My Little "Hoek" Amidst Authors of the Great - "Continental Circus: Races, Places, the People and the Faces"!

For the past two years I’ve kept a secret. I’ve been editing a most exciting book project which was just recently published- “Continental Circus: Races, Places, the People and the Faces". It’s a priceless assembly of images and their stories by Dutch photographer duo Jan and Hetty Burger and my close friend, well known Dutch motorsport journalist Frank Weeink. Frank transformed into words the tales accompanying Jan and Hetty's astounding photos. Truly an amazing collection! There’s no question it’s a “must have” for any motorcycle race enthusiast or racing fan.

From 1970 until 1976, Jan and Hetty Burgers were part of the so-called Continental Circus that crossed borders and travelled from race circuit to race circuit. Their pictures were published in magazines all over the world. Jan not only took excellent action shots but he and his wife Hetty were also fascinated by everyday life in the paddock. Their cameras documented the racing community which shared a passion for racing, but away from the limelight- paddock life could be tough and cruel for riders and their families. Jan and Hetty made friends and lost too many along the way. 

When Jan and Hetty left the Continental Circus their pictures were shelved in the attic and it wasn't until two years ago after meeting up with motorcycle journalist and TV commentator Frank Weeink, the idea for the book emerged - a book in which they wanted to not only portray the action on track but life around it. More than 6,000 photos, many forgotten but rediscovered, made it to the first selection and over 400 of them finally made it into the 192 page book. All-time greats like Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, Jarno Saarinen and Barry Sheene are featured, as are more than 20 crowd favourites like Johnny Cecotto, Kenny Roberts, Jack Findlay, Tom Herron, Dave Simmonds and Teuvo Länsivuori. As they intended, the book also hails the often unseen heroes - the mechanics, the wives and the girlfriends while taking the reader on a tour to iconic tracks like Spa-Francorchamps, the Nürburgring, Hockenheim, the Salzburgring and Montjuich. On top of that, the book features chapters on crashes, sidecars, Formula 750 racing and legendary bikes from MV Agusta, Yamaha and Suzuki.

This trio’s collective effort has made for a unique “Best of” motorcycle racing book painting a sometimes touching, frequently revealing, and always spectacular picture both on and off track -throughout the early and mid-seventies.

It was an enlightening works for me - I certainly learnt a lot (which is always the case when I hang out with Frank!) as will you when you get your copy. It’s a superb contribution to motorcycle racing’s history through the combined talents of Jan, Hetty and Frank.

A special thank you to Frank for getting me involved; and my sincere admiration for the combined talents of Jan and Hetty - and Frank's superb, always entertaining writing!

...of course, I’d be lying if I didn’t feel terribly privileged in having my name noted in the book ...my "little hoek (corner) amidst the great Continental Circus!"

Order yours here, it really is - a treasure!

International Female Ride Day – Stand up and Take a Bow

Months ago, the 7th edition of International Female Ride Day (IFRD) rumbled across the world’s planet and it was –phenomenal! Women motorcycle riders on all makes and models got on their two-wheelers (and three wheelers), rode together, synchronized on one special day worldwide for the seventh occasion of IFRD. 

It isn't until the morning of the day, that first Friday in May, when I’m about to turn the ignition key on my own motorcycle that I pause and find myself overcome by the reality of the day. This glorious moment hits me! It's International Female Ride Day - I’m overwhelmed with the reality. I imagine the ladies in Australia, in India, Cape Town South Africa, Yukon, Iceland, Russia, West to East coast Canada and all points America- doing the very same as me - gearing up to JUST RIDE. And to think I made this happen - yes, I did, I created International Female Ride Day!

