London Ladies' Motor Club

The London Ladies' Motor Club (sometimes referred to as the London Ladies Motor Cycle Club) was a motorcycle club for women based in London, England, founded in 1926 (or 1927), and affiliated with the Auto-Cycle Union.[1][2]

Eight of the club members dining at the Connaught Rooms in 1930

The club was founded by well-known racer and stunt rider Jessie Hole (later Jessie Ennis).[1] The club president was Kathleen Pelham Burn (Countess of Drogheda),[3] and Betty Debenham acted as the press secretary.[2] Other notable members included Nancy Debenham, Marjorie Cottle,[4] Mrs Victor Bruce and Violette Cordery.[2]

In 1927, the club's team was victorious at the Archery Sports motorcycle trial, beating several teams of men.[5] In 1928, another team of club members won the first motorcycle race organised exclusively for women, held at the Brooklands track and organised by the Essex Motor Club.[6] The club went on to organize their own events, including trials and races, for both men and women. In 1931 they planned a forty-mile race in Surrey and Kent in which men competed and the club members officiated.[7] In 1935 they announced the first women-only team trials event.[3] The club also organised recreational events for its members.[8]

Starting in 1930, the club published a magazine for its members.[2]

References
  1. Mullins, Sasha (2003). Bikerlady: Living & Riding Free!. Citadel Press. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-8065-2519-8.
  2. "London Ladies Motorcycle Club (founded in 1927)". IET Archives blog. Institution of Engineering and Technology. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  3. "Team of Women Motor-Cyclists". Liverpool Post and Mercury. 26 Jul 1934. p. 7.
  4. "Motor Girls' Quick Change". Daily Mirror. 3 March 1930. p. 14.
  5. "Where Girls Excelled". Daily Mirror. 16 Feb 1927. p. 21.
  6. "114 M.P.H.: Woman Motorist's Fine Performance". The Guardian. 1 October 1928. p. 5.
  7. "Male motorcyclists taking part in a forty mile race over difficult..." Getty Images. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  8. "Motor-cycle Girls on Holiday". Evening Despatch. 6 Aug 1929. p. 5.
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