BRUCE (Mildred Mary Petre, 1895-1990, Mrs Victor Bruce, Record Breaking Racing Motorist, Speedboat Racer and Aviator in the 1920’s and 30’s)

Long Typed Letter Signed to Mr Evans, thanking him for his letter about her “exploits and adventures. I think, of all my records, the two that pleased me the most, and probably will be the best remembered, are the twenty-four hour record at Montlhéry in a Bentley in 1927, and the World Flight in 1930... As to a photograph, I am enclosing one of myself with the ‘Miles Satyr’ which, at the time when the photograph was taken, was the smallest bi-plane in the world. This was one of the aeroplanes with which I toured the country when I was involved with the British Hospital Air Pageants Flying Circus... I do hope your pupils will be interested in my land,, sea and air records as well as my horse jumping exploits. It is a pity that nowadays young people do not have much opportunity of blazing new trails...”, 2 sides 8vo., on separate sheets, Croftway House, Croftway,, NW3 7AQ, 28th October

Bruce borrowed an AC Six car from Selwyn Edge, and started the 1927 Monte Carlo Rally from John o' Groats. After travelling 1,700 miles in 72 hours without sleeping, she finished sixth overall, and won the Coupe des Dames, for the women's class. On 28th January 1927, she departed Monte Carlo on an 8,000-mile endurance trial through Italy, Sicily, Tunisia, Morocco, Spain, and France. She drove the car 1,000 miles around the Montlhéry oval circuit near Paris, then finally returned to England. On 9th July 1927, she departed from London in the same car, once again accompanied by her husband plus a journalist and an engineer. They drove through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and finally planted a Union Jack about 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle. It was farther north than anyone had previously driven, a record that remained unbroken until the 21st century.

Item Date:  1986

Stock No:  41934      £125

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