Career
She was noted for being the first solo woman to compete in a TT race on the perilous Isle of Manitoba TT course, a rare occurrence to this day on one of the world"s most famous closed public road races. This upset led the male-dominated world of motorcycle racing to revoke her international licence via the introduction of a minimum weight limit which she could not meet, due to the perception of the sport being too dangerous for women, and the resulting ban on female entrants persisted until Hilary Musson competed in 1978. She finished 22nd on a 50 cc Itom after two laps of the Mountain circuit in the 1962 Race.
Her average speed was 48.3 mph after her bike lost top gear on the second lap.
This was the first time a 50 cc event had been included in the Island"s programme as from 1962 the class carried World Championship points. After her racing career was cut-short, Swain, who was previously an office worker, embarked on a retail career with Sainsbury"s grocery supermarkets around the London area.
(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap).