Driven: A pioneer for women in motorsport - an autobiography

by Rosemary Smith

Overview

The inspirational story of the female motorsport pioneer who broke through the gender barrier to compete in and win some of the most iconic rallies in the world.

Rosemary Smith is recognised internationally for her outstanding achievements in the world of motorsport. A female pioneer in a notoriously male-dominated sport, she drove in the Monte Carlo rally eight times, winning the Coupe des Dames on numerous occasions as well as competing in most other iconic rallies all over the world, including the London to Sydney in 1968, the World Cup London to Mexico in 1970 and the East African Safari Rally in the 1970s. In a Hillman Imp, Rosemary won the Tulip Rally outright, beating all the male drivers to the finish.

Now, for the first time, Rosemary reveals the inside story of her amazing life, recounting many memorable adventures and exploits both on and off the track.

But Rosemary’s story is not all fast cars and marathon rallies. She writes with honesty about her early life, about a disastrous marriage and money troubles – and how she overcame it all.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780008301859
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	03/12/2019
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Rosemary Smith is a rally driver from Dublin. Her father taught her to drive at the age of 11 in a field in Tallaght. Leaving school at 15, Rosemary trained as a dress designer and model and opened a boutique dressmaking company. Rosemary was asked to navigate for a friend in a rally but soon took over the driving. Rosemary was the first and only woman driver to win the Tulip Rally outright, beating all the male drivers to the finish. Rosemary is passionate about road safety and opened the Rosemary Smith School of Motoring in 1999 where she teaches young people to drive. In 2017, at 80 years of age she became the oldest person to drive a Renault Sports Formula One team car.

Table of Contents

Foreword Eddie Jordan 1

Introduction 5

Chapter 1 The Start 11

Chapter 2 Special Stages 23

Chapter 3 'You Drive,' She Said 41

Chapter 4 And We're Off! 55

Chapter 5 Revving Up with Rootes 61

Chapter 6 The Americas 81

Chapter 7 Avoidable Accidents 95

Chapter 8 Moving On 105

Chapter 9 Down Under 111

Chapter 10 South of the Border 129

Chapter 11 Men, Marriage and Mortgages 147

Chapter 12 Rainy Kenya 163

Chapter 13 Racing Around 173

Chapter 14 From Bad to Worse 181

Chapter 15 Rock Bottom 185

Chapter 16 Let's Face It 191

Chapter 17 In Business 197

Chapter 18 Seeking Solutions 201

Chapter 19 Recollections and Regrets 211

Chapter 20 Déjà VU 225

Chapter 21 Passion for Life 243

Acknowledgements 257

About the Authors 259

Index 261

Editorial Reviews

A ‘brazenly honest and profound autobiography. … Wise and still feisty at 81…her life has been by turns thrilling, glamourous and emotionally devastating.’ – Sunday Times

From the Publisher