Barbara Skinner

Barbara Katherine Bolster (; 6 April 1911 – 3 January 1942) was a British racing driver of the 1930s. She began racing when her father presented her with a Morris Cowley Special development car and raced at the Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb. Skinner took part in the 1935 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of a three-car, six-women team dubbed "George Eyston's Dancing Daughters". She was the holder of the ladies' record at the Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb and secured a class victory at the Lewes Speed Trials. Skinner was killed in a traffic accident in Kent in 1942.

Biography Skinner was born in Barnet, Middlesex on 6 April 1911. She was the daughter of the boot and shoe manufacturer and motor car enthusiast Thomas Carlyle Skinner. Skinner had a younger brother. At the time of her birth, the British Auto Racing Club (BARC) barred women from competing against men until it lifted the restriction in 1932.

The Morris Cowley Special was retired from motor racing at the end of 1932 due to it no longer being competitive but Skinner kept it in her possession to tow her new White Minor racer presented to her by William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield, founder of Morris Motors, to events. At the international open hill climb meeting, she set a time of 50.35 seconds, four seconds slower than the ladies' record. Skinner set another time of 50.8 seconds at another Shelsley Walsh meet that was the fastest time of all women of the day, for which she received a special cup award. She later set a new ladies' record at of 46.6 seconds, beating the previous record of a Miss Sedgwick by 1.4 seconds. failing to start because of engine trouble. She was entered into the 1935 24 Hours of Le Mans and was part of a three-car, six-women team dubbed the "George Eyston's Dancing Daughters". Skinner shared the factory-entered 55 MG PA Midget with Doreen Evans in the 1.1 category, completing 136 laps to finish 25th overall and tenth in class. The following year, she was one of two women to enter the Frazer Nash Car Club meet at Donington Park, and continued competing at Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb and winning titles there until 1938. Skinner also raced competitively at Brooklands, becoming part of the "Brooklands Belles". She was killed in a traffic accident on public roads at Meopham, Kent on 3 January 1942.

24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Driver Car Class Capt. G.E.T. Eyston MG Cars Doreen Evans MG PA Midget 1.1 136 25th 10th