When I first decided to start racing it was based on a discussion I had with Mary McGee. She has been racing for quite a while and had these amazing stories of meeting people, situations she found herself in that were unreal and just fond memories she had of not just of races, but the people involved in her “extended family.” I listened to her tell a story about Steve McQueen and how she started racing with him, it seemed so fantastic and in watching her tell this story I wanted to join in on the fun. I stated I had this desire, however, I felt as if it was beyond my abilities. Her reply was and continues to be, “Race your race.” So I joined WMRRA earlier this year, not to race and win, but to race and prove to myself that anything is possible.

Round 1 at The Ridge started on Saturday, April 27th and due to circumstances I was unable to attend that day, but entered as a late entry on Sunday. I had never raced and that day was a flurry of issues that included a dance with mother nature, she was playing, “Am I gonna stay wet or should I mess with every racer out there?” I had just taken my rains off from PIR and put on my DOT’s after watching the weather report say mostly dry and had it safety wired to save time. By the time I got there on Sunday, I realized it was the wrong call and in a moment of sheer panic had to get the wheels changed, safety wired and clear tech before our morning practice. Short tools, there was a mad rush to borrow from everyone available and luckily everyone was incredibly helpful in loaning out there tools. My boyfriend, Beau, was my pit crew and was phenomenal in getting everything swapped out for me and my bike ready, on the stands with tire warmers. When practice rounds came, it was wet and everyone was taking it easy so as not to crash and being out there 2 days later (most had attended a Friday track day and raced on Saturday) I was at a disadvantage I didn’t like.

The Novice Race was not scheduled until 4:10pm and there was a lot of time to question my decision of racing. It is a mental game that sometimes can get the better of us and waiting 6 hours to race didn’t make that doubt go away. By the time 2pm rolled around, it was clear that keeping the rains on would tear them up so we had to switch them back to the DOT’s, re-safety wire. Then the waiting game started again as we watched the clouds and checked the weather reports which were forecasting rain coming in by 7pm, however the clouds were looking like they may push in before then. By 3:40pm I was in sheer panic mode and Nels Byersdorf of 2 Wheel Dyno Works and his guys, Tyler, Andrew and Jarod had surrounded my bike and were getting the tires pressures set, checking the safety wiring and covering my wheels (with tire warmers on high) with anything to shield it from the blistering cold wind. Heather, Nels’ wife and I were talking and the welcomed distraction kept me from going into full on freak mode. Between Beau, Nels and his guys I knew that I would be OK on the track. Then the 5 minute warning came and we waited, knowing that my tires would get cold almost immediately, by 2 minutes before the practice lap I got on the bike and they dropped me to go, heart racing and mind trying to focus. Checking my grid position, I headed out for the lap and gridded for the race. Then the moment came, everyone diving into turn 1 and I saw that my decision not to attend on Friday and Saturday left me at a disadvantage. Then it was all over, almost as quickly as it started. There I was, mentally exhausted, but relieved and able to say that I raced my first race. When I pulled in, everyone was congratulating me on finishing my first race and Nels stated that I had one up on him and the guys. I didn’t understand what he meant, then he said, “None of us have ever raced.” I was in disbelief, but had this wonderful sense of accomplishment, this coming from a guy who has been around bikes his entire life. It was exactly what I needed to hear at that moment to understand that what I just accomplished was larger than just finishing.

If you have a desire or a dream of doing something, don’t let fear of failure keep you from doing it, just do it. Fear is our biggest enemy. I know I won’t be the fastest one out there, for now, but I will get faster through practice and determination. So if you have a dream, follow it, because not doing so will leave regret. I never in a million years would have thought I would be entering the world of racing motorcycles, but here I am. It is natural to have fear, fear is good in some situations, but fear can also keep us from accomplishing our goals. Not everyone will want to tackle road racing, but it applies to any goal you may have. Conquer those fears and understand that you can accomplish anything you put your mind and energy into. Ride on Vixens!