Joan Richmond was forced to adapt after a Victorian ban forced her to pivot and she became an inspiring figure through her motor racing endeavours during the 1930s.
Born in Cooma in 1905, Richmond grew up in Victoria and was educated at the prestigious St Catherine’s, Toorak where she developed an interest in training, then riding her own racehorses.
However, her dreams of becoming a racehorse trainer were squashed when Victoria banned women from doing so in 1932 forcing Richmond to find another path and she took up motor racing instead.
Few women raced and Richmond had previous experience having competed in car trials since 1926, but this was a step up as she started the 1931 Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island where she scored fifth in a Riley Brooklands.
Teaming up with friends Jean Beatson and Kathleen Gardiner, Richmond shipped three Riley Nines to Italy where the female trio planned to contest the Monte Carlo Rally in the nearby principality.
The trip took five months and is said to be the first overland trip to have begun from Australia, but leaving from Sicily proved a disadvantage by losing 19-points due to selecting a lower distance of 1111 miles rather than the Stavanger route of 2260 miles.
Despite the handicap, Richmond finished 17th and third in the Ladies’ Cup.
Success in Monte Carlo led to an invite to contest the Junior Car Club 1000 mile race at Brooklands alongside Elsie Wisdom at the invite of Victor Riley, which the duo won.
Remaining in England, Richmond enjoyed much success racing for Riley, Frazer Nash, Singer, Triumph, MG, HRG, AC and Fiat.
She purchased a 1921 Ballot 3.0-litre Grand Prix from world speed record holder Malcolm Campbell, but due to its age and unreliability it proved uncompetitive.
Outside of Monte Carlo, Richmond raced in the Coupe des Alpes, the Scottish Rally, RAC Rally, at Brooklands, Donington Park, Shelsley Walsh and Le Mans.
Richmond’s engagement to British racing driver and her co-driver Maurice ‘Bill’ Bilney ended in tragedy although the pair finished 14th at Le Mans in 1937 in a Ford Ten.
Just a month after Le Mans, Bilney died during the 12 Hours of Donington in a 2.0-litre AC he was sharing with Richmond.
World War II led to Richmond’s return to Australia at the age of 41, but her motor racing career did not continue leading to a career as an animal welfare advocate and veterinarian in Melbourne.
Richmond’s legacy remains at the National Museum of Australia where a variety of keepsakes from her racing days are on display following her passing in 1999.