Camille Du Gast One of the world's first female racing drivers Date of Birth: 30.05.1868 Country: France

1. Early Life and Marriage
2. Athletic Interests and Philanthropy
3. Racing Career
4. Other Adventures and Later Life
5. Family Tragedy and Legacy

Early Life and Marriage

Camille du Gast, a green-eyed blonde from France, was one of the world's first female race car drivers. She possessed a strong character and a significant fortune inherited from her husband. Born Marie Marthe Camille Desinge du Gast in Paris in 1868, Camille was the youngest child in her family, with her siblings being 12 years older than her. She married Jules Crespin, the director and majority shareholder of one of France's largest department stores, 'Dufayel', in 1890. However, Jules Crespin died at the young age of 27, leaving Camille a wealthy widow with a young daughter.

Athletic Interests and Philanthropy

Camille du Gast, always active and energetic, threw herself into sports activities after her husband's death. She excelled not only in racing but also in fencing, skiing, parachuting, pistol and rifle shooting, horse training, and piano playing. She was an avid traveler, even crossing Morocco on horseback. Additionally, she was involved in Parisian society and was known as one of the wealthiest widows in France. Camille's adventurous spirit, ambition, and courage both inspired admiration and elicited hatred from those around her. She collaborated with political leaders and engaged in charitable activities, participating in events for orphans and disadvantaged women and serving as the president of the Society for the Protection of Animals.

Racing Career

Camille du Gast became renowned for her participation in car racing. In 1900, she became enamored with automobiles while watching the Gordon Bennett Cup race from Paris to Lyon. A year later, Camille purchased two cars - a 'Peugeot' and a 'Panhard-Levassor'. She was among the first women to obtain a driver's license and the only lady to become an official member of the Automobile Club of France. In 1901, Camille du Gast, alongside Baroness Helen van Zuylen, the wife of the president of the Automobile Club of France, was one of the only two women to compete in the Paris-Berlin race. Previously, Baroness Zuylen had already participated in the Paris-Amsterdam-Paris race in 1898. Thus, Camille became the second woman driver to take part in an international car race. In that race, Du Gast finished 33rd out of 47 participants. She also competed in the infamous Paris-Madrid race in 1903, which claimed the lives of at least eight people. While in eighth place, she spotted the stranded car of Englishman Phil Stead, who had veered off the road. Without hesitation, Camille rushed to his aid and stayed with him until help arrived. Only then did she resume the race and reached Bordeaux in 77th place, where the organizers halted the competition.

Other Adventures and Later Life

Camille du Gast's eccentricity extended beyond her driving pursuits. Even during her husband's lifetime, she became fascinated with aviation. In 1895, she parachuted from a hot air balloon at a height of 610 meters. When the French government prohibited women from participating in car races in 1904, Camille shifted her focus to water sports. During a Mediterranean race from Algeria to Toulon, a severe storm wrecked all seven participating boats, with six of them sinking. Two months later, the jury declared du Gast the winner, as her boat sank closest to the finish line. In September 1906, Camille embarked on a horseback journey through Morocco. She documented her trip in an article published in the French magazine 'Je sais tout'. Subsequently, she visited Morocco twice more, this time at the behest of the French government. Du Gast engaged in work with local women, distributing medicine and sweets in the smallest villages, thus contributing to France's influence in the country.

Family Tragedy and Legacy

Camille du Gast experienced a highly unpleasant incident involving her daughter, allegedly in 1910. Her daughter attempted to kill her own mother during the night. Jean Francois Bouzanquet, in his book 'Fast Ladies: Women Racing Drivers from 1888 to 1970,' described the incident as driven by envy and greed, with the daughter determined to obtain money from her famous mother at all costs. Camille resisted, narrowly escaping death, but her life changed dramatically from that moment onward. She dedicated herself almost entirely to caring for her beloved animals, forsaking her adventurous lifestyle.

After Camille du Gast's death in 1942, she was buried in the Crespin family mausoleum in Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. One of the streets in Paris bears her name, a testament to her legacy.