You may have to sit down for the one, I have some breaking news... Robyn (my sister) and I are on an all-girls off-road team! Yep, you heard it
right, it's our turn to get behind the wheel!!! Our first race is April 8th at Primm, Nevada. The plan is to race some SNORE, MDR and SCORE events.
We will also attempt to complete the Baja 500 in June and the Baja 1000 in November. (Don't forget Robyn is the only female to have won the Baja 1000
OVERALL!) Driving duties will be shared with Cari Penhall (Jerry Penhall's wife), Jamie Nye (DirtBagz), Heather Bonnani and Lori Lynch. Brian
Burgess has given us a Class 10 Lothringer car to race and we have received some product sponsors to help us along the way. We even have a name...
All-American Girl Racing (AAGR).
Baja Bob has not yet warmed up to his girls racing, but we all know that he will work his shock magic on our car soon. He said he had already gotten
one kid into racing and was not going to get two more ... we all know that mindset will not last long! Poor Jay will be forced to spend countless
weeks with dad watching the cactus flowers turn colors as they pre-run Mexico to make sure that Bob's girls know the way. Robyn and I will probably
go steal, I mean borrow, from our dad and Robby's shops for extra parts, tires, etc. We are obviously having to rely on a lot of help from our
friends and family. So, this is why we are emailing you. If you have any interest in helping out (pitting), sponsoring our, or contributing in any
way, we would appreciate it!
Thank you,
Beccy
BEWARE! The desert now has TWO more Gordons to deal with!
Here we go again...
LaTijereta - 3-25-2006 at 07:44 PM
"Shady Ladies" Race Team.. back to old days
girls
karen - 3-26-2006 at 08:14 AM
Do any girls ever race Baja on motorcycles? I would love to, but am too small to race the same bike as the guys I ride with. Dont see many girls there
on 2 wheels. Am I missing something?bajalou - 3-26-2006 at 08:17 AM
There was a post in Dec/Jan? of a lady riding a quyd in the Baja 1000. and I know of one quad team with a girl rider. If you're in it for the fun
and adventure, race in the Sportsman classes and enjoy yourself.
[Edited on 3-26-2006 by bajalou]karen - 3-26-2006 at 08:31 AM
I read an article about that lady on the quad-she's seems amazing! I want to do it on a bike, hoping to find some girls(or short guys) to ride with.
My guys ride 450's and I'm 5'2" so I can barely handle an XR 250. My husband did the SF250 this month and I was so jealous.
I've been followng this board for a while, nice place to get info and you all seem so nice.
You are right bajalou, I plan on entering the sportsman class, maybe the 500 if we can find some riders but probably the 250 next year. I'm not in a
hurry!TMW - 3-26-2006 at 11:35 AM
In the early 90s there was a Japanese girl that rode in the 500 or 1000, not sure. Her name was Kaswasaki but I don't think she was related to the
Kawasaki motorcycle company even through she did ride a Kawasaki. I also remember an all girls team made up of the Canadian womens MX champion plus
two U.S. womens champions. Paul Lopez (tunaeater) had/has a girl on the quad team. I think she also had signed up for the SF250 on a bike but with
drew or it could have been a different girl. From time to time girls do show up racing motorcycles and ATVs. Tim Morton's wife Jen rides motorcycles
but I don't know if she ever raced Baja. June of 04 I was at Mike's Sky Ranch and there was a motorcycle off-road tour group there and the Japanese
womens MX champion was with them along with her grandfather on the tour. She was riding an XR200. Grandpa was worn out and decided to ride in the
chase truck the next day.
If you want to race with an all girls team I suggest you go out to the desert races and post a flier saying so. Ask around also. Maybe some of the
guys have wifes or girlfriends who would want to do it. You can also post the flier at the various motorcycle shops.
