Type 7 | The Queen of Speed

Dubbed ‘Britain’s Fastest Lady’, she took a gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Rally (the only motor sport event ever to be associated with the Olympics), was part of Ferrari’s first ever all-female Le Mans crew in 1951, won the 1938 Paris-Saint Raphael Rally (as well a flurry of rallying class wins) and took on Monte Carlo’s special stages three times.

Now, Nick Carter and a small band of enthusiasts are preserving her memory through the cars she drove, bringing two of her air-cooled Porsches to Prescott Speed Hill Climb. She held the Ladies’ record here from 1950 to 1956, subsequently having a competition named in her honour.

“It’s extraordinary these cars still exist,” says Carter. “They’re just so different to anything else.”

The Porsches in question, glinting in the August sun, are Haig’s silver 1600 Super 356A, which she bought in 1959, and a ‘Gulf Blue’ Porsche 911, acquired in 1967. Both take to Prescott’s inclines with ease, their flowing shapes perfectly suited to the picturesque surroundings of the Cotswolds.

Carter has long been captivated by cars of this ilk, eventually leading him to Haig’s story and this sensational duo. The 2-litre, 130bhp 911 came first.

“About two years ago, a friend said he had heard of this car, that it could be one of hers,” he shared, adding “Someone else told me not to get excited, that it ‘might not be what you think’”.

“We quickly drove down to meet the owners, and realised the car was one of Betty’s. She’d put 22,000 miles on it in three years. It’d then been sold to this family who had it for the next 42 years, only adding 2000 miles in all that time!

The car moved to the States before being brought back to the UK to compete in historic events, with Nick Carter buying it last year. A much bigger restoration job than the 911, Porsche specialist David Kennedy oversaw the work.

“Everything was period correct for the 911, it’s been really looked after and left alone, unmodified,” says Kennedy. “That blue paint colour was only used for one year before they discontinued it.”

“Nick fitted a rare, early 911R seat made by Scheel - and a ‘period-appropriate’ MOMO steering wheel, with an aluminium finish which matches the dashboard. On the 356, a lot of things have changed: the previous owner installed a 1720cc Maxted-Page engine, based on a 356 SC unit and making about 105bhp. They also enhanced the gearbox, and we fitted the CSP brake system.”

As Haig’s racing activities wound down, she was instrumental in setting up the Porsche Club Great Britain, helping to transform it from niche brand to household name. She was also cultivating her car collection, through which she now lives on.

Never precious about her daily drivers, Haig would touch up the chipped rear bumper of the 911 with mismatched blue paint. Carter believes Haig’s close relationship with London’s AFN meant she could enhance that car to her particular preference.

“Betty had a bit of a spirited approach, so had it uprated to 68S brakes, put anti-roll bars on it, all that stuff - she obviously loved it.”

Taking on a male-dominated sport, the fearless Haig rubbed shoulders with fellow competitors such as Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss and even then-future F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Having first raced before WWII, she became one of the inimitable characters that made up Britain’s burgeoning post-war motor sport scene as it developed into its golden age.