Joan Richmond (’23) was a pioneer in motor sport, competing in seven Monte Carlo Rallies, two International Alpine Trials and two Le Mans 24 Hours races. Joan’s first race success was finishing fifth in the 1931 Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island on her 26th birthday.

Following her racing success at the 1931 Australian Grand Prix, Joan, with two friends, accompanying passengers and a chaperone, drove for five months in three Riley cars from Melbourne to Palermo in Sicily to compete in the Monte Carlo Rally.

She then went on to England where she was offered a drive with Elsie Wisdom in a 1,000 mile race at Brooklands, the mecca of motor sport. They won it and became the first women to win an international race!

This changed her life forever as she went on to compete throughout Europe in seven Monte Carlo Rallies plus hill climbs and circuits such as Le Mans and many more. She drove for Riley, Singer, Triumph, MG, Fiat and others.

Joan’s fiancé and co-driver Bill Bilney was killed in a race in 1939 and this, combined with the start of the Second World WarI, ended her racing career. During the War she contributed to the war effort in England working for de Havilland.

She returned to Melbourne in 1946 at the age of 41 where she began working for animal welfare.

Following her death in 1999, The Age’s obituary said of Joan, “she was imbued with an adventurous spirit, she was in the first women’s team to win an international motor race, becoming a legend in motor sport.”

November 2013