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EDITOR’S NOTE

“Her story” becomes part of “history” as we celebrate #WomensHistoryMonth in March. At the request of Dealernews Diversity Editor Alisca Clickenger, we pay homage to the better half of the industry with this magazine-withina-magazine. Letters, breaking news and even the shattering glass ceilings version of Shifting Gears is included. Don’t miss Mark Rodgers’ panel discussion with a tough, smart, opinionated group of dealers... They also just happened to be women. See the video link on page 48 for the full hour discussion with these dealers.

LETTERS+

Engines For Change (E4C) is revved up about being highlighted in Dealernews. If you missed Alisa’s column on Kirsten Midura’s motorcycle-based efforts to make a difference in the world, get the scoop here:

https://www.enginesforchange.org/who-we-are ANGELLE SAMPEY MAKES HISTORY!

Women’s History Month Launches With Modern Day History Being Made

Women’s History Month kicked off with a woman making history as Angelle Sampey went 200 mph! With 43 wins and three championships to her credit, she is the winningest woman in NHRA history, but the 2021 season starts new era of racing for Vance & Hines with their new proprietary platform based on a Suzuki, after Harley pulled its factory team.

“It is amazing to feel the love and support from everyone at Vance & Hines,” said Sampey, who has three career Gatornationals wins to go along with her three national titles. “I’ve always been on a mission and it feels like mission accomplished already. But there’s still so much more ahead… I’m just the lucky rider who gets to be on this bike and I’m loving it. I’m still learning the motorcycle and it’s been a struggle at times, but I’m still going.”

Sampey notched a major personal accomplishment using the new motor and Vance & Hines chassis when the three-time champion made her first-ever run of 200 mph. She is one of only six riders in the class to hit 200 mph and only the second woman to do so. Sampey was celebrated as part of the Denso Spark Plugs 200 MPH Club on Saturday.

SHAYNA SLIDES IN TWO MORE WINS

Shayna Texter, already the winningest woman in American Flat Track competition, is the winningest rider in AFT Singles history, by a long shot! #WomensHistoryMonth continues as Shayna celebrated her birthday weekend with back-to-back wins at AFT’s Volusia season opener Short Track double-header… and a Forbes story, too!

“My goal going into 2021 was to simply have fun again and win races,” says the flat track legend. “Sometimes throughout this journey we all get caught up and forget why we started riding in the first place. Thank you to my family, friends, team and sponsors for all the love always. It’s so awesome and motivating to have fans back in the stands cheering us on lap after lap!” Texter became the first female to win an American Flat Track Main Event with her GNC2 triumph at Knoxville Raceway in 2011. As monumental as that was, it was only a small preview of what was to follow. Now the Pennsylvanian not only ranks as the winningest rider in AFT Singles history, she has nearly doubled up the nearest rider on the list.

According to AFT, she continues to rewrite the record books with each successive victory. That was true again at the 2019 Texas Half-Mile where she and her brother, Cory, became the first siblings to earn AFT Main Event victories on the same day.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

#WomensHistoryMonth Continues!

“Recently Amy and I got together with a tough, smart, opinionated group of dealers,” says industry guru Mark Rodgers. “ They also just happened to be women. We talked about how to increase women ridership and women staff members. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.” Follow the conversation here: https://vimeo.com/526336352

MARCH MADNESS

BRP Says Time To Play Ball With Women

Just over 100 years ago, women didn’t have the right to vote. That didn’t change until the 19th Amendment — prohibiting the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex — was certified on August 26, 1920. However, motorcycling still has a maddeningly sexist and exclusionary past, according to Can-Am.

BRP’s Can-Am On-Road Division chose International Women’s Day in March to roll out their latest outreach program. “Can-Am is celebrating women riders and challenging the played-out ‘biker’ stereotypes in order to make open road riding a more inclusive place for women every day of the year,” explains Amélie Forcier, Global Consumer Public Relations Specialist. “That is why Can-Am is taking action with a public commitment to increase ridership among women and offering $100,000 to the Women of On-Road program which will, among other initiatives, fuel projects that empower women within the riding community.” Can-Am On-Road is committed to addressing the staggering deficit of women riders in the riding community, increasing the ratio of Can-Am Ryker women riders to 40%. “We will do so by supporting groups and projects that help empower women riders through Can-Am’s Women of On-Road via our Giving Back to Our Community initiative and provide new educational resources such as training videos, local ride guides, access to womens’ riding groups and much more.”

