Speedqueens

Speedqueens Spreading the word about women in motorsport and providing writing and research services for heritage and motoring.

The blog:
Speedqueens is a history of women’s contribution to motorsport, from the 1890s, to now. It is growing all the time, and is one of the most comprehensive resources on female racing drivers on the web. If you know a Speedqueen you think should be featured on the blog, please let me know. Work with Speedqueens:
- copywriting on women in motorsport, motorsport history, women's sports, genera

l motorsport and heritage topics.
- research services for motorsport and heritage
- historical consultancy for media (motorsport and/or women)
- genealogy

Projects:
- Blue Plaque Rebellion ()
Dorothy Levitt and Theo Weblyn film
- Beaulieu's Women in Motorsport and Social History blog
Guest post "Mini Skirts and Mini Coopers"
-essaar.co.uk
Contributor
-Motorsport Woman
Contributor

Contact me here to discuss your needs.

30/10/2025
27/10/2025
19/10/2025
Really looking forward to reading this book. I've been privileged to have several discussions with Jon about his work, a...
17/10/2025

Really looking forward to reading this book. I've been privileged to have several discussions with Jon about his work, and have a sneak peek at some of the fascinating pictures he has got hold of.
Lella's story is one that deserves to be told properly and Jon's research has got him close to those who were close to Lella herself.

13/10/2025

A nostalgic glimpse back in time…

Here's a wonderful picture of Kay Petre and her Sidevalve racer at Brooklands in the late 1930s.

Kay’s the lady with the hair band and no hat, She was a true pioneer of her era. Not sure who her companion is, but those racing shoes give the game away, clearly another racer ready to take on the legendary Brooklands banking.

This was the machine that today’s single-seaters owe their roots to… though by comparison, it looks more like a heavyweight tank built to survive those long, punishing races on Brooklands’ notoriously broken concrete.

If you look closely, you’ll see Kay had a seat within a seat, a clever adaptation to help her reach the pedals and wrestle the car around at speed.

Sadly, she later suffered a horrific crash in this very car when Reg Parnell spun in front of her, forcing her off the track and leaving her in a coma for days. The sister car to this one now proudly sits on display at Gaydon.

Photo courtesy of the PWA7C collection, a wonderful reminder of when racing was as much about courage and character as it was about speed.

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The blog: Speedqueens is a history of women’s contribution to motorsport, from the 1890s, to now. It is growing all the time, and is one of the most comprehensive resources on female racing drivers on the web. If you know a Speedqueen you think should be featured on the blog, please let me know. Work with Speedqueens: - copywriting on women in motorsport, motorsport history, women's sports, general motorsport and heritage topics. - research services for motorsport and heritage - historical consultancy for media (motorsport and/or women) - genealogy Projects: - Blue Plaque Rebellion (@blueplaquerebel) Dorothy Levitt and Theo Weblyn film - Beaulieu's Women in Motorsport and Social History blog Guest post "Mini Skirts and Mini Coopers"

- press and PR for Lorina McLaughlin (@lorinaracing)

-Autosport Academy member

-Motorsport Woman Contributor