Blonde Comet

Beverly Blake, an American race car driver popularly known as "The Blonde Comet," is the only woman to compete in famous European races such as the Grand Prix and the Corriere D'Italia. Beverly continually comes in at the top of the ranks, often racing against her American competitor, Jim Flynn. One day, Jim's mechanic Curly reads in the newspapers about Beverly's return to America. When Jim's friend Tex, a former rodeo champion, comes into his Los Angeles garage to prepare his car for his first race, Jim warns him of the dangers of his new sport. Later, Jim tests out a new carburetor he has developed, closing off a public road. Beverly happens to drive by on her way to Los Angeles and angrily kicks down the roadblock and drives through. When she encounters Jim, she testily reminds him that they will compete at the next race. At the Southern Ascot Speedway, meanwhile, veteran racer Barney Oldfield gives Tex a pair of new tires because his old tires are dangerously worn. Barney then chastises racer Red Stewart for his reckless driving. During the race, Red challanges Tex with his car which results in a crash in which Tex loses his life. Beverly wins the race, and Jim earns her respect when he strikes Red. After the race, Beverly stops by Barney's garage to give him greetings from her father, a veteran racer named Cannonball Blake, and Barney tells her that Jim is taking up a collection to pay to have Tex's body sent home. Beverly goes to Jim's gas station and, to his surprise, donates a substantial sum for Tex's funeral. Jim and Beverly are equally surprised when they have a pleasant conversation, and learn that they will be competing again at the Oakland Speedway. The Oakland race consists of 500 miles in 500 laps, and Red drives in his usual reckless manner and dies in an accident. After five hours, Jim wins the race, and Beverly comes in second. Beverly congratulates Jim, and reminds him of their next competition at Indianapolis. Jim warns her that the Indianapolis race is challenging even for experienced male drivers, but Beverly is determined to continue racing to promote her father's brand of tires, Trojan. Jim, likewise, is working with Barney to earn a government contract for his special carburetor. Later, at an Indianapolis restaurant, Barney and Cannonball reminisce about the old days of racing. When Barney tells Beverly about Jim's carburetor, which gave him the edge at the Oakland race, Beverly persuades him to put one in her car, which will even her odds against Jim, and give Barney and Jim two chances to prove the carburetor's worth to the government. Barney agrees to keep the installation a secret from Jim. After completing 250 miles of the race, Beverly is in second place and Jim is in fourth. After a second crash occurs, Jim goes out of the race because of a bad tire. Beverly pulls off the course feigning exhaustion, and insists that Jim finish the race in her car. Although Beverly has lost four laps by stopping, Jim pulls out ahead of the other cars, makes up the laps, and eventually wins the race. At a celebration afterward, Cannonball and Barney make toasts to their tires and carburetors, and Jim and Beverly fall in love. When Jim asks her to stop racing, she protests that it is her job. Jim insists that only the man in the family will work, and she accepts his marriage proposal.