Learn more on the women’s outreach at:

canamonroad.com/women

WINE, WOMEN… MOTORCYCLES

Doffo has a history of being involved with women and motorcycling, including Motorcycle Missions (built by 6 US female veterans, http://www.motorcycle-missions.org/build-9) and hosting women and wine events with the late Jessi Coombs teaching welding classes — definitely not Vin Ordinaire being served to the ladies by the ladies of Doffo.

When COVID concerns shut down Doffo’s ability to interact with their friends, family and fellow motorcycle enthusiasts, the Temecula-based business began looking for creative ways to connect (see Press Pass on page 80). Our hostess, Samantha Doffo, decided to start Facebook live gatherings in her Wine Wednesday Happy Hours. As the series evolved, Samantha’s guest seemed to be women in the motorcycle world.

Until things open up, you catch Samantha chatting about all things wine, motorcycles, and life. “I have visited with some amazing women, including Melissa Paris to talk about Royal Enfield BTR, Jen Dunstan when she was with our neighbors at Husqvarna,” says Sam. “Last month we had two very special guests: Kelly Yazdi and Rachael Silver from Ride Wild!” The trio previewed the Ride Wild Campout — an all women’s motorcycle campout hosted by Doffo Winery and the MotoDoffo Collection.

“Camel greeting, goat yoga and an eagle ceremony… it really was a wild ride. There was also BMW demo rides and the ladies could try their hand at pinstriping, welding and leatherwork, and learn about the amazing work being done by the event’s beneficiary, the Jessi Combs Foundation.”

COMETIC COMES FULL CIRCLE

Kristen Damberger Grew Up In The Business

Coming full cycle. The recent acquisition of Klotz Synthetic Lubricants by Cometic Gaskets closes the loop for Kristen Damberger. “My dad started Cometic Gasket in 1989 when I was in sixth grade while he was still working at Wiseco Piston — the place he worked since high school,” she remembers. “My dad and I came up with the name ‘Cometic’ in our kitchen with my mom and brother. My dad wanted to name his new company something that went fast, like a comet he said. I looked up comet in the dictionary and under it was the word cometic, and the rest is history…” and now she is back.

“My brother and I grew up in the industry going to different races and tradeshows with my dad. We both started doing odd jobs at Cometic while we were very young. I still have my time cards from when I was a kid making $3.50/hour! After high school, I attended the University of Michigan where I majored in industrial design. My move to Michigan was frowned upon, by well, everyone. It’s not exactly acceptable to attend Michigan when you are born and raised in Ohio.

“While in college, I changed the Cometic logo,” she adds. Even today, the Cometic logo is based on a variation of that logo. “I worked at Cometic during my summer breaks, I bounced between packaging and cleaning parts. After college, I landed back home at Cometic where I worked on ad and tradeshow display graphics.

“For a short while, I had a freelance company on the side with a fellow co-worker where I did catalog, advertising, and tradeshow graphics. Our main client was Klotz Synthetic Lubricants. In 2014 my dad bought out the remaining partners of Cometic and my brother and officially I came on board as partners. And earlier this year we purchased Klotz Synthetic Lubricants!”

O’SULLIVAN NAMED CCO

To Head Up Harley’s Omnichannel Efforts

Just in time for Women’s History Month, Harley-Davidson has appointed Edel O’Sullivan as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). O’Sullivan replaces existing CCO Larry Hund, who retires from The Motor Company following 18 years of service, on April 2, 2021. Effective March 1, O’Sullivan brought her extensive omnichannel experience to the motorcycle market, focusing on commercial excellence and organizational change.

“Edel has an excellent track record of effectively building commercial and organizational strategies, based on clear market and consumer insights, that deliver strong Financial and operational results,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president and CEO of Harley-Davidson. “She will bring new perspectives and capabilities to our leadership team as we execute the priorities of our 5-year strategy, The Hardwire.”

Most recently a partner at Bain & Company for the past 14-years, she led the development of major corporate transformations, including the strategic delivery of profitable growth initiatives across multiple industries, with an emphasis on retail, advanced manufacturing and OEMs. Previously O’Sullivan worked in financial planning and analysis for Procter & Gamble. O’Sullivan holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the Universidad Simon Bolivar in Caracas, Venezuela, and an MBA with distinction, from Harvard Business School.