Kaye Don and Ambassador

Many mysteries went to the grave with Kaye Don (MIMI – Member of the Institute of the Motor Industry and FIMI – Fellow IMI) including his surname, names of many associates and business dealings. It is thought Kaye Ernest Donsky (Donski), born in Dublin on April 10, 1891, abbreviated his surname as his father may have done, but later he was proud to remind listeners about his Polish ancestry. His obituary notices detail him as Kaye Ernest Don.

After schooling, Kaye worked for the Avon Tyre Company from c1908 and later stated he became involved in tyre testing, leading him to take part in motorcycle and car reliability trials, competing modestly at Brooklands before the First World War. Circa 1915 he signed for the Army Service Corps but was discharged on medical grounds, he then trained as a pilot to fly with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC).

During this time he’d met Charles Cooper (who with son John founded the Cooper Car Company in December 1947), and after the First World War, both lived at Kingston upon Thames, as did another friend, Harry Hawker.

Kaye returned