How Did Our First Female Rally Driver Beat All the Men?

women driving cars We are talking about a period when even the automobile was barely accepted, let alone automobiles. Imagine what will happen when it is learned that the driver of the car, which is said to be the work of the devil, was a woman!

In the first years of the RepublicWhen you read the story of Samiye Hanım, who participated in an automobile race in the heart of Istanbul, and Vehbi Bey, who could not bring himself to lose to her, you will understand better what we are talking about.

The presence of a woman driving her car on the streets of Istanbul was astonishing for some.

At that time, automobiles were seen as ‘the work of the devil’. people already The car they see like this When he saw that the woman was also a woman, he mocked her. “I won’t get into a car driven by a woman!” they said.

But when we look back at history, Turkey’s first licensed female driver and also the first female car racer. Samiye Cahid Morkaya No one can deny that he drove his vehicle on the streets of Istanbul 97 years ago and that he crowned this skill with first place 91 years ago. So much so that there were those who tried to deny it.

The automobile race held in Veliefendi Meadow in 1927 was Turkey’s first automobile race, although it was not official.

These unofficial races, organized by the Chamber of Drivers, took place with cars making 15 laps around the track. The first official automobile race is on June 17. İstinye-Zincirlikuyu in 1932 It was held on the asphalt road between.

Turing Club and Milliyet Newspaper These races, which took place in cooperation, were held under the supervision of an expert referee committee in accordance with international rules. There were four different categories in the race: taxi drivers, office drivers, male amateurs and female amateurs.

There was only one person in the women’s category.

Samiye Morkaya, 35 years old and also a music teacher, was the only woman who applied. One year before the competition, we participated in the Balkan Rally held in Sofia. She was one of the first Turkish women to get a driver’s license. Since she had no rival in the women’s category, she would be declared the champion directly.

Ms. Samiye, displayed a brave behavior and informed the referee committee that it would not be fair to win the competition, so he wanted to compete in the men’s category. This request was accepted and he competed with 10 men. He finished fourth in this race.

Samiye Hanım was the only female participant in the race, which was held for the second time on June 23, 1933.

This time he broke new ground and She came first by eliminating all her male competitors. He completed the 9-kilometer distance in only 5 minutes and 40 seconds and had a 17-second difference over his closest rival, Sait Paşazade Vehbi Bey.

Thus, the fuse was lit for the moment when things got heated. Because Vehbi Bey would object to the result. One month after the competition, it was in all newspapers Sait Paşazade Vehbi Bey’s It was written that he applied to the court. Vehbi Bey demanded that the results be canceled and the first place be given to him.

Since his objection was rejected, he had to go to court.

Vehbi Bey, who could not stomach the defeat, Samiye Hanım should compete in the women’s categorywas declaring that it was his right to be first.

The race is organized with the Turing Club. In the rally specifications of Milliyet Newspaper It was stated that women would compete in a separate category. He argued that even if the specification had changed, it should be announced in the newspaper.

While Vehbi Bey filed a lawsuit against Samiye Hanım to get the cup, he also demanded 250 lira compensation from Milliyet Newspaper.

At the first hearing on July 31, 1933 Samiye Hanım’s lawyer stated that the race was held in the presence of a respected referee committee and that the referee’s decisions could not be objected to in court. The case was postponed to determine the authority of the referees working in the race.

Vehbi Bey Does it remain idle during this time? Samiye Hanım’s husband, Burhan Cahid, also filed a criminal complaint against Morkaya.

According to his claim, Burhan Bey lied that his wife was in Bursa and sent him home. turned down the notice of lawsuit several times and delayed the trial. However, this was not even considered a matter of litigation.

Samiye Hanım hit Vehbi Bey from where he least expected it.

Samiye Hanım’s In his first race, in which he finished fourth, Vehbi Bey came second again.. After the first hearing, Ms. Samiye applied to the Turing Club to compete one-on-one with Vehbi Bey.

In his statement to the newspapers, he said that he competed in the men’s category again in the competition held last year, Stating that Vehbi Bey was second and he was fourth. “The same situation happened last year, so why didn’t he object?” asked.

Vehbi Bey also gave his answer: “I accept the competition offer on one condition!”

His condition was this: The Buick brand car he used, Samiye Hanım was much heavier than the Ford she was racing.He stated that he could accept the race if he was allowed to remove his bodywork to make his vehicle lighter, otherwise his opponent would have to race with a vehicle similar in weight to his own vehicle.

While the fights, closely followed by the newspapers, continued, the second hearing of the case was held. The powers of the arbitral tribunal were those who organized the competition and acted as the automobile sports federation of that period. asked the Turing Club.

In the response from the club, it was reiterated once again that the referee’s decisions were final and that Samiye Hanım finished the race first.

Samiye Hanım’s lawyer wanted to put an end to the bickering. “If Vehbi Bey wants a cup, this is an issue between Turing Club and Milliyet Newspaper. This has nothing to do with Samiye Hanım’s first place.” made the statement.

At the last hearing on August 31, 1933, the court made a decision in favor of both Vehbi Bey and Samiye Hanım. Samiye Hanım’s first place will not be touched, but Milliyet Newspaper He will give Vehbi Bey the cup of the male amateur category. or he would pay the trophy price.

Preparing for competitions again in 1935 Samiye Hanım survived a serious accident. While it was a miracle that he even survived the car, he returned to his passion for automobiles years later and continued until 1972. Her determination and success story have taken their place in history as a source of inspiration to us women.

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