Joan Richmond - From Melbourne to Monte Carlo and Beyond
Code No: 24447
Price: $49.95
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Author:
Published: 2011
Binding: Hardcover
No. Pages: 254
Dimensions: 15 x 21
Illustrations: numerous black and white images
Description:
Publisher`s notes:
Joan Margaret Richmond 1905 - 1999
Other than occasional references known to few people, the adventurous life of Joan Richmond has never been told. Pieced together from audio tapes recorded in Joan`s own words in the 1970`s, this is a truly remarkable story.
Born in to a wealthy family, she retraces her rural upbringing. Due to the death of her father when she was just eleven years old, the wealth declined, however her mother managed to raise her as a `lady`, common to that era. A self confessed `tomboy`, she broke from tradition preferring male orientated activities. Following successes in motor sport events in Victoria, she decided to enter the Monte Carlo Rally. Not content with shipping three Riley cars to the start at Palermo in Sicily, Joan, with companions and a chaperone, spent five months driving from Melbourne to Palermo. Her record of this trip in 1931, given the travel conditions of the day, almost defies comprehension. On arrival in England, Victor Riley offered her a drive with Elsie Wisdom in a 1000 mile race at Brooklands, the mecca of motor sport. They won it!
Over the next eight years she competed throughout Europe in many makes of car, Riley, Singer, MG, Triumph, HRG, AC, Ballot and Fiat, at venues such as Le Mans, Brook-lands, Donington and Shelsley Walsh, plus seven Monte Carlo and other major Rallies. Her contribution to the war effort in England is also noteworthy.
The result of personal tragedies remained with her after she returned to Melbourne in 1946 at the age of 41. She led a reclusive but busy life, working as a volunteer veterinary nurse, and with her love of animals, became heavily involved in the movement that ended the in-humane slaughter of livestock.
This is a wonderful read on life and experiences, in a different era, by a determined young lady, revolving around her love of motor sport.
A chance conversation while researching another project led me to David Price in 2010. After reading the manuscript he produced from those taped recordings with Joan, I realised it had to be shared, so have worked with David to produce this book. Hopefully, Joan will now receive the recognition she so thoroughly deserves. A pioneer in her chosen sport, research leads me to the conclusion she was Australia`s first professional racing driver, although the word `sponsored` was used in that period. Having followed a similar path (without the long drive), to fulfil my own dream of competing across Europe in the late 1960`s, my only regret is I never met her.
John Reaburn 2011
Publisher`s notes:
Joan Margaret Richmond 1905 - 1999
Other than occasional references known to few people, the adventurous life of Joan Richmond has never been told. Pieced together from audio tapes recorded in Joan`s own words in the 1970`s, this is a truly remarkable story.
Born in to a wealthy family, she retraces her rural upbringing. Due to the death of her father when she was just eleven years old, the wealth declined, however her mother managed to raise her as a `lady`, common to that era. A self confessed `tomboy`, she broke from tradition preferring male orientated activities. Following successes in motor sport events in Victoria, she decided to enter the Monte Carlo Rally. Not content with shipping three Riley cars to the start at Palermo in Sicily, Joan, with companions and a chaperone, spent five months driving from Melbourne to Palermo. Her record of this trip in 1931, given the travel conditions of the day, almost defies comprehension. On arrival in England, Victor Riley offered her a drive with Elsie Wisdom in a 1000 mile race at Brooklands, the mecca of motor sport. They won it!
Over the next eight years she competed throughout Europe in many makes of car, Riley, Singer, MG, Triumph, HRG, AC, Ballot and Fiat, at venues such as Le Mans, Brook-lands, Donington and Shelsley Walsh, plus seven Monte Carlo and other major Rallies. Her contribution to the war effort in England is also noteworthy.
The result of personal tragedies remained with her after she returned to Melbourne in 1946 at the age of 41. She led a reclusive but busy life, working as a volunteer veterinary nurse, and with her love of animals, became heavily involved in the movement that ended the in-humane slaughter of livestock.
This is a wonderful read on life and experiences, in a different era, by a determined young lady, revolving around her love of motor sport.
A chance conversation while researching another project led me to David Price in 2010. After reading the manuscript he produced from those taped recordings with Joan, I realised it had to be shared, so have worked with David to produce this book. Hopefully, Joan will now receive the recognition she so thoroughly deserves. A pioneer in her chosen sport, research leads me to the conclusion she was Australia`s first professional racing driver, although the word `sponsored` was used in that period. Having followed a similar path (without the long drive), to fulfil my own dream of competing across Europe in the late 1960`s, my only regret is I never met her.
John Reaburn 2011
