INTERVIEW

I’M NOT MARY McGEE

Jamie Pamintuan, Del Amo Motorsports

By Rick Doughty

Moving to America, racing motocross and being a pioneer in the powersports industry is part of the fabric that makes up Jamie Pamintuan’s life. Now a senior service writer for the largest family of dealerships in Southern California, she has overcome bullying, discrimination and RWA “Racing While Asian” before hate crimes were in the headlines, just a fact of life. While there were plenty of tears, Jamie kept her eye on the prize. World Minis, the legendary Mammoth Motocross and qualifying for the Women’s Motocross des Nations team were among the highlights that kept her coming back. After career ending injuries caused her to get into the business side, she applied herself to working in a dealership. However, something was missing and she recently got back into racing the American Retrocross series, just for fun. “My whole family is involved, so it put the fun back in racing for me.”

However she doesn’t see herself as a pioneer: “I have met Mary McGee and have a lot of respect for her and all she has done. I am not Mary McGee! She is a real pioneer. All the women like me who ride and race today are following the trail she blazed. As for overcoming similar obstacles, well yes and no. There is nothing we face today that compares to what Mary was up against, but motorcycle racing is still a predominantly male sport and women are the exceptions. When you are the exception you are different. When you are different you are going to be perceived and in some cases treated differently. Gender aside, most people don’t ride or race motorcycles, so that in and of itself makes us all different from the norm.”

You currently work at Del Amo Motorsports in Long Beach, CA.

Yes I do. I have been there a long time.

What is your position?

I am the Senior Service Writer.

Are you perceived differently than your male counterparts?

Sometimes to most of the time but it doesn’t bother me. Sometimes a person will come in and want to talk to a guy, so I will hand them off to another employee. Then when they ask a question that the other employee can’t answer, they come ask me. Makes me laugh inside.

When did you start riding and why?

I was 11. After we moved from the Philippines to Long Beach, my Dad started racing at Ascot and it became a family thing. I saw kids racing, mostly boys, and I wanted to do it. Eventually my parents bought me a used YZ80 from the PennySaver, but my Dad wouldn’t let me ride it. Instead, he put it on a bike stand and let me sit on it. I would practice using the clutch and shifting. That just made me more interested. Soon I started asking questions about starting it, braking and how things worked. It was torture not to ride, but the garage practice paid off.

One day I went out to the garage and took the bike off the stand and started it. I did all the things that I had been practicing and before I knew it, I was riding down the driveway and headed for the street. Luckily no cars were coming and I successfully turned right on to the road. I even executed a U-turn without crashing! However, on the way back to the house I veered into a metal fence and in the process ended up with some scars on my leg to mark my first ride.

So you are NOT Mary McGee, but you are a pioneer and role model. Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you born?

Angeles City, Philippines

How old are you?

When did you start racing and why?

I think I have always been competitive in whatever I’ve done, whether it was school, BMX or motorcycles. I have that inner drive to do better tomorrow than I did today. It is just the way I am wired.

I first attempted to race when I was 11 years and 11 months old. The problem was when I got to sign up, I was informed that the rules required competitors to be at least 12. I pleaded my case that I was less than a month away from being 12 but it was to no avail, they said no. I was broken hearted and in tears. Actually, tears were a big part of my early days of racing.

When I was officially 12, I went back to the track and signed up to race. That was probably the best part of the day because I got lapped in both motos multiple times. That is where the tears came in again. I thought about quitting but I loved riding and racing too much to give it up. I was already addicted.

Were there many opportunities for female racers then?

Not when I first started. I just raced against the boys.

How were you received when you had to race in the same class with the guys?

Not well to be honest. I got slammed into a lot. I did not get the same level of respect as the other boys. It seemed that they (the slammers) resented a girl invading their sport so they were going to make it as rough on me as they could. Plus, I was guilty of RWA, “Racing While Asian”, so it was a double whammy. They would tell me to go back to my own country and stupid stuff like that. More tears…

Did that change as you started to beat them?

To be honest, I stopped listening to them. Some of the parents had a problem with me racing like I had been raced, but I told them I was simply riding like the sons do. For the most part I kept to myself and let my riding do the talking.

Is there any one race or incident that you had that exemplified that attitude?

Not really, it was so common that I just got used to it. The World Minis in Las Vegas were pretty intense.

You finally made it up to the Pro level in what year?

I think it was ’91 or ’92. I got a chance to race Mammoth on a 125 and ended up beating Tami Rice. Afterwards she asked me if I would be interested in going to Italy to ride on the Women’s Motocross des Nations team. The only problem was I was not yet a Pro. My parents finally agreed to let me get my professional license and be a part of the team. I broke my collarbone prior in the race but still finished 12th overall and got a trophy for being the youngest competitor. It was an amazing experience to get to go to another country and race. We chased the dream for four years. Unfortunately, I broke my back three times (T4, T5 and S1), collarbone and other less severe injuries. Motocross can be unforgiving on the body. The S1 break left me paralyzed for some time and lead to my decision to step away from racing. I have only recently gone back to racing for fun with the American Retrocross series. My whole family is involved so it put the fun back in racing for me.

What is your take on how the powersports industry in general appeals to or dismisses females?

Most certainly the marketing has been biased towards the male gender. I understand that, but it is changing slowly.

What suggestions would you make to manufacturers and aftermarket companies to better address the female interests and needs?

Well, more gear companies are making women’s apparel that is tailored to a women’s body so that helps. But there is a lot more that could be done with respect to female rider training, bike design and an overall attitude shift towards women being participants in riding and racing. You can see the car companies changing their strategies when it comes to women as drivers and decision makers, so it is only natural that will occur in powersports.

What would you like to say to the other women that are reading this?

Follow your passion. If motorsports appeals to you, go for it! Don’t get hung up on it being a “guy’s sport” or what someone else might think. The bike doesn’t know or care what gender you are. The thrill that motorcycles can give you is unlike anything else. Add to that the sense of accomplishment you get from becoming a better rider or racer and it is easy to get hooked like I did.

Got anything to say to the male readers?

If you see a female riding or racing be welcoming and encouraging. Help her feel like she has as much a right to be part of the sport as you do… Then offer to wash her bike when she’s done!