To race Score on a motorcycle you must be prepared to be caught by the fast cars and trucks. This may not bother some but can terrify others. Be aware
of the safety precautions. First you should have an ideal when the cars will catch you, that lets you prepare. The V8 trucks are louder than the cars,
a rear engine car is hard to hear. Don't ever, ever, ever stop in the middle of the course, get off to the side. This is especially true if it's
dusty. Don't try to hold a car up unless there is no choice. Move to the side and raise your left arm to signal you know he's there and it's OK to
pass or just pull over to the far right and stop. When the first cars catch you the next one will be a few minutes later, the next a few minutes
later. They seldom are in groups. By the time they get to you they are pretty spread out. When a car passes you be prepared for blinding dust. That's
why being ready to stop is a good thing. At night it's much more easy cause you can see their lights coming. A good training excercise is to ride a
bicycle on a busy street or road without a bike lane and having the cars pass you. You don't want a real wide road either. Something where you hear
and feel them go by and close enough to keep you focused on what you and they are doing. Know the course and all the access roads. Put in lots and
lots of prerunning and be prepared for the worse conditions you can ever think of. Rain, snow, hot, cold and everything in between. Remember you may
be staying out in the middle of nowhere for the night.bajalou - 3-26-2006 at 06:40 PM
Remember also, C.O.D.E. runs several races in Baja each year and of course So. Cal and Nevada have lots of other promoters of off road races.TMW - 3-27-2006 at 08:23 AM
I highly reccomend racing CODE races to get prepared. Also be aware of the booby traps. As the saying goes, if there are a lot of people, they are
there for a reason and your probably the topic at the moment. They dig holes, bury logs, and fish net. Watch out for burnt tires, the wire will get
into your wheels. They flood fields and roadways. If you come to a pile of dirt be aware that it came from somewhere, either from the side or behind
the pile. Many riders have been hurt by these booby traps. Slow down and think and play it safe. In the 91 1000 there was a good uphill jump at El
Alamo. Seeing all those people I had a rush and decided to give em a show. I was on a KX500. At full throttle I went over the hill. I remember seeing
the top of motorhomes. When I landed I broke the exhaust pipe about 2 inches from the engine. It was a good landing but I had to ride the next 100
miles with the loudest sound in the world. My ears are still ringing. Then I wasted probably 15-20 minutes changing the pipe. Bottom line is stay
focused on the race and don't be showing off.
Women racing.....
John M - 3-27-2006 at 02:15 PM
Long time friend of Baja Nomads everywhere, Aletha Patchen, devoted a chapter in her book (hers and Marvin's) Baja Adventures by Land Air Sea to their
adventures racing Baja. A great book if you don't have it!
Caption under the photograph if you cannot read it says "Although they didn't have the fastest car in the race, Janet and Aletha were certainly to
pretiest drivers."
Janet is Janet Elliot whose husband was Editor of Popular Hot Rodding Magazine.
Aletha on the left.
John M.
[Edited on 3-27-2006 by John M]bajataco - 3-30-2006 at 04:52 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by TW
Hello Everyone....
You may have to sit down for the one, I have some breaking news... Robyn (my sister) and I are on an all-girls off-road team!
Kick ARSE!! Go get 'em!!!
tunaeater - 3-30-2006 at 09:37 PM
TW and Lou that was some good advice and tips. I wish you would of given me some of them when I started.
Brianna was only sixteen when she started racing the quad with us. Probably about 90 lbs. I don't know how she stayed on that 400. Now she is doing
all the SCORE races along with some CODE races with her dad. I'm still very involved with their race program though I will not race on the quad this
year. I know my friend is looking to put an all girls team together to race quads. Mostly the racers wives as they want to get involved as well. There
is also a good local race promoter in Mexicali ZR Promotions that puts on good races around Laguna Saladan (Mexicali area). Very well marked courses
and only $40 for beginner and novice classes.bufeo - 3-31-2006 at 08:04 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by karen
Do any girls ever race Baja on motorcycles?.... Am I missing something?
Yep. Anna Cody has ridden...and finished. She will be riding "Iron-Woman" in the next Baja 1K and will be raising money for a worthy cause.
Bufeo, do know if Lillie Sweetland (Anna's friend) was related to Garth Sweetland the off road mc racer.tunaeater - 3-31-2006 at 11:02 AM
Bufeo,
Thanks for sharing. This is very awesome and I hope she makes it. What a touching story. I'll be looking for her and hoping to meet with her. Many
times during my rides and races I often think about family and friends I've lost. Cancer has hit me close to home with a few loved ones the last few
years. It's an on going battle. Maybe we should start a team ....Sounds like a good reason to race.....Paulbufeo - 3-31-2006 at 06:13 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by TW
Bufeo, do know if Lillie Sweetland (Anna's friend) was related to Garth Sweetland the off road mc racer.
I'm not certain, but I believe the answer is 'yes'. I can find out for sure and will post the info.
Quote:
Originally posted by tunaeater
... Maybe we should start a team ....Sounds like a good reason to race.....Paul
Hey, now there's a thought!bufeo - 3-31-2006 at 06:58 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by TW
Bufeo, do know if Lillie Sweetland (Anna's friend) was related to Garth Sweetland the off road mc racer.
Just got off the phone. I believe this to be correct. Lillie was married to Garth, but not at the time of her death.TMW - 4-1-2006 at 07:54 AM
ThanksGeronimo - 4-1-2006 at 06:04 PM
The Sweetlands are old family friends, I was at Garth and Lillies wedding. I am not sure of there marital status at the time of her death. I
remember running down Centenial wash when I was 12 on my RM80 and having Garth slap me on the back of the helmet as he breazed by on a big Husky. He
was very fast in his day
Geronimo
Will someone please contact Beavis and Butthead
Dave - 4-1-2006 at 07:57 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by TW
Also be aware of the booby traps.
