Kaye Don
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| Kaye Don | |
| Born | 10th of April 1891 Dublin, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Died | 1981 Chobham Surrey |
| Nationality |  Irish |
| Other names | Kaye Earnest Donsky |
| Occupation | Motor Racer |
| Known for | 1930 Speedboat World Record |
Kaye Don (born Dublin, Ireland) was a world record breaking car and speedboat racer who became a motorcycle dealer on his retirement from road racing and set up Ambassador Motorcycles.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Kaye Earnest Donsky, known as 'Kaye Don' was born in Dublin on the 10 April 1891[1] Kaye Don began his career as a motorcycle racer soon switched to cars and won the inaugural 1928 Ards-Belfast circuit, Northern Ireland,Tourist Trophy with a Lea-Francis. In 1928 he had three ex-works Sunbeam cars which he named "Cub", "Tiger" and "Tigress".[1] Don regularly raced at Brooklands and driving a Sunbeam on the 22nd of September 1928 he set an outer circuit lap flying start record of 131.76 miles per hour (212.05 km/h) and increased this to 134.24 miles per hour (216.04 km/h) on the 5th of August 1929.[2] Driving a Wolseley Viper at Brooklands Don achieved many class records between 1928 and 1930. Driving the V-12 Sunbeam Tigress at Brooklands on the 9th of June 1930 Kaye set a new Outer Circuit lap record of 137.58 miles per hour (221.41 km/h). Kaye Don died in Chobham Surrey in 1981 aged 90.[2] In memory of his heroic achievements at Brooklands race track the area has a street named after Kaye Don in the borough of Elmbridge District.[3] Perhaps the best memorial to him was made by Kaye Don in a victory speech to the Empire Club of Canada in 1931, when he was the holder of land and water world speed records and said One or two experiences that I have had have been somewhat thrilling[4]
[edit] Siver Bullet
The Sunbeam Silver Bullet was the last attempt on the land speed record by Sunbeam of Wolverhampton. It was built in 1929 for Kaye Don. Powered by two supercharged aero-engines of 24 litres each, it looked impressive but failed to achieve any records.[5]
[edit] Speedboat World Record
.jpg/180px-Miss_England_II_(model).jpg)
In 1931 Don was selected to compete in the Harmsworth Trophy Race on the Detroit River. Billed as a match between the Wood brothers, Gar (in the new Miss America IX) and George (in last year's Miss America VIII), and the 'Englishman' Kaye Don, driving Lord Wakefield's powerboat Miss England II. While preparing for the race, Gar Wood became the first man to exceed 100mph limit on water but three days later, Kaye Don became a new water speed world record holder by beating Wood by just 1.25mph. Before an estimated crowd of over a million spectators, Don also won the first heat of the race. Miss America IX had suffered hull damage from pounding through Miss England's wake. Despite working overnight, she was barely ready the next day and Wood requested a delay to allow repairs to be completed, something he'd previously been known to concede to. Don stuck to the rules though, a matter which still rankles with some today.[6] Miss America IX made it to the second heat, but only by Wood racing flat-out to the start line, a mistake that cost him dearly later on. During another close race, Wood was leading Don when Miss England II suddenly flipped over rounding one of the turns, fortunately without injury to Don and his co-driver. Gar Wood finished the race first, but both he and Don were disqualified because they had jumped the starter's gun by seven seconds. George Wood completed the final race to win the trophy.[7]
[edit] Isle of Man Accident
One evening in May 1934 Kaye Don, practising for the next days race, took a corner at over 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) and hit another car, crashing through a hedge and landing upside down. His friend and mechanic, Francis Taylor, was killed. On his recovery from the crash Don was charged with manslaughter and tried by a Manx court. Becauase of his speed, having no lights in the evening darkness and admitting faulty steering, he was found guilty by a jury after a three-day trial and sentenced to four months' imprisonment on the Isle of Man. This experience effectively ended his racing career.[8]
[edit] Ambassador Motorcycles
In the 1940s Don established and developed Ambassador Motorcycles. The company produced many different models until it was taken over by DMW in 1962 and Kaye Don retired.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b De Jonghe, Rudiger de Jonghe. The Golden Era - Drivers. Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
- ^ a b Top 100 Historic Racing Drivers. Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
- ^ London Boroughs. Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
- ^ A Complementary Luncheon for Mr Kaye Don, famous British Sportsman (10th September, 1931). Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
- ^ A History of Sunbeam. Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
- ^ James P. Barry (2003). American Powerboats: The Great Lakes Golden Years. MBI Publishing, 38. ISBN 0760314667.
- ^ Kevin Desmond (2004). Race Against The Odds: The Tragic Success Story of Miss England II. ISBN 1 85058 806 6.
- ^ Don Before Deemster. Time Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
