Amy Gregory Motocross Author Introduction

I always get an adrenaline rush as the gate drops. The revving of the engines, the dirt flying as the throttle is engaged. Now let me say, it’s that rush is combined with a healthy dose of mother’s fear, because it’s not my butt on the seat of the bike—it’s my racer’s, my son. To say we eat, live and breathe motocross would be a minor understatement.

What started as a recurring dream about a year and a half ago, has launched into a full series of books on a fictional group of friends that are bonded together through of love of motocross, racing and the dedication it takes to make it to the top. Each book in the Racing to Love series is focused on the guys, Carter Sterling, Jesse Frost and Eli Hunter. There are two short stories that have been added in as well, plus a fourth book, Alex’s Destiny. It’s my secret twist and the final in the series.

Come meet my gang that developed in the pits. With a sassy brand of humor and quick-wit, it is never a dull moment!

Amy Gregory
Racing to Love, Carter’s Treasure
Racing to Love, Jesse’s Soul
Sapphire Star Publishing, L. L. C.
9830 E. Donati Way
Tucson, Arizona 85747
520-991-6301
www.sapphirestarpublishing.com
info@sapphirestarpublishing.com

Women Behind Bars History of Women in Motorcycling (part 2)

Women Behind Bars
By Debbie Matthews and Heather Majcherek
November 17, 2008

<<< Click to Return to Part 1

Part 2

With all this bliss you would think the road has been easy, but sadly no. It has been a road cut by machetes, in the heat of the day, surrounded by opposition seemingly on every side and even by those who have sometimes professed to be our friends and allies. So why? Why has the road been so harsh and unforgiving? Do we not all share the same passion for riding? Do we not take all of the same risks? Do we not share the same trails and roads? Why has the camaraderie so prevalent in the sport been grudgingly earned rather than shared freely?

Most of the answer on the surface lies in our upbringing. Since our earliest childhood memories, distinctions have been made about what activities ladies should engage in, and what activities are considered more masculine. Even though women on Motorcycles have been around since the beginning roots of motorcycling, there has always been an underlying current that somehow we don’t belong out there… we are too weak, we may injure ourselves, hey why aren’t you in the kitchen where you belong.

Ed Youngblood, Former President of the AMA said it this way in his welcome article for the first Women In Motorcycling Conference held in 1997; “This gender that seems so effective at elevating motorcycling is often devalued by its own community. Examples of women who had to struggle to be treated equally by other motorcyclists appear throughout our history. As early as 1907, Clara Wagner, who won a major endurance event, was denied her trophy and official recognition by the race’s sanctioning body, solely because she was a woman-and women, presumably, were not supposed to perform such feats of skill, strength and stamina. Dot Robinson and others had to struggle to be treated as equals within male dominated motorcycle competition. And when Kitty Budris wanted to become the first professional racing team owner and mechanic in 1969, and Kerry Kleid wanted to become a licensed professional racer in 1971, both had to take legal action to receive their necessary accreditation from the AMA.”

While riders do exist of all genders, and preferences these stereotypes are wrong and have been since the beginning. While they are slowly decreasing with time, they never the less still exist in many circles of motorcycling even after 40 years. These antidotes never really sat well with me. I was told at my first race in 1974, by a male racer I was racing against, “This is our sport, why don’t you go home and bake something.” Well, I guess he thought I would run away crying. Instead I grit my teeth, rode to the line and made it my mission to beat that “gentleman”, which I did. Thanks to the enlightened upbringing of my parents who both raced cars and later bought bikes so we could all ride together as a family; No one was ever going to tell me what I could and could not do. It is a promise and a winning attitude I have kept throughout my life and instilled in my children.

My first born in the early 80’s, was fittingly a girl, who followed in mommy’s footsteps… She loves riding and racing and started riding by age 2 with supervision, became the youngest woman to win women’s national Motocross trophy at age 4, and the youngest rider in the sport (male or female) to garner corporate sponsorship at age 8. She also went on to win a Women’s National and World Cup title as a mini rider. She the President of WMN Racing.com also happens to be the co-author of this series of articles. She is another female born to ride, but not without opposition, despite the efforts of our lady pioneers. She is still in some ways as are many, a woman behind bars…. We now have a fourth generation rider in my grand daughter, who already at two is showing serious signs of the motorcycle lust that runs through the veins of the women in our family, executing lazyboys and stoppies, and after crashing getting up and yelling aloud, AGAIN!. An X-Games baby….

As this series progresses we will take you on a ride through history, where you will see motorcycling through the eyes of the women who have lived it and those like Heather who are currently enjoying it’s popularity. You will meet some of the pioneers, gain insight and maybe a little respect for those ladies who have blazed the trail for your wives, daughters, girlfriends and mothers to have the opportunity to enjoy the thrill of motorcycling with you. The women of our sport have braved every trail, climbed every hill, embraced and competed successfully in every aspect of our sport, proven themselves capable and responsible riders, and done it all while still being able go home and bake something! Yum!

<<< Click to Return to Part 1

For Photos go to: http://www.dmsports-wsmx.com/historical.htm or http://www.Wmnracing.com/photos
I also have access to some historical photos from the early days, but I will need to scan them.

Article and photos supplied by: Debbie Matthews-26001 Corriente Ln, Mission Viejo, Ca 92691
949-837-3374, email: deb@dmsports-wsmx.com

2013 WMX Schedule Announced Women’s Pro Motocross Triple Crown

Breaking News on the 2013 WMX Series

MORGANTOWN, W. Va.– MX Sports Pro Racing has announced that professional women’s motocross racing will again be featured at the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. WMX racing will be hosted at three select rounds next summer, with the Hangtown Motocross Classic (Sacramento, Calif.), the High Point National (Mt. Morris, Pa.) and Moto-X 338 National (Southwick, Mass.) selected to compose what will be officially known as the Women’s Pro Motocross Triple Crown.
“The number of 2013 events featuring women’s pro motocross has been reduced from past years due to operational demands associated with both the live events and the television and internet broadcasts for the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship,” said Roy Janson, Director of Competition for MX Sports Pro Racing. “This limits the ability to feature women’s pro motocross as often as we did during the 2012 season. Even though there will be fewer events featuring women’s professional motocross racing, MX Sports is pleased to be able to include the competition at these three great venues.”

The Hangtown Motocross Classic, hosted mere minutes from the California State Capitol, serves as the traditional season opening round for Lucas Oil Pro Motocross and will take place on Saturday, May 18, 2013. The season’s East Coast debut at the High Point National will follow three weeks later on June 8, 2013, with the third and final leg of the Women’s Pro Motocross Triple Crown set to take place on June 29 in the sand at the Moto-X 338 National.

In addition to providing competitive opportunities for pro women riders, the AMA and MX Sports, Inc. also continue to offer a line-up of amateur classes for girls 9-11 years of age, 12-15 years of age, as well as a class for all female riders ages 14 and older as part of the annual Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, held at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., from July 29 – August 3, in 2013. The Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship has been crowning Women’s Amateur National Motocross Champions since 1982, the first year of the event.

Entry and race information for the professional women’s class events within the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will be available after January 1, at www.mxsportsproracing.com. The Local and Regional Qualifier Schedule for the Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, will be available at the www.mxsports.com website.

For additional information on the series, please visit AlliSports.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content and additional information on the latest Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship news.

For media information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, please contact MX Sports Pro Racing via email at media@mxsportsproracing.com.