12 minute read
INTERVIEW
REVIVAL
AMA Hall Of Famer Mary McGee Is Revved Up
When the American Motorcyclist Association needed someone to help revive the Hall Of Fame and drive donations, they turned to one of their own — Mary McGee. Inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 2018, Mary is an icon, inspiration and the best brand ambassador motorcycling has ever had. “Mary is one of the most pioneering motorcyclists in history,” AMA noted. “She not only broke barriers for women riders, but all riders. Her accomplishments transcend gender and have impacted the sport in innumerable ways.”
Despite the legendary Rolf Tibblin telling her brakes are the most important part of racing, Mary is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon! Eric Anderson interviewed this motorcycling legend about the challenges of being a woman in the powersports world and a pioneer advocate for our entire industry. The stories are amazing, including how she was never sponsored by a dealer, did the Baja 500 solo and was convinced by friend and fellow racer Steve McQueen to start riding dirtbikes in the desert...
You’ve been instrumental in breaking down gender barriers everywhere inside what was and still remains to this day of a male-dominated sport and industry. One thing we’ve never heard from you is what your dealership experience has been in the 1960s, 70s and even the 1980s… How challenging was it for serious women riders at the point of purchase in those days?
Well, first of all, you mentioned dealership, right? I did work for a dealership back them. I worked for Paul Collins at Continental Imports. He sold Hondas, Triumphs and Bultacos. Yes, it was great fun. I made commissions on those sales but it was a struggle with the two male salespeople. Paul said to just ignore them and I was selling motorcycles like crazy.
Was it hard in the 1960’s? Did things get better?
They eventually got better. When I started roadracing in 1960, they were slightly older guys. And they were pretty much accepting. I did have to try out at Willow Springs, they wouldn’t let me race, but a guy could just show up with his leathers, a helmet and a bike and race. After my try out at Willow Springs, that was no problem. They said, “You’re good. You can race the next race.”
Now when I started motocross it was different. First of all, it was all desert guys at the first motocross — it started in the first week of December 1965, at Castaic Junction. When the kids came into motocross, they didn’t know what to do with me because I wasn’t their mother. I wasn’t their sister. And I was older…
But you were a competitor.
Mostly they were faster. But yeah, I was a competitor. I was there and I was definitely a participant.
Back to the dealership for a second. Was it interesting being the only woman working at that dealership? Did you receive respect from the men when you outsold them?
I kind of outsold them. They got a little upset because guys would come in and ask for me and they wanted to buy a motorcycle. The guys did complain to Paul Collins and he just said ‘deal with it.’
What was your advantage in selling?
Riding! I rode a motorcycle. Oh, you know what else I did? Paul Collins’ shop was on Artesia Boulevard. And it was an angle. So I had a skateboard and I would ride down Artesia Blvd. on it. Everybody just laughed and thought it was funny… but they followed me to the dealership.
You’re a daredevil?
No, no, but it was fun. The dealership wasn’t busy all the time. Right? You cleaned the bikes, you straightened up the brochures — the guys never did any of that — so if there was nobody there, you had to do something. I rode my skateboard.
There were a couple of guys that were very, very nice in the beginning. One was Mark Blackwell, his father and his younger brother, Greg, and John DeSoto, he’s such a great guy, and Jim Wilson. But it took a while for guys to get used to having a female out there at the track or in the shop.
Were men who worked inside dealerships back then surprised at what motorcycle parts and accessories you were buying in the shop?
that CL 72 250 Honda four-stroke. And then the first two motocross races I raced my husband’s 500cc Triumph. And then in the summertime we went trail riding with a friend down to a place called Bixby Slough which was in the Long Beach area. And a friend loaned me a Greeves Challenger.
Wow! That was an awesome 2-stroke and loud… with a leading link front end…
It did have the leading link front end and I don’t know about the noise. But it was light compared to that CL72 Honda or the 500cc Triumph! I thought, this is great. A two-stroke is what I want so we went to Kubicek and he had a 360 and a 250 CZ. We bought the 250, but he kept the parts box. You were supposed to get this big wooden crate full of spares, but Joe kept that.
Did any dealers ever sponsor you as a competitive rider?
I never had a sponsor, ever. Nobody ever wanted to sponsor me. And of course, I never asked for anything. Everything I had, I bought. The only thing I ever got for free was from Rolf Tibblin — this jacket. And another jacket from Team Honda and the International Training Center. But that’s sitting in the AMA Hall of Fame right now.
International Training Center… That was Rolf Tibblin’s and Mark Blackwell’s riding school. Remember when they used to suggest that you drink coffee before you go out and try and get the holeshot because your reaction time is a little better after a cup of coffee or two?
I was at Rolf’s training sessions before Mark came on. And I even helped Rolf at a couple of his schools, one in Boise and one in Aspen, Colorado. When I went to his school it was not at Carlsbad, yet but it was in San Diego. One of the things I remember him being so adamant about was braking. And when I teach any school that’s one of the massive first things I talk about is to brake using both brakes! It’s not just about power. It’s about slowing down, too. Know how to slow down so you can make that turn. Then you got to get back on the gas! Take a breath and full throttle.
Since being inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame, how has your life changed? Any difference? Or did you simply receive the recognition you deserved? You got to stand on stage. Did Perry King make the introductions? Who is the master of ceremonies?
Oh, yeah, it was Perry King and then we had a great talk over at the Museum the next day, because he’s quite the car guy, too. We got to talk about “S” turns at Riverside because I started racing cars at the Riverside track when it was first active. I started racing in 1957. In Phoenix, the first car belonged to George Rice. He asked me if I wanted to race a Mercedes 300 SL Gull Wing.
