Grace Harris was from Kansas City and loved racing airplanes and cars. She was the first FAA licensed balloonist. Grace knew Kansas Citian Mastin Gregory. Grace Harris won the 1959 Ladies Group at Lake Garnett in an English Elva MkII made by Frank Nichols. Elva was a corruption of “elle va” meaning “she goes.” Grace Harris won the Women’s Division of the Midwest Region SCCA in 1958, ’59 and ’60. In 1980 she wrote her book “West to the Sunrise” and has a scholarship in her name for female aviation students.

Although this is not her car, it is very similar to the one she drove.

Lake Garnett is celebrating our 60th anniversary this October and we are looking for drivers and cars that raced in 1959 – ’72.

Russ Sifers

Russ@VALOMILK.com