Dalston in Hackney in Greater London, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
Dorothy Levitt
Photographed by Jerry Klinger, 2026
1. Dorothy Levitt Marker
Dorothy Levitt
née Elizabeth Levi
(1882-1922)
Jewish pioneering land and water racing driver
"The fastest girl in the world"
lived at 13 Colvestone Crescent
יעלו אבר כנשרים
Mount up with wings like eagles
(Isaiah 40:31)
(Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, Clarion Housing)
Erected 2026 by Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Sports • Women. In addition, it is included in the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation. series list.
Location. 51° 32.94′ N, 0° 4.397′ W. Marker is in Hackney, England, in Greater London. It is in Dalston. It is on Colvestone Crescent, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13 Colvestone Crescent, Hackney, England E8 2LG, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in London and in the Greater South East. Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The 43 Group (about 180 meters away, measured in a direct line); Sgt. Issy Smith, VC (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Mary Wollstonecraft (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Newington Green (approx. 0.9 kilometers away); First World War Islington 1914-1918 (approx. one kilometer away); a different marker also named First World War Islington 1914-1918 (approx. one kilometer away); George Leybourne (approx.
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Advice for Drivers From Dorothy Levitt, the Pre-War Racing Record Breaker You’ve Never Heard Of.
Levitt became one of the first women to race in 1903, and continued to race for Napier. But she was more than a stunt: her talent as a driver kept her on the road. She placed well or won a number of races, and she didn’t just drive automobiles—she also raced boats, rode horses and even learned how to fly planes, writes Ronnie Schreiber for The Truth About Cars. She also taught other women how to drive, he writes, including Queen Alexandra and her three daughters.(Submitted on October 1, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
2. Women in Motorsport: Dorothy Levitt.
Levitt set a long list of achievements not only in motorsport but in her other interests. She was the holder of the first water speed record and holder of the women’s world land speed record, as well as being an author. There is also some evidence to suggest that Levitt taught Queen Alexandra(Submitted on October 1, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)and the Royal Princesses how to drive. Certainly, she had a large list of achievements.Photographed by Jerry Klinger, October 1, 20262. Dorothy Levitt Marker
3. Dorothy Levitt. Dorothy Elizabeth Levitt (born Elizabeth Levi; 5 January 1882 – 17 May 1922) was a Jewish British racing driver and journalist. She was the first British woman racing driver, holder of the world's first water speed record, the women's world land speed record holder, and an author. She was a pioneer of female independence and female motoring and taught Queen Alexandra and the Royal Princesses how to drive. In 1905, she established the record for the longest drive achieved by a lady driver by driving a De Dion-Bouton from London to Liverpool and back over two days, receiving the soubriquets in the press of the Fastest Girl on Earth, and the Champion Lady Motorist of the World. (Submitted on October 1, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
4. Dorothy Levitt Plaque Unveiled Honouring Motoring Pioneer: Hackney 2026.
The early 1900s represented a transformative era for automotive technology, coinciding with the rise of(Submitted on October 3, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)the women’s suffrage movement in the United Kingdom. When Levitt began competing, motoring was considered a domain restricted primarily to wealthy male enthusiasts due to the physical effort and mechanical expertise required to operate early automobiles.Photographed by Foulsham & Banfield, Ltd., circa 19093. Dorothy Levitt - her favorite photographTaken from Dorothy Levitt’s 1909 book of advice for aspiring female motorists, The Woman and the Car - A Chatty Little Handbook for Women Who Motor or Want to Motor, (see provided link).
Levitt’s career broke structural barriers within the Royal Automobile Club and national racing circuits. Despite social prejudices of the Edwardian era, her performances in reliability trials, hill climbs, and speed trials established precedents for female participation in professional sports.
5. The Woman and the Motor Car (Dorothy Levitt, via The Hathi Trust). Full title : The Woman and the Car - A Chatty Little Handbook for Women Who Motor or Want to Motor (Submitted on October 5, 2026.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 1, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. 3. submitted on October 5, 2026. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
