Dorothy Levitt - Chronology

Chronology

There are a number of contradictory sources and gaps relating to Dorothy Levitt's life. This list starts a synopsis of the events.

• Born 1881, 1882, or 1883.
• 1901 or 1902. Met S. F. Edge. – aged twenty, ... five years ago. Newspaper interview in 1906 – The Sensational Adventures of Miss Dorothy Levitt, – Champion Lady Motorist of the World.
• 1902–1903? or 1904? Worked in Parisian car factory for six months. Possibly the Clément-Gladiator factory owned by S. F. Edge's business partner Adolphe Clément-Bayard.
• April 1903 – 'motor-car competition' ("First Englishwoman to take part in public motor-car competition. Did not win. Will do better next time");
• May 1903 – Glasgow-London Non-stop run. Drove 16 hp Gladiator; Score 994 out of 1,000;
• July 1903 (possibly 12th) – drove S. F. Edge's winning Napier motor-boat at the inaugural British International Harmsworth Trophy at Cork Harbour.
• August 1903 – won the Gaston Menier Cup, Trouville, France; (in motor-boat).
• August 8, 1903 – drove Napier motor-boat at Cowes, won the race, and was commanded to the Royal yacht by King Edward VII; (King thought boat useful for government despatch work))
• September 1903 – 1000 mile Reliability Trials, 16 hp Gladiator, Won, fastest time in class;
• October 2, 1903 – competed in the Southport Speed Trials, 16 hp Gladiator, won silver cup for fastest time.
• October 1903 – won the Championship of the Seas, at Trouville in the Napier motor-boat. (French government then bought boat!))
• 6 November 1903, appeared at Marlborough Street Assizes for speeding in Hyde Park. Fined £5 with 2s costs.
• 1903, – claimed damages against a GPO van driver who had hit their car. Received compensation of £35.
• 1904? Possibly worked in Parisian car factory for six months, prior to tackling 'Light Car Trials' Entirely alone.
• September 1904 – Light Car Trials. Successful. Drove De Dion, 8 horse-power. Entirely alone. No Mechanics attended to car. Did everything myself, Had non-stop for five days but small difficulties on last day.
• October 1904 – Southport Speed Trials. Drove 50 horse-power Napier. Won two medals.
• February 1905 – Did Liverpool and back to London in two days, averaging a level 20 miles per hour throughout for the entire 411 miles. Unaccompanied by mechanic. Eight horsepower De Dion.
• May 1905 – Won Non-stop Certificate at Scottish Trials. Ran over very rough and hilly roads in the Highlands. Eight horse-power De Dion.
• July 1905 – Won Brighton Sweepstakes on 80 horse-power Napier, at rate of 79.75 miles per hour, constituting the woman's wprld record. Beat a great many professional drivers. Drove at rate of 77.75 miles in Daily Mail Cup.
• June 1906 – Shelsey Walsh Hill Climb. Was only sixth at finish. Fifty horse-power Napier. Mine was only car competing which was not fitted with non-skids. Car nearly went over embankment owing to this and greasy state of roads.
• July 1906 – Aston Clinton Hill Climb, Tring. Third on 50 horse-power Napier.
• October 1906 – Broke my own record and created new world's record for women at Blackpool. Ninety horse-power six cylinder Napier. Racing car. Drove at rate of 91 miles an hour. Had near escape as front part of bonnetworked loose and, had I not pulled up in time, might have blown back and beheaded me. Was presented with a cup by the Blackpool Automobile Club and also a cup by S. F. Edge, Limited.
• May 1907 – Bexhill, Second prize, Appearance Competition. Eight horse-power De Dion.
• June 1907 – Germany. Won Gold Medal Herkomer Trophy Race (1,818 kilometres). Fourth out of 172 competitors. Was first of all women in all competitions. Sixty horse-power six-cylinder Napier. There were 42 cars with much larger engines than I had.
• October 1907 – France, Gaillon Hill Climb. Forty horse-power six cylinder Napier. Won in my class by 20 seconds. Gradient of hill 1 in 10 average.
• June 1908 – Prinz Heinrich Trophy, Germany. Made absolute non-stop run on 45 horse-power Napier. Won large silver plaque.
• July 1908 – Aston Hill Climb, Aston Clinton. Made second fastest time of over 50 competitors on 60 horse-power Napier.
• August 1908 – France. Trouville, La Cote du Calvaire.
• 1909 – published The Woman and the Car: A Chatty Little Hand Book for Women Who Motor or Want to Motor,
• 1909 – attempted to qualify as a pilot at the 'Hubert Latham School of Aviation' at Châlons Camp, Mourmelon-le-Grand, France.
• January 1910 – booked to talk to the 'Aero Club of the United Kingdom' at the Criterion Restaurant on Thursday, 3 March 1910 about her experiences learning to fly.
• Died 17 May 1922 in Marylebone.