Thursday 5th January 1882

Born on this day, Dorothy Elizabeth Levitt, renowned pioneer of female independence, female motoring, motor racing, the most successful female competitor in Great Britain, victorious speedboat driver, holder of the water speed record, and holder of the Ladies World Land speed record. She was lauded as the first English woman ever to compete in a motor race, In 1905 she established the record for the longest drive achieved by a lady driver by driving a De Dion-Bouton from London to Liverpool and back over two days. Later that year she set the Ladies World Land speed record at Brighton and the following year she increased it to 90.88 mph (146.26 km/h) at the Blackpool Speed Trial.