Beryl Swain on the road. Courtesy Manx National Heritage

Research for this summer’s TT Centenary exhibition Staying the Course has recently led curators at Manx National Heritage (MNH) to uncover their very own Penelope Pitstop.

Beryl Swain, who died in May 2007 aged 71, was a goddess of the gas pedal in her day and rocked the male-dominated world of motorcycle racing when she entered the 50cc race at the Isle of Man TT in 1962.

Racing an Italian Itom motorcycle, the feisty 26 year-old finished 22nd (way ahead of some of her male counterparts), and promptly declared her intention to move on to more powerful engines the following year, hopefully contesting the Senior.

Beryl Swain's 1962 TT medal. Courtesy Manx National Heritage

Unfortunately, Beryl’s plucky plans were scuppered by the sport’s governing body - the Federation Internationale de Motocyclism (FIM) - who withdrew her racing licence on the grounds that racing was unsuitable for women.

In spite of such undue obstacles, Beryl undoubtedly cut a glamorous figure on the racing circuit while she could, and certainly had all the gear. Indeed her racing leathers, helmet, as well as a finisher’s medal from the 1962 race are now treasured by MNH.

“We are delighted to have received this material, as it allows us to document another perhaps less well-known piece of TT history," said Matthew Richardson, MNH Curator of Social History.

Beryl Swain ready to race. Courtesy Manx National Heritage

"Beryl was quite a star in her day, appearing on television as well as in the press. She was very beautiful, as well as a talented motorcycle racer. Who knows what she might have achieved, had her career not been abruptly cut short.”

Manx National Heritage’s TT exhibition, Staying the Course, runs until September 15 at the Manx Museum. For more information, see the MNH website.