Dot was born Dorothy Goulding on April 22, 1912. The daughter of sidecar manufacturer and Saginaw, Michigan, Harley-Davidson dealer Jim Goulding, she was working in the dealership at age 16, when she met her future husband Earl Robinson. Eventually they bought the franchise from Dot’s father, and moved the Harley-Davidson dealership to Detroit. Dot was co-owner with Earl, and she managed the company's finances.
Dot and Earl's Dealership (1955)Harley-Davidson Museum
Detroit, 1955
Earl and Dot were successful Harley-Davidson dealers. Here they are pictured with new Big Twin arrivals.
Earl and Dot at Juneau (1963)Harley-Davidson Museum
Harley-Davidson headquarters, 1963
Earl and Dot Robinson picking up a golf car from the factory at Juneau Avenue.
The five-foot-two-inch tall Robinson spent many weekends throughout the 1930s competing in endurance runs in the Great Lakes region of the United States. Dot was often the only female participant. Her first victory was in a 100-mile endurance run, and she achieved a perfect score. Even more impressive was her second place finish in the brutal two-day "Jack Pine" enduro in 1937, where less than half of the entrants were even able to complete the race. She went on to win the Jack Pine in 1940.
Dot Robinson and group (1946)Harley-Davidson Museum
Pirate Treasure Chest Run, 1946
Winners and friends following the run. Dot is in the front wearing the hat.
Dot Robinson and Lester McKay at the Jack Pine run (1950)Harley-Davidson Museum
Jack Pine Enduro, 1950
Dot Robinson, sidecar passenger Lester McKay, and an unidentified person, push up a treacherous hill.
Dot joined Linda Dugeau in establishing the Motor Maids, spearheading the expansion of the all-female riding club. After the group’s establishment in 1940, Dot was elected its first president, and she held the position for 25 years. In her time with the Motor Maids, Dot logged up to 50,000 miles a year to help increase the visibility of the club and of motorcycling in general. Near the end of her riding days, she estimated having logged more than 1.5 million total miles on motorcycles in her lifetime!
Future Motor Maids (1940)Harley-Davidson Museum
Laconia, 1940
Three of the 51 founding members of the Motor Maids: Dot Smith, Linda Dugeau, and Dot Robinson.
Motor Maids carrying flags (1958)Harley-Davidson Museum
Springfield 50-Mile National Races, 1958
Dot (left) and fellow Motor Maid Marge Milson.
In early 1970s, the Robinsons retired from their dealership. They enjoyed traveling by motorcycle until Earl’s death in 1996. Dot was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 1998, and a year later she passed away, at the age of 87, with the well-earned moniker "The First Lady of Motorcycling." 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.
Dot at Daytona (1984)Harley-Davidson Museum
Daytona, 1984
Dot's husband raced in the original Daytona Beach races and the pair loved to return.