Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Maud Manville, an Early Sporting Motorist from Wales.

Maud Elizabeth Wallis (1872-1909) was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, the daughter of a wealthy East India merchant. In 1894 she married Edward Manville, later Sir Edward and chairman of the Daimler Motor Company.

In 1905 Mrs Manville competed in the Brighton Speed Trials in one of her husband's cars, winning the scratch race for 35 horse power Daimlers from Scott Montague. Later that year Maud was on the Continent participating in the Six Day Herkomer race, an event in which she also appeared in 1906.

The Times report of the 1906 event noted that Mrs Manville "the only lady in the competition, was loudly cheered and presented with a bouquet of roses. The only accident", the Thunderer continued, "happened to a Berlin car, which ran over and killed a peasant near Melk." Lucky Maud, unlucky peasant.


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