Ever since the early days of motor sports in the late 19th and early 20th century, women have always been part of the scene, including some drivers. While their male counterparts may have achieved the most fame and fortune, the contributions by women should not be overlooked. This comprehensive book by Rachel Harris-Gardiner gives these women their much deserved recognition.

Unlike many books that showcase women in traditionally male fields concentrate on those who broke barriers – the first one to do a particular feat or accomplish something great. This book does much more than that. Harris-Gardiner has done extensive research to find not only those “firsts” but also recognizes those that may not have been the first to do so but still contributed to motor sports in many ways. The reader will also learn a great deal about different types of motor sports in both Europe and the United States. These go well beyond NASCAR and F1 racing, although they are included. Motorcycles, early motor vehicles and how smaller car designs helped more women become drivers are also discussed in the book.

While the book does have a good organization and is easy to follow in a chronological sense, I had to read this carefully as there are so many names to follow when Harris-Gardiner discusses their contributions. This is especially true in the early chapters when discussing the French and English women who were the early pioneers of female racing. While this is a good thing because so many women and their accomplishments are recognized, it will not be a quick and easy read.

It doesn’t matter what form of motorsports a reader enjoys – this is a book in which any fan of any type of racing should pick up and admire the courage, skill and hard work of the women portrayed in this comprehensive look at their roles in motorsports.

I wish to thank Pen & Sword History for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a VERY in-depth look at the history of women in motorsports. The focus is on European racing, with a little foray into US racing.

I found this to be a little dry and repetitive. Most of the book ended up being little mini biographies about female drivers. I would have like to see it narrowed down to just the women that had the biggest impact

I want to start this by saying this is not a bad book despite my star rating.

This is another book that is right up my alley but I just didn’t connect with it. I think the issue is that it is a very dry read. I wanted more photos to help bring the women to life. I wanted to just learn more about the people. It reads, at times, like a bunch of race reports, which have their uses but that is not something you want to read in a book that is over 200 pages long.

It does give a great history of women in Motorsport over the years so in that sense it is a great book and a great resource. I just wanted something more, different, more visual from it.

#Motorsportreads

I am SO grateful to have received a copy of Speed Queens to review. As an avid F1 fan, I am constantly looking for more representation in motorsport. This was an enlightening read; one filled with history, so many great stories and an epic tale of women who rised above stereotypes to do more and be more in the sport. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and think it would make a fantastic coffee table book and gift for friends and family!

This was a very informative book on the First Ladies of motor sports. I am an avid NASCAR fan. I had no idea that the history of women racers went back to the 1800’s. It’s a must for any motor sport fan!