“Though of only 50cc capacity, the Itom “Astor Sports” two-stroke is a true motorcycle, in that, for all its small size, it offers considerable appeal to the enthusiast.”
— Motor Cycling, December 20, 1956
1962 was an eventful year in the British Isles. Several former colonies became independent, the British Prime Minister fired a third of his cabinet and the Beatles made their first appearance with Ringo. For the organizers of the 1962 Isle of Man TT races, none of this mattered. In a crisis of International proportion, an actual female had sent in a race entry form.
Beryl Swain was then a seasoned racer, having started racing in the early 1950s. She raced in the then-popular 50cc class, and was successful in regional events. She eventually achieved an international race license. When the FIM decided to sanction a 50cc championship and the Isle of Man agreed to host a round, Beryl sent in her entry form.
This was highly upsetting to the IoM bureaucracy. In an effort to disqualify her, they set a minimum weight limit, possibly hoping that Beryl would be too vain to gain weight. She gained most of the required weight and showed up at weigh-in with a diver’s belt. She qualified and finished her race, 22nd out of
