Hilda Blair Gardiner was one of New Zealand's first women drivers. Her adventures behind the wheel were famous in the rural community of Taieri, and her granddaughter Jan, who comes from a family rich in tales of Hilda's exploits, recreates in poignant detail this history through her grandmother's eyes. Not only was she a precocious motorist, but Hilda had a colourful life. From her service as a volunteer driver during the influenza epidemic to her early involvement with the National Party, this is an entertaining account of war, politics, farming