The Automobile Club féminin de France (ACFF) was a French women-only automobile club founded in 1926.

History

The Automobile Club féminin de France was founded in 1926 by

Anne de Rochechouart de Mortemart Anne de Rochechouart (''Marie Adrienne Anne Victurnienne Clémentine''; 10 February 1847 – 3 February 1933), was a wealthy French aristocrat. She inherited a large fortune from her great-grandmother, the founder of the Veuve Clicquot Champagne ...

, the sporting Duchess of Uzès and the first woman in France to earn a driving licence, in 1898. The ACFF was set up to be the female equivalent of the

Automobile Club de France The Automobile Club of France () (ACF) is a men's club founded on 12 November 1895 by Albert de Dion, , and its first president, the Dutch-born Baron Étienne van Zuylen van Nyevelt. The Automobile Club of France, also known in French as "ACF" o ...

(ACF) as the ACF did not allow women to join their organisation. At the same time, the Duchess of Uzès created the official publication for the club, the ''Revue de l'Automobile Club féminin'', which was published for 14 years. The ACFF's membership were very well off, as motoring in the 1920s was an expensive undertaking which only the richest people could afford. At the end of 1908, it is estimated that there were around 40,000 cars in France. A number of the women on the ACFF committee had husbands who were involved in running the ACF. Committee members included women from the

Rothschild family The Rothschild family ( , ) is a wealthy Ashkenazi Jews, Ashkenazi Jewish noble banking family originally from Frankfurt. The family's documented history starts in 16th-century Frankfurt; its name is derived from the family house, Rothschild, ...

, socialites and women connected with the nascent motor production trade. Members could add an ACFF badge to their car, mounted to their radiator cap. The ACFF was about more than motor racing, and organised social activities for women interested in motoring, although rallying was a large part of their programme. They organised motorised paper chases and treasure hunt rallies, tours and meets at members’ estates. The events were recorded in the ''Revue de l'Automobile Club féminin'' magazine, which was published by Count Edme de Rohan-Chabot, founder of the

Rallye Paris – Saint-Raphaël Féminin The Rallye Paris – Saint-Raphaël Féminin was a Rallying, car rally in France exclusively for female participants. It was held over a 45-year period beginning in 1929 with a hiatus during World War II. The race was typically scheduled for the ...

. The ''Revue'' offered advice on vehicle maintenance, road safety and tips for road trips. It showcased notable club members and pioneers of women in motoring, and served as a platform for defending the rights of women drivers. It featured new cars, new technological advances, driving laws and regulations and served as a mechanism for women motorists to exchange ideas and experiences. It also carried advertising for motoring products and services.

ACFF rallies

1925: Paris-La Baule 1930: Paris-Cannes event won by Magdeleine, Comtesse de Ganay in a Renault Reinastella car. 1931: Paris-Amsterdam 1932: Paris-Rome 1934: Surprise rally - ending in

Rambouillet Rambouillet (, , ) is a Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Yvelines Departments of France, department in the Île-de-France Regions of France, region of France. It is located beyond the outskirts of Paris, southwest of its Kilometr ...

1935: Forest trial, won by Jacqueline Seligmann, a Chanel dress was the prize. 1935: Winter Sports Rally from Paris-Chamonix 1936: Paris and Le Touquet, won by Jacqueline Seligmann.

Presidents

* 1926:

until her death.Jean-François Bouzanquet, ''Fast Ladies: Female Racing Drivers 1888 to 1970'', Veloce Publishing Ltd, 2009 * 1933:

Élaine Greffulhe Countess Élaine Marie Joseph Charlotte de Greffulhe (19 March 1882 – 11 February 1958), who became the Duchess of Gramont by marriage, was a French aristocrat. She was a descendant of Hortense Mancini through her granddaughter's Pauline Félic ...

Notable members

* Giorigina Bingen, wife of car manufacturer Andre Citroen *

Magdeleine Goüin Magdeleine Goüin, ''countess Bernard :fr:Famille de Ganay, de Ganay'' (2 March 1901 – 30 June 1949) was a French racing driver and philanthropist. Early life Goüin was born 2 March 1901 in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, 8th arrondissement ...

* Marguerite Mareuse, one of the first women to race at Le Mans * Beatrice Reinach. * Hélène van Zuylen

Gallery

File:Duchesse d'Uzès - présidente de l'Automobile Club féminin - 1927.jpg, Duchesse d'Uzès - president of l'Automobile Club féminin in 1927, posing next to an ACFF pennant attached to the bonnet of a car File:Première sortie de l'automobile Club féminin - la Duchesse d'Uzès à Rambouillet - btv1b90256222.jpg, The first outing of the Automobile Club féminin, at Rambouillet File:Loge fleurie de l'ACFF (Automobile Club féminin de France), au centre (la) duchesse d'Uzès (lors de la journée féminine de l'autodrome de Monthléry, le 12 juin 1927) - (photographie de presse) - (Agence Rol).jpg, Flower-covered balcony at the ACFF's Monthléry Autodrome Ladies' Day, 12 June 1927 File:Première sortie de l'automobile Club féminin - la Baronne H. de Rothschild, dans sa voiture - (photographie de presse) - Agence Meurisse.jpg, First outing of the Automobile Club féminin - Baronne Hélène de Rothschild in her car Bourget, 19-5-28, visite de l'Automobile club féminin, Kapferer, Mme Lasne, Mme Citroën, Mme Aubry, princesse Galitzine - (photographie de presse) - (Agence Rol).jpg, Visit by l'Automobile club féminin to Bourget, 19 May 1928, showing Henry Kapferer, Mme Lasne, Mme Citroën, Mme Aubry, princesse Galitzine File:La comtesse Bernard de Ganay au volant de sa Renault Reinastella, en une du magazine Ève (1933).png, La comtesse de Ganay in her Renault Reinastella car, on the cover of Ève magazine (1933)

References