The Lambretta ladies who took on the world

Sixty years after Joy and Betty travelled 25,000 miles on a scooter, their adventure could finally be recognised in the record books

IT was an epic journey made by two adventurous young women more than 60 years ago.

But now a round-the-world trip completed by Joy Smith and her friend Betty Crozier could finally be given a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Mrs Smith was just 20 when the pair hit the road in 1959 for the adventure on a second-hand Lambretta scooter, despite neither having ridden one before.

Over a year, they clocked up more than 25,000 miles as they had close encounters with black bears, dodged cyclones and narrowly escaped an earthquake.

Now the Guinness World Records will investigate their feat with a view to officially recognising them as the first

‘Two weeks learning how to ride it’

and youngest women to travel the world by scooter. Mrs Smith hopes this can be a tribute to her late friend, who died in 2017, aged 80.

She vividly remembers their amazing journey including riding dirt roads, mountain passes and vast deserts. Other incidents included being chased by an irate Turkish wool seller after they accidentally spooked his donkey.

The grandmother, now 84, of Troon, Ayrshire, said: ‘It was the adventure of a lifetime – two young women on a scooter. People hadn’t seen anything like us before but it never occurred to us we might be the first to do it.

‘It would be lovely, and it would be a lovely legacy for Betty, if our journey all those years ago was to be recognised.’

Guinness World Records editor in chief Craig Glenday said: ‘It’s difficult with retrospective research into historical achievements, as the claimants are unlikely to have collected the evidence we need to make a full assessment of their trip. But given the impressive nature of their adventure, it’s something we’d definitely like to follow up on.

The intrepid pair met at secretarial college and began what became a life-long friendship. They travelled to Canada, spending two years there saving enough money to fund their trip.

Starting in Montreal, they rode through the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Iran, India, Pakistan, the Middle East, South America, Africa and all over Europe.

However, on their return home the Lambretta was stolen in London. Mrs Smith said: ‘We did no real planning, we just decided to head for places we’d heard of.

‘When we bought the scooter, which already had quite a high mileage on it, neither of us had ever ridden one. We had to spend two weeks learning how to ride it before we could go anywhere.’

Even before they had left Canada they managed to upstage the Queen on a royal visit to open the St Lawrence Seaway. Mrs Smith said: ‘When we got into Toronto they directed us onto the road the Queen was due to travel along. Because the crowds had been standing there waiting for her, they all cheered and clapped us all the way down the road.’

Running repairs on the ageing Lambretta became routine. Mrs Smith, who has four grandchildren, said: ‘We used to take turns at driving every 30 miles. We got along very well and we were both better at different things. Betty was very good at fixing the scooter and I did the cooking.

‘Though we’d never ridden one before we soon became very adept on the scooter, so much so that Betty even knitted me a sweater while riding on the back.’

Along the way the pair camped under the stars in a tiny tent.

Mrs Smith said: ‘One morning we were washing up our things after breakfast and someone shouted, “Hey Mrs, there’s a bear in your tent”. Sure enough, there was a black bear. It had gone through all our food, took everything sweet and then fortunately it just turned and left.’

She added: ‘I was lucky that a short time before Betty died I was able to visit her and we shared lots of memories.

‘I’ve been so lucky to have had Betty as my life-long friend.’

‘There’s a bear in your tent’