Beryl Swain

Beryl Swain (born Beryl J Tolman, 22 January 1936 – 15 May 2007)[1] was a female motorcycle road racer from the London area. She married Edwin Swain, a motorcycle shop owner, in 1958.[2]

Beryl Swain
Beryl Swain aboard her 1962 TT race entry 50 cc Itom motorcycle
Nationality British
Born(1936-01-22)22 January 1936
Walthamstow, England
Died15 May 2007(2007-05-15) (aged 71)
Epping, England
Motorcycle racing career statistics
50cc World Championship
Active years1962
ManufacturersItom
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
1 0 0 0 0 0
Isle of Man TT career
TTs contested1 (1962)
TT wins0
Podiums0

She was noted for being the first solo woman to compete in a TT race on the perilous Isle of Man TT course, a rare occurrence to this day on one of the world's most famous closed public road races. This upset led the male-dominated world of motorcycle racing to revoke her international licence via the introduction of a minimum weight limit which she could not meet, due to the perception of the sport being too dangerous for women, and the resulting ban on female entrants persisted until Hilary Musson competed in 1978.[3][4]

She finished 22nd on a 50 cc Itom after two laps of the Mountain circuit in the 1962 Race. Her average speed was 48.3 mph after her bike lost top gear on the second lap.[5] This was the first time a 50 cc event had been included in the Island's programme as from 1962 the class carried World Championship points.[6][7]

After her racing career was cut short, Swain, who was previously an office worker, embarked on a retail career with Sainsbury's grocery supermarkets around the London area.

Motorcycle Grand Prix results
Position 1 2 3 4 5 6
Points 8 6 4 3 2 1

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Points Rank
1962 50cc Itom ESP FRA IOM
22		 NED BEL GER DDR NAT FIN ARG 0 —

Sources
  1. England and Wales births Retrieved 2015-01-18
  2. England and Wales marriages Retrieved 2015-01-18
  3. Goddess of the Gas Pedals BBC Isle of Man, 13 November 2014 Retrieved 2015-01-18
  4. Female Rider Profiles on the Isle of Man TT Website - Hilary Musson
  5. Stealing Speed by Mat Oxley, p.179
  6. IoM TT Database 1962 Retrieved 2015-01-18
  7. Isle of Man celebrates 100 years of TT magic - Bike Trader UK - News and Reviews Hub
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