Thursday 1 March 2018

March 2018 UPDATE


As this is posted the snow is coming down outside so get in the warm and read on.

Motorcyclists who Happen to be Women

Marjorie Cottle Pic Source Carole Nash

In 1918 women got the vote, but 100 years later there is still controversy over many aspects of gender equality, particularly in the workplace. We take a look at how women were early adopters of motorcycles and explore some extraordinary motorcyclists who just happen to be women.  

During the pioneer days the motorcycling press and readership seemed keen to encourage women into motorcycling. After 1911 ladies’ events were being held by motorcycle clubs, and after a few issues over types of motorcycle, power and weight women were soon competing against men on an equal footing. During the First World War, outside of the motorcycling world women proved that they were equally capable of fulfilling tasks that had traditionally and culturally considered as mens’ work so by 1920 we find women embedded in two-wheeled sport which compared with the more respectable sport of car racing, often found itself on the wrong side of the tracks in polite society. Here are just a few examples of the many women who made their mark in motorcycling history:


Agnes Muriel Hind


Agnes Hind is reputed to be the first female owner of a motorcycle in the UK and regular competitor in trials, including a gold medal in the 1906 24hr London to Edinburgh trial and a Bronze in the 6-day Lands End to John O’Groats event the same year. She went on to champion Ladies motorcycling writing columns and consulting in the design of motorcycles for female riders.

 Fay Taylour

Fay Taylour © speedtracktales.com


Born in Ireland in 1904, Fay became a champion Speedway rider competing all over the world, she too competed in trial events including the 1928 ISST trial. An article in the Adelade Register News-Pictorial in 1929 describes how “more than 16,000 people saw Fay Taylour, the English (sic) woman motor cyclist, show her skill at the Speedway Royale on Saturday night, when she won the four lap ‘A’ Grade Handicap in the fastest time for the season.”
In 1934 she took up car racing competing at Brooklands and the Mille Miglia.

Marjorie Cottle

Majorie Cottle continues to compete in the 1939 ISDT on the
 eve of WW2 Pic Source speedtracktales.com

A well known motorcyclist of the 1920's Marjorie rode a 1400 mile publicity trip on a Raleigh Motorcycle. She was taken up by the motorcycle industry to promote their wares and it easy to think she was a 'Poster Girl' However, she was a formidable biker competing in numerous events in the UK and abroad and was reported to be one of the best riders in the country. During the 1920's and 30's she won many prizes in events such as the ISDT and Scott Trial. During the 1939 ISDT held in Germany on the eve of WW2, Cottle refused to withdraw with other private entrants and continued with the British Military Team until they too were ordered to make their way to neutral Switzerland.  

Elsie Knocker Baroness T’Serclaes

Elsie Knocker  © National Portrait Gallery
A keen motorcyclist, member of the Gypsy Club and trials rider; Elsie, a trained nurse saw an opportunity to join up at the beginning of WW1. Initially denied a chance to serve on the front line by the British she became a London based dispatch rider with friend Mairi Chisholm (See Below), before they both signed up as members of Hector Munro’s Belgain Flying Ambulance Corps. Elsie frustrated at the number of men dying of their wounds set up her own treatment station with Mairi on the front line where under enormous danger they were able to treat and transport men to hospital. Awarded by the Belgains for their service the ‘Madonnas of Pervyse’ were featured in the press of the time. Elsie served in the RAF during WW2.

Mairi Chisholm

Mairi Chisholm © IWM Q105931
A keen motorcyclist, Mairi persuaded her parents that she should be doing her bit for the WW1 war effort. She signed up as a despach rider with friend Else Knocker (see above), before being spotted by Dr Hector Munro who was putting together a mobile Ambulance service on behalf of the Belgians. She was able to persuade Hector to include Elsie Knocker in the group. She went on to serve with Else Knocker at their field hospital close to the front line. Both women continued to ride motorcycles as well as their Motor Ambulances in Belgium. After the war she too briefly served with the RAF, but her heath suffered because of the gas attacks the women endured at the field hospital. She is reported to have later continued in motorsport by taking up car racing.
Elsie & Mairi at Their Forward Treatment Post
© IWM Q 106001


Miss L Ball*
Miss Ball (Right) at Brooklands 1925 Source speedtracktales.com

Won a gold medal at the 1923 ISDT riding a James motorcycle. The Motorcycle Magazine said “the most outstanding performance of the trial. Without losing a single point all week had excelled at Bushcombe and Alms, and had not been in any serious difficulty on any of the hills.”

