Rising Star winner carries on family racing tradition

By RANDY CAPPS

If one grows up in a family of racers, the odds of that person becoming one improve. So the notion that Spencer Kirby races motorcycles isn’t all that surprising in a vacuum, but toss in the fact that she’s a 12-yearold girl, and the story becomes a little more unique.

Despite only a couple of years experience, Kirby already owns eight first-place finishes in the South East Flat Track Association and was the SEFT/ West Coast Hot Shoe Rookie of the Year.

She’s going places — fast — and is the 2023 Johnston Now Honors Rising Star Award winner.

“One day, we went to a race and it was cool,” she said. “They told me that my grandfather raced the same type of racing, and I just wanted to carry that on.”

It turns out that her father, grandfather and greatgrandfather were all flat-track racers, which is why No. 67 is the family number and adorns the front of Spencer’s bikes.

“I kept going, and it was just really fun,” she said. “It’s something I like to do.”

Her father, Josh, also races in the SEFT events, as does her brother and grandfather. Right now, the series is on a summer break. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t work to be done.

“Right now, we’re just building bikes,” he said. “Doing a little work on hers, tearing apart another one to get them all ready for the next stuff.

“We have a limited budget compared to some of the guys we race against. We’re trying to save money for a trailer.”

Spencer lives in Smithfield, and the fact that she’s homeschooled helps make the balance between schoolwork and racing more manageable.

“It’s not too much,” she said. “Homeschool isn’t like eight hours a day. I just get that over with, load up the bikes, rest that night and then go.”

When she’s not kicking up dirt on a flat track, she enjoys boxing. She’d like to race professionally someday, or perhaps become an interior designer.

She doesn’t shy away from the fact that most of her competitors are boys, either.

“I like racing boys,” she said. “It’s fun. There’s no difference either way. Apparently, it’s not a very girly sport.”

“I think flat track is the great equalizer,” Josh said. “There’s no difference between female and male racers. There are some little girls who have just started, and famous ones like Jess Reynolds, who’s a bit of an inspiration for her.

“This community that we race with, they couldn’t care less. You don’t get the typical ‘you got beat by a girl’ kind of thing. It really is a good group of people. When we first started going, we’d have random people come up and give us tips and hints. In other sports they aren’t going to share anything.”

Recently, she received her first bit of formal training on sliding the bike without using your foot. This allows for more speed and, not surprisingly, less control.

“I have to try to fight her from riding in the neighborhood,” he said. “Our big disadvantage is that we don’t get to practice like we wish we could. Financially, it’s just a heavy cost.”

The sliding lesson was quite the adjustment for both father and daughter.

“I went into the woods,” Josh said. “I missed the turn and went right in the woods.”

She’s also learning to ride a two-stroke, rather than a fourstroke bike.

“A four-stroke (engine) has more dependable power,” he said. “A two-stroke has a power valve, so when you kick in and that valve opens, it’s like a punch of power. So, knowing when that is can be important.”

She’s had some crashes, including one in her first race, but nothing to steer her away from the sport.

“I’ve had some crashes, but I’d never rethink it,” she said. “It’s too fun. I get hurt, but I’ll get up and redo it.”

It is, after all, a family tradition.

To keep pace with Spencer, follow Spencer Kirby Racing on Facebook.