Last Update: 4 August 2024
If you ask any woman motorcyclist or motorcycle history buff to name one of the first women’s motorcycle clubs in the USA, they’ll likely mention Dot Robinson. Dot was a pioneering figure in the world of women motorcycle riders and is best known for founding the Motor Maids. Her enthusiasm and dedication made a lasting impact on the history of women in motorcycling.
Dot Goulding was born on 22 April 1912, in Australia. Her father, James Goulding, was a motorcyclist, sidecar designer, and amateur racer. In 1918, when Dot was about six years old, her family moved to the United States as her father sought to expand his sidecar design business. He also ran a motorcycle dealership, allowing Dot to become familiar with operating bikes at a young age. In high school, she met Earl Robinson, whom she married in 1931. Together, they participated in numerous races. In 1934, Dot entered the Jack Pine National Endurance Championship. By 1940, she had won the Jack Pine, becoming the first woman to win an AMA national competition.
In 1935, Harley-Davidson asked Dot and Earl Robinson to run a dealership, prompting their move to Detroit, where they successfully operated the dealership until 1971. Dot met Linda Dugeau at the Laconia national in 1940, leading to the creation of the Motor Maids organisation, with Dot as president and Linda as secretary. Dot changed the typical motorcyclist image by promoting a more feminine attire for women riders. After retiring in 1971, the Robinson’s travelled together by motorcycle until Earl’s death in 1996. Dot continued riding until a knee replacement in 1998 slowed her down. Dot Robinson passed away on 8 October 1999, at the age of 87.
Dot Robinson: Motor Maids Founder and First Victory in 100-Mile Endurance Run
The five-foot-two Dot Robinson spent many weekends throughout the 1930s competing in endurance runs across the Great Lakes region. Her first major victory came in a 100-mile endurance run, where she achieved a perfect score. In 1937, she impressively finished second in the gruelling two-day “Jack Pine” enduro, a contest so tough that less than half of the entrants completed it. Robinson’s determination paid off in 1940 when she won the Jack Pine, solidifying her status as a top competitor.
Dot Robinson co-owned the Detroit dealership and managed its financial records. During World War II, she also served as a motorcycle courier for a private defence contractor. Alongside Motor Maids founder Linda Dugeau, Robinson played a pivotal role in expanding the club’s membership and was elected its first president, a position she held for over 25 years.
It might be said that few women have done as much for motorcycling as Dot Robinson, but more accurately, it should be said that few people have done as much for motorcycling as she has.
During her time with the Motor Maids, Dot Robinson logged up to 50,000 miles annually to boost the club’s visibility and promote motorcycling. Near the end of her riding days, she estimated having logged more than 1.5 million total miles on motorcycles in her lifetime! It might be said that few women have done as much for motorcycling as Dot Robinson, but more accurately, it should be said that few people have done as much for motorcycling as she has. Her immense impact on the sport was recognised with her induction into the American Motorcyclist Association Hall of Fame in 1998.
Dot Robinson passed away in Orlando, Florida, on 8 October 1999 at the age of 87, earning the well-deserved nickname “The First Lady of Motorcycling.” For more information about her remarkable life and contributions, visit the Motor Maids Website.
*Source Harley-Davidson media; Written by Bill Jackson, Senior Archivist Harley-Davidson Archives Milwaukee
