Automotive Archives - Infinite Women

Kay Summersby

Irish secretary and chauffeur to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

June McCarroll was a doctor in early 1900s Indio, California, a “tiny, tough-talking lady who often strapped on a six-shooter to make house calls.” But for all the good she did as a physician, she saved far more lives by taking up the cause of road safety when she was 40 and semi-retired.

Daisy Hampson

Amongst the many women with access to serious funds who were early motorists, racers and rally drivers was a Miss Daisy Hampson.

Winifred Pink

1920s British car racer and mechanic

Alexandra Asmasoebrata

Indonesia’s first female race car driver

Suzanne Mathieu

French chemical engineer and advocate for girls in STEM

Virginia Sink

The first woman automotive engineer at Chrysler; by 1950 she was the Group Leader in the Chemical Research Department and worked on the LA smog project from 1957 until 1962 when she co-developed Chrysler’s Cleaner Air Package.

Marcelle Lafont

Marcelle Lafont (1905-1982) was a chemical engineer, resistance fighter and French politician.

Janet Guthrie

Originally an aerospace engineer, Janet Guthrie began racing part time in 1963 on the Sports Car Club of America circuit. By 1972, she was racing full time and in 1977 she became the first woman to qualify and compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500.