Beatrice Shilling OBE, PhD, MSc, CEng

Beartrice 'Tilly' Shilling ©University of Manchester


Women such as Beatrice Shilling were competing against men during the glory days of Brooklands. In August 1934 Beatrice, a brilliant engineer, lapped her self-prepared Norton at 101.02mph and in doing so not only won a Brooklands Gold Star, but later that day became the first woman to be handicapped against all her male entrants, leaving the starting line last. In this race she beat her own time to win a further Star at a lap speed of 101.85. 

She is reputed to have refused to marry her future husband until he too had earned a Brooklands Gold Star. She went on to design a critical component of the Merlin engine during WW2. Her modification allowed a steady flow of fuel to the carburettors preventing the engine, used in Spitfires and Hurricanes, stalling during particular manoeuvres. She was still competing in trials until later in life.

Theresa Wallach

Theresa Wallach (seated) at Brooklands Source themotolady.com

Theresa Wallach, Brooklands racer, engineer and adventure motorcyclist. On 11 December 1934 she set off with Florence Blenkiron on a motorcycle trip from London to Cape Town arriving on 29 July 1935. She later lived in the USA touring and running a business specialising in British bikes. She was riding until the age of 88. The first Vice-President of the Women’s International Motorcycle Association, she was inducted into the AMA hall of fame in 2003.


Florence Blenkiron

Florence Blenkiron (left) with Theresa Wallach at Brooklands
Source themotolady.com


The first woman to hold the 100 mph record in 1934 and later that year travelled to Cape Town with Theresa Wallach (see above)



   *Despite further research we have not yet been able to find her first name, please get in contact if you have any further information.   

 
The Quest for King Dick By William Whiteley


Of, course we all know about King Dick. I remember first giggling about the name in the infant’s School. ‘King Dick’ tools of Abingdon, and yes they also built bikes. However, William Whiteley’s research over many years has uncovered the fascinating story of the Abingdon works, the people who worked there as well as the tools and many other products they created. Like many others out there, Bill’s years of research was not originally intended for publication but was studiously collected as both as part of his role as Abingdon Expert for the VMCC and interest in the history of the people involved. His fascination in the history of the works led him to it write up and in November he finally published the book.
Just before publication I asked him what the title was, he said “The Quest for King Dick” I said “are you sure; the search engines will have fun with that”. But the title was already set in stone and now it is available to buy. He did however have a few problems initially as the publisher’s website had hidden it from public view marking it as ‘Adult Content’. I also believe that it is not currently available on Amazon as two of the images do not meet their standards for clarity. No doubt the negative side of artificial intelligence has intervened, but I can assure you there is nothing wrong with the quality of any of the images. Personally, I would rather have a poor image of a historical subject than a description. 

The Book tells the story of the Abingdon Works and the people who made it.  Whilst many know about the tools and possibly the bikes; the book explains how they also made guns, armaments, Bicycles, a car and a vacuum cleaner. Bill explained that the book was published as a result of many years of painstaking research into the history of Abingdon. The many pages of notes gradually came together in the form of a book and then with the assistance of Annice Collett, formally the VMCC Librarian it was finally published. It is an excellent read which includes hundreds of illustrations and images. It is an essential resource for those interested in any aspect of the Abingdon Works history and includes the specifications of all known Kerry, Abingdon, Kerry-Abingdon, Blumfield, Abingdon King Dick, and AKD; Cycle, Tri-car, Cycle-Car, Motorcycle, Tricycle and Engine combinations from 1903 until 1932.

As for Bill he can often be seen riding his Kerry Abingdon Motorcycle which is on long term loan to Brooklands Museum.

The Quest for King Dick: An Exploration of the Abingdon Works and their Products (ISBN 9780244645625) is available from the Fenland Classic Motorcycles Bookshop £15.00 plus P&P.

MARCH
4 March Brooklands British Maques Day. This is a new event for 2018 featuring cars and bikes.

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