillclimb driver, claiming the Ladies' Record at Shelsley Walsh twice.
10.
In 1937 Kay Petre travelled to South Africa for the Grand Prix motor racing season with her Riley.
11.
Kay Petre was driving for the works Austin team at Brooklands in September 1937 when her career was ended by a terrible accident.
12.
Kay Petre wrote for the Kelmsley newspaper group, including the Daily Sketch.
13.
Kay Petre designed fabric patterns for the interior of the Mini.