Kaye Don
Toronto Daily Star, September 1 1931
Kaye Don (1891-1981), born Kaye Ernest Donsky, was actually Irish, not English. He held various speed records in both automobiles and boats.
The race described in this caption was the Harmsworth Cup race, which was to be held on the Detroit River; Don's Miss England II was to compete against two American boats piloted by brothers, Garfield and George Wood. The race was apparently witnessed by more than a million spectators; during it, Don and Garfield Wood were disqualified, leaving George Wood as the winner. Garfield Wood won the race every other year that it was held between 1920 and 1933, after which the race was suspended until 1949.
Don was convicted of manslaughter in 1934 when test-driving an MG car on the streets of the Isle of Man. His car swiped a hackney carriage, lost a wheel, and overturned, injuring him and killing Francis Tayler, an MG employee who was along for the ride. He served two months in jail, receiving medical treatment while incarcerated.
After his racing career was over, Don founded a company called Ambassador Motorcycles, which he sold when he retired in 1962.
Created October 2, 2025.