Wow, those are collectibles now, aren’t they?
Oh, everything I raced is worth millions now. None of them were ever mine, though. Too bad.
Now, women are 19% to 20% of motorcycle owners — not riders or pillion passengers — but owners. Is there more room to grow that segment of women riders. How do we do that?
I think so. When a woman walks into your shop, pay attention to her. And don’t just try to talk her into the biggest fastest bike there. Talk about motorcycling. Make sure that she gets to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation riding school. I think those are great.
If you had one recommendation to the motorcycle dealers of America, either in general or about female customers, what would it be?
Well, when women come in the door, be friendly. Don’t be aggressive, just be attentive. I think they have to be attentive for a moment and really listen to her, then gently make suggestions. And the suggestion should not be a bigger bike!
Are there still some adventures to be had or new barriers to be broken?
Continued on page 24
I don’t know about breaking new barriers. I’m 84 years old now and due to arthritis, I can no longer ride a motorcycle which I’m heartbroken about. But I have a little dog I go hiking with. And that’s about how my life now is going with hiking.
Have you ever thought of going to four wheels you know with age comes a cage.
I did four wheels already. Coming full circle back to Paul Collins, he called me up and said, ‘Mary, you want to do the first Mexican 1000 in a Datsun? He had a Datsun 510… not a rally car, just a regular sedan you could buy from a dealership. They put a roll bar in it and put on different shocks and tires. And we pre-ran in a Toyota Land Cruiser.
The pre-run was more exciting than the race. The road was completely unknown. It was a damned exciting pre-run, I can tell you that… excuse my French. The race didn’t go so well… we only made it as far as El Arco, the halfway point. We chugged into El Arco and it was bitter cold… tires were burning and that’s how you got warm was walking around the burning tires. It smells bad but who cares when you are freezing? The ground was absolutely frozen. I just kept turning around that fire until I was so tired I was gonna fall in it. I looked around at everybody on the cardboard. And what did I see? Two motorcycle guys laying back to back. I made myself nice and warm. I walked over there and slithered right between them. They never knew I was there until the morning. And then this loud voice woke everybody up shouting, “I slept with Mary McGee!” They’re all memorable. They’re all exciting. I mean, I was a blessed and fortunate woman with all the racing I got to do for all these years. I can’t say one over the other because they’re all exciting. Some were more difficult. The Baja races were the most difficult thing I’ve ever done.
Yet you finished the Baja 500 solo. So you’re an iron woman.
It was the 1975 Baja 500 and I’m the first person to ride that solo. It was hot and it was rough, too. It was Rolf Tibblin’s fault, he told me I had to do that. He called me up and said you’re gonna do the 500 solo. I said I can’t do that. He said, “yeah, I’m sure you can do this.”
What motorcycle was that?
A 250 Husqvarna. My favorite bike of all was that 250 Husky!
Anything else you’d like to say in conclusion?
Get a motorcycle, and then ride! Go vintage racing — it is awesome and so much fun. If you can get to a vintage race, do it! Everybody is wonderful and helpful. And it’s so much fun. I think that all of the people that have a motorcycle should keep on riding. They should always take a breath, and then twist the throttle!
Finally, how about a message to women out there who are thinking about riding a motorcycle?
The best thing a woman can do is get a used 125 dirtbike and go trail riding. It is the most fun you can possibly have. I think you should talk to your friends who are riding… and don’t let anybody talk you into a bike that’s too big for you. Start out with a small used dirt bike. There’s always people who are going to take you out to the dirt to ride the trail ride, which is great fun. I go out to the dirt and learn how to spin that rear wheel out and dump that front end.
And how to use that front brake…
Yeah. All the brakes. All the brakes.
Mary McGee, who learned to ride a motorcycle on a 200cc Triumph Tiger Cub in 1957, was one of the first women motocrossers and road racers in the United States. She started her off-road career by riding a 1962 250cc Honda Scrambler in an AMA District 37 enduro. She began riding Baja events in 1967 and, in 1975, rode solo in the Baja 500. Also in the 1970s she competed with three men on a team in a 24-hour road race aboard a 650cc Suzuki.
Today, Mary is asking for everyone who loves riding to join her in supporting the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises money for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
Join with Mary today and help tell the stories of amazing American motorcyclists!
For her contributions to motorcycling, McGee has been inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. She supports the Hall of Fame and would like you to join her.
“Today, our sport is more inclusive than ever, and I’m honored that I was able to play a part in that progress,” she says in a letter to AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame supporters. “I’m confident that motorcycle racing will continue to grow and welcome racers from all backgrounds.
“One way we can help that growth is by celebrating our heritage,” she says. “We do that by honoring the great men and women in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Their stories of perseverance, fortitude, conquest, talent, and ingenuity inspire new motorcyclists to test limits, break barriers and blaze new trails.
“So I’m asking you today: Please consider making a taxdeductible financial contribution to the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, the 501(c)(3) that raises money to support the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame,” she says. “Your donation is not just an investment in the past. It’s an investment in the future of motorcycling in America.”
The Hall of Fame works to preserve motorcycling’s history, educate the public and honor the great men and women of motorcycling through generous tax-deductible gifts from individual motorcyclists. It’s easy to support the mission. Just go to:
https://americanmotorcyclist.com/join-mary-mcgeesupport-the-hall-of-fame/
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