Violette Cordery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Violette Cordery
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Cordery at the wheel of the
"Eric-Campbell" 10 h.p. in 1919 |
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| Born | 10 January 1900 London, England
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| Died | 30 December 1983 (aged 83) Oxshott, England
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| Occupation | Racing driver |
| Spouse(s) | John Stuart Hindmarsh (1931-1938; his death) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Noel Macklin (brother-in-law) George Duller (brother-in-law) |
Violette Cordery (born 10 January 1900 – died 30 December 1983) was a brave and skilled British racing driver. She was famous for breaking many long-distance driving records. Violette showed the world that women could be amazing in the exciting world of car racing.
Contents
Violette Cordery's Early Life
Violette Cordery was born in London, England. She had an older sister named Lucy and a younger sister named Evelyn. Both of her sisters sometimes joined her on her exciting driving adventures.
Becoming a Racing Driver
Violette began her career as a driver for Noel Macklin. He was a captain in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Noel Macklin was also married to Violette's older sister, Lucy. This connection helped Violette get into the world of cars.
First Races and Wins
In 1920, Violette started competing in car races. She drove a car called a Silver Hawk. Noel Macklin's company made this car. She also raced an Eric-Campbell car, which was also made by Macklin. In May 1921, Violette won a special race for ladies. She drove at an average speed of about 49.7 miles per hour (80 km/h).
Racing Invicta Cars
In 1925, Violette helped show off a new car called the Invicta. This car was also made by Noel Macklin. She raced the Invicta and broke many records. At a race meeting in Brooklands, she won a short sprint race. This was just the start of her many victories.
Breaking World Records
Violette Cordery became famous for her amazing long-distance driving records. She pushed cars and herself to their limits.
Driving 10,000 Miles in Italy
In 1926, Violette set a huge record in Italy. She drove a 19.6 horsepower Invicta car for 10,000 miles (16,093 km). She did this at an average speed of 56.47 miles per hour (90.88 km/h). This was a very impressive achievement.
5,000 Miles in France
Later in 1926, Violette set another record in Paris, France. She drove for 5,000 miles (8,047 km) at an average speed of 70.7 miles per hour (113.8 km/h). Because of her incredible driving, she became the first woman to win the Dewar Trophy. This award is given by the Royal Automobile Club for outstanding motoring achievements.
Driving Around the World
One of Violette's most famous trips was driving around the world in 1927. She completed this amazing journey in just five months. She covered 10,266 miles (16,522 km) at an average speed of 24.6 miles per hour (39.6 km/h).
She traveled through many different places. These included Europe, Africa, India, Australia, the United States, and Canada. Violette was not alone on this journey. She had a nurse, a mechanic, and an observer from the Royal Automobile Club with her.
30,000 Miles at Brooklands
In 1929, Violette and her younger sister Evelyn set another record. They drove 30,000 miles (48,280 km) on the Brooklands race track. They completed this in about 20 days and 20 hours. Their average speed was 61.57 miles per hour (99.09 km/h). For this incredible feat, Violette earned a second Dewar Trophy.
By 1930, her 4.5-liter Invicta car had completed many long trips. These included return journeys from London to Monte Carlo, London to John O'Groats, and London to Edinburgh.
London Ladies' Motor Club
Violette was also a member of the London Ladies' Motor Club. This was a special club for women who loved motorcycles and cars. It was founded in 1926 or 1927. The club helped women get involved in motor sports.
Violette's Family Life
On 15 September 1931, Violette married another famous racing driver and pilot, John Stuart Hindmarsh. They had two daughters together. One of their daughters, Susan, later married racing driver Roy Salvadori.
Sadly, John Stuart Hindmarsh passed away in 1938. He died while testing a new airplane. After his death, Violette stopped her public racing career. She lived a quieter life until she passed away on 30 December 1983, in Oxshott, England.
