Female Motorcycle Racer - 'Most Appropriate' Story
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 12:49 pmHi There, I am an older female who discovered the arts and passion for motorcycle riding and racing a long time ago. I began road riding such a long time ago that I can't even remember my very first bike. I do remember it really was a dunga. I had only been riding for a couple of years before I realised it would be 'most appropriate' to go racing. So in 1994 I did just that.
I didn't join a race team, chase or expect sponsorship. I just went out and had a go. I traded my road bike in for an RGV250 and went racing. I raced a number of different bikes over my short time of racing. Actually, it could almost be 'appropriate' to say I was a bit of a race bike whore. Back then I scrimped and saved my $217 weekly wage and worked a second job just so I could follow my passion, errr obsession.
Everyone was in the same boat, so I didn't complain.
I raced for 4 years and then moved on to other things in life, but within that 4 years I reached A grade and got some podium placings at State Title races and lots of 1st's, 2nd's and 3rd's at many national and club meetings.
I had many ups and downs in my short 4 years of racing, but my struggles and disappointments were worth the enjoyment I got out of racing. I always like to keep things in perspective. I was never fast compared to the fast guys, but looking back, I reckon I did alright.
Back in those days even the Club Meetings had huge fields and your finishing result wasn't just a 1st or a placing among a field of 3 or 4 ladies in a 'ladies class' within the field. We didn't have ladies classes, where you finished was where you finished in the field against everyone, male or female.
There were only a handful of us girls racing back when I started, but there were a couple of mighty fast girls back then and they weren't the first and won't be the last. Who woulda thought.
I never expected or promoted for sponsorship just because I was a female, not even when I started to get good. I didn't use the fact that I was female or use people to get help just because I was female. Maybe I should have? Back then a female racer was a bit of an oddity, let alone one who was actually a decent racer among the field such as the likes these days of the lovely Sophie Lovett and Di Jones. They are the fastest two girls in Australia at the moment that I know of AND they are at the pointy end of the entire field. So last year when I did a faster time then them both in the first Ninja 300 race of the day in November on my first race on a, not yet set up Ninja 300, you could imagine how I was 'most appropriately' chuffed. 
After not riding altogether since the early 2000's, I started riding on the road again in 2010 and started ride days on the track at the end of 2011. I raced a full season in 2013 finishing 2nd in the New Era 125cc Historic Championships. For the New Era 125 class I hold the lap record on the North Circuit and was just pipped for the lap record on Eastern Creek full circuit at last years BSFOS. I did have some 'most appropriate' people offer me sponsorship when I came back to racing, RT Screen Printing and KANEG. Top guys who I am most thankful for their assistance.
I might do a few more races here and there, not sure on what yet because I sold all my race bikes and spent most of the money on my husbands Ohlins front end for his bike, which I must say, even though it's left me with not enough money to buy another track bike, it still was a 'most appropriate' thing to do for him. And when I do have enough money to buy a new track bike, it will be, 'most appropriately' a new ZX6. I'm not asking for sponsorship, but thanks for reading. 
G-UP
I didn't join a race team, chase or expect sponsorship. I just went out and had a go. I traded my road bike in for an RGV250 and went racing. I raced a number of different bikes over my short time of racing. Actually, it could almost be 'appropriate' to say I was a bit of a race bike whore. Back then I scrimped and saved my $217 weekly wage and worked a second job just so I could follow my passion, errr obsession.
Everyone was in the same boat, so I didn't complain.I raced for 4 years and then moved on to other things in life, but within that 4 years I reached A grade and got some podium placings at State Title races and lots of 1st's, 2nd's and 3rd's at many national and club meetings.
I had many ups and downs in my short 4 years of racing, but my struggles and disappointments were worth the enjoyment I got out of racing. I always like to keep things in perspective. I was never fast compared to the fast guys, but looking back, I reckon I did alright.
Back in those days even the Club Meetings had huge fields and your finishing result wasn't just a 1st or a placing among a field of 3 or 4 ladies in a 'ladies class' within the field. We didn't have ladies classes, where you finished was where you finished in the field against everyone, male or female.There were only a handful of us girls racing back when I started, but there were a couple of mighty fast girls back then and they weren't the first and won't be the last. Who woulda thought.
I never expected or promoted for sponsorship just because I was a female, not even when I started to get good. I didn't use the fact that I was female or use people to get help just because I was female. Maybe I should have? Back then a female racer was a bit of an oddity, let alone one who was actually a decent racer among the field such as the likes these days of the lovely Sophie Lovett and Di Jones. They are the fastest two girls in Australia at the moment that I know of AND they are at the pointy end of the entire field. So last year when I did a faster time then them both in the first Ninja 300 race of the day in November on my first race on a, not yet set up Ninja 300, you could imagine how I was 'most appropriately' chuffed. After not riding altogether since the early 2000's, I started riding on the road again in 2010 and started ride days on the track at the end of 2011. I raced a full season in 2013 finishing 2nd in the New Era 125cc Historic Championships. For the New Era 125 class I hold the lap record on the North Circuit and was just pipped for the lap record on Eastern Creek full circuit at last years BSFOS. I did have some 'most appropriate' people offer me sponsorship when I came back to racing, RT Screen Printing and KANEG. Top guys who I am most thankful for their assistance.
I might do a few more races here and there, not sure on what yet because I sold all my race bikes and spent most of the money on my husbands Ohlins front end for his bike, which I must say, even though it's left me with not enough money to buy another track bike, it still was a 'most appropriate' thing to do for him.
And when I do have enough money to buy a new track bike, it will be, 'most appropriately' a new ZX6. I'm not asking for sponsorship, but thanks for reading. G-UP
I don't know when I will race again, but when I do it will only be a one off meeting here and there, unless we win lotto. 