*Awesome Women* GWENDA HAWKES was a woman who knew exactly what direction her life should take. SPEED record holder.

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Gwenda Glubb was born in 1884 in Preston, England. She comes from a military background and had a famous brother Pasha Glubb who was the founder of the Royal Jordanian Army.
Gwenda was a bit of a lad and did what at the time was not something women did. She travelled on her own but had a man’s haircut so she didn’t stand out as a woman.
During WW1 she drove ambulances on the Russian and Romanian fronts and was awarded their highest honours for her work.

She married Col Sam Janson who was director of the Spyker motor company. This started her interest in vehicles. Racing several motorcycles.

She met while racing Col R N Stewart and got divorced because of this relationship in 1923. With him she joined the Trump motorcycle company. Francis McNab the company founder, Stewart and Gwenda all raced Trump motorcycles at Brooklands famous banked circuit. Gwenda setting several speed/distance records.

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The company of Trump collapsed in 1926
Her racing continued and she not only set records on two wheels but three racing Morgans

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She moved to France due to restrictions on night riding at Brooklands and while there met Douglas Hawkes. Hawkes was owner of the Derby car company.
He set her up with a new car, the Derby-Miller. He searched around for an engine for his Derby car and came up with this American made unit.

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In 1935 she set the Brooklands record for a woman at 135.95 MPH.
What a car. Gwenda divorced Stewart in 1937 and married Hawkes.

Gwenda continued racing up to WW2 using several makes of car like a Derby-Maserati. In 1936 they tried to sell the Derby-Miller as it was no longer competitive but failed even at £750. It was broken up and lost until an American Miller enthusiast located the majority of parts and restored this beautiful car.

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Gwenda died in 1996 age 90.