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Brighton Motor Trials - Miss Dorothy Levitt
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Brighton Motor Trials - Miss Dorothy Levitt
Miss Dorothy Elizabeth Levitt (1882-1922) in her 80 hp Napier at the Brighton Motor (Speed) Trials, on 21st July 1905. Levitt was the first British woman racing driver, holder of the worlds first water speed record, the womens world land speed record holder, and an author. A pioneer of female independence and female motoring, she also taught Queen Alexandra and the Royal Princesses how to drive. In her book The Woman and the Car: A Chatty Little Handbook for all Women who Motor or Who Want to Motor, suggested that all women should " carry a little hand-mirror in a convenient place when driving" so they may " hold the mirror aloft from time to time in order to see behind while driving in traffic", thus inventing the rear view mirror (before it was introduced by manufacturers in 1914) !! Date: 1905
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Media ID 14379403
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
21st Automobile Brighton Dorothy Driver Driving Holder Independence Pioneer Racer Record Records Speed Taught Teacher Trails Elizabeth Miss
EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph captures the spirit of daring and determination embodied by Miss Dorothy Elizabeth Levitt (1882-1922) as she boldly navigates her powerful 80 hp Napier at the Brighton Motor Trials on 21st July 1905. Dorothy Levitt was a groundbreaking figure in the early days of motoring, becoming the first British woman racing driver and setting the world's first water speed record, as well as holding the women's land speed record. An advocate for female independence, Levitt also taught important figures such as Queen Alexandra and the Royal Princesses the art of driving. In her influential book, The Woman and the Car: A Chatty Little Handbook for all Women who Motor or Who Want to Motor, published in 1905, Dorothy Levitt suggested that women should carry a hand-mirror while driving to check for traffic behind them. This ingenious suggestion predates the introduction of rear-view mirrors by manufacturers in 1914, making Dorothy Levitt an inadvertent pioneer in automotive safety technology. The photograph encapsulates the thrill and excitement of the early motor trials, with Dorothy's focused expression and the Napier's impressive engine power on full display. Her pioneering spirit and innovative ideas continue to inspire and influence the world of motoring and beyond.
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