Breaking the Ban: How Women Fought for the Right to Race episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 7, 2026 · 42 MIN

Breaking the Ban: How Women Fought for the Right to Race

from Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys · host Elizabeth Blackstock

From Formula 1 to the Indianapolis 500, motorsport often presents itself as a meritocracy, but for much of racing history, women were explicitly and systematically banned from competition. From formal rules to informal “gentlemen’s agreements,” the exclusion of women from the world of speed lasted for decades, shaping who was allowed to compete and who could only watch from the sidelines.Join award-winning motorsport historian Elizabeth Blackstock for a fascinating look at the ways women were barred from competing in races — and how those women fought back.We’ll explore everything from national federation bans, license denials, moral refusal, and political climates in order to understand why and how women were discouraged from racing. More importantly, though, we’ll also take a deep look at the persistence and organization required to revoke those bans in order to allow women to get behind the wheel.#womeninmotorsport #womeninhistory #womenracing #f1 #formula1 #lellalombardi #mariateresadefilippis #janetguthrie #camilledugast #odettesiko #lemans #24hlemans #indycar #indy500 To find out more about Deadly Passions, Terrible Joys: ⁠https://linktr.ee/deadlypassionsterriblejoys⁠ Subscribe on Substack: ⁠https://deadlypassionsterriblejoys.substack.com/⁠ Follow DPTJ on BlueSky: @deadlypassions-pod.bsky.socialFollow DPTJ on Instagram: @deadlypassionsterriblejoysFollow DPTJ on Twitter/X: @terriblejoy_podWatch on YouTube: @eliz_blackstockFollow Elizabeth Blackstock on BlueSky: @elizablackstock.bsky.socialFollow Elizabeth Blackstock on Instagram: @elizablackstockFollow Elizabeth Blackstock on Twitter/X: @eliz_blackstockOrder Racing with Rich Energy: ⁠https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/racing-with-rich-energy⁠

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 7, 2026

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