In 1929, she married, secondly, to the Englishman Henry Aloysius Petre (1884–1962), who forsook a law career to pursue an interest in aviation.

[1] Petre was a star at the English Brooklands track, and the exploits of this 4' 10" lady caused a media sensation at the time.

The Riley connection continued next year, but Petre and Elsie "Bill" Wisdom failed to finish with a blown engine.

Competing against him and other top drivers of the day, she drove in three Grands Prix, scoring a sixth place in the Grosvenor GP at Cape Town, but failing to finish the others.

[4] During practice for the 500 Kilometre race, Reg Parnell misjudged an overtaking move, lost speed, slid down the banking and hit her Austin Seven from behind.

[7] On 20 January 1939, whilst covering the Monte Carlo rally, the car she was driving was involved in an accident in Amberieu-en-Bugey near Lyon in France.

[9][10] During the Second World War Petre was a food writer,[1] but then became motoring correspondent for The Daily Graphic magazine.

[citation needed] Later Leonard Lord appointed her as a colour consultant to the British Motor Corporation, charged with brightening up the Austin image to appeal to women drivers.

[1] After her husband's death she lived alone in St John's Wood, London, then as a resident in a care home, Parkwood House, Camden, where she died on 10 August 1994.