So who is Hilary?
Hilary Musson started racing in 1969 when a local motorcycle club organized a ladies-only race. With only eight participants, the event lacked support, leading to future women’s races being canceled. Determined to keep racing, Hilary joined in with the guys instead.
In 1978, Hilary became the first woman to race in the TT since Beryl Swain had her license revoked in 1962. The event had moved with the times, welcoming Hilary on merit, with her gender no longer a factor. She went on to compete in eight consecutive TTs from 1978 to 1985. Over those years, she witnessed the sport becoming more costly, making it tougher for smaller racing teams to stay in the game.
“When we started you would do a practice and a race on the same tyres, now it can be a tyre change every lap!”
The Manx Grand Prix (MGP) was slow to adapt to change, with lingering concerns about bad publicity if a female rider were injured or killed. It wasn’t until 1989 that Hilary was finally allowed to compete. She kept racing into the 90s at the Southern 100, with her last race taking place in 1993.
In 2006, Hilary and her family moved to the Island, where she got back into racing, this time serving as a marshal at the MGP. The next year, while marshalling the TT at the 26th Milestone, a tragic accident occurred, taking the lives of a rider and two spectators. Hilary was badly injured, and her left leg had to be amputated as a result. It’s a cruel twist of fate that after so many years in racing, it was while ensuring the safety of others that she was so seriously hurt.
Hilary remains active in motorsport on the Island, working under the tower at The Grandstand and providing crews with updates on course incidents—a role she cherishes, as it allows her to stay connected to the races.
Hilary sadly passed away in March 2023.