As an advocate for motorcycling; for women and motorcycling, this event without a doubt allows me huge personal reward. It’s not been an entirely easy journey though, and I've had to deal with some incredibly disheartening challenges- so much so that on numerous occasions I've contemplated "throwing in the towel". The fact that I’m self employed and that this campaign is nearly a full time task but provides no income for me is a challenge all on its own- bitter sweet you could say. It’s exciting and motivating to steer while being incredibly taxing on my personal self and my company. Yet my drive proceeds - doing the best I can. Yes, I fall behind on tasks- designing the annual icon, making it available on line and in various languages, website updates, Facebook page / group / event management, tweeting, responding to hundreds of inquiries, designing t-shirts, working with the industry and associations –policing; it's incredibly fatiguing, like this long sentence!  All costs for the project are personal. But adding to it all are the battles I've faced from other women. Jealously, material theft, wordage and date disputes, copyright infringement; those who have attempted to work against the effort. These are a minority yet a reality. One year I recall many sleepless nights while I contemplated the actions I would take to protect IFRD from a powerful global brand who- since introduction - have done their best to re-brand and take credit for the event. On the other hand within guidelines, I've assisted the industry on creating special events to promote their businesses; manufacturers’ national campaigns- and assisted women’s clubs who sadly, ended up preventing other women (those who are not members) from participating in their arranged happenings. Yet, when I weigh it all out, IFRD is worth it and coincides perfectly with all the reasons my brand RaceGirl in the nineties was born, succeeded now by MOTORESS; purely for the women and motorcycling! Thousands of women around the world continue to take a role and inspire us all within this unified camaraderie. And isn't it amazing all this within a world continuously dividing us from each other? 

When I’m asked by friends and those in the motor-sport industry to stand up and take a bow for IFRD’s successes – it’s purely from a place of privilege. IFRD has allowed me the opportunity to become acquainted with – and introduce make known to the planet - the most amazing women! It’s these women who’ve demonstrated by way of their ride day participation – IFRD resonates with them too.

And me, well, I’ll be ok; I always seem to manage. And yes, next year the running’s of this world wide action will be the same- too few hours in the day, far too many demands, no sleep and budget anxiety. Yet would I trade it? Not in a million IFRD synchronized worldwide women’s ride day miles!

More Motorcycle Monkey Business for 2013!

Reminiscing over last years riding season, I can’t believe the number of new motorcycling experiences I was able to add to my list. Quite remarkable when considering I’m embarking on my 30th year as a licensed (and non-stop) rider. And I’ve got to admit, one of the rides ranking near the top of my list happened on Canada’s famed Mosport race track and in a race sidecar motorcycle – I was the “monkey”!

The term "monkey" refers to the rider in the sidecar swinging from front to back to assist the pilot in steering. The opportunity happened with the Canadian VRRA (Vintage Road Racing Association) during their Mosport festival race venue. In-between the days races the VRRA host a “try the sidecar ride” to most anyone who signs up (some restrictions and need to have full gear). The sidecar owners make their machines available and host a few laps around the track. It’s a generous opportunity, asking but a few dollars donation to the club. How could I refuse?

My pilot was a sidecar racing veteran - a husband and wife team - Paul and Marie Whittaker. In this case Paul was the bike’s pilot and Marie the monkey. Marie gave me the run down on the “monkey-business” - specifically the manoeuvres giving me some stationary practise in pit lane before getting out there. The “monkey’s” distribution of weight by laying down up front and low; then up to knees, shifting back and over the pilot’s passenger seat at the right time, are key to cornering the sidecar and to its corner speed. Teamwork at its finest and no walk in the park for the monkey – a lot of hard work.

So off we went! I was totally up for the fun, but as Paul got up to speed, I continued to muff up most all corners we took- I just couldn’t get myself into position by the time he  needed to turn the bike into  the corner. Frustrating! Climbing forward, climbing back...gosh I needed a few more yoga classes or a more flexible race suit! The challenge of getting into position to coincide with each corner was tricky. I was not providing Paul any assistance to manoeuvre the corners! My lack of familiarity with the track was a further disadvantage. 

With one lap behind me now I thought I’d certainly be better at the my role for the second lap. I started to watch Paul for indications such as when I should move - seeing if I could anticipate by his motions, again, as I didn’t know Mosport. At one point I raised up my hand so he could see it and waving to the right with my thumb pointed intending to say "right turn corner now?” Well, he took that as a signal to exit and that I’d had enough and wanted to go in. I suppose that was easily mistaken as we happened to be approaching pit lane and the exit of the track. Darn, I was disappointed! I wanted more and especially more time to get the job right. 

I climbed off thanking Paul (and Marie) while Paul readied to take the next rider. The tingling in my arms lingered for a while and  I felt as though they'd been stretched in length - you know, like a monkey’s! I was definitely not in shape for the task.

I’m so pleased to have added this to my motorcycling experiences. Though it wasn’t as thrilling to me as being the pilot or as racing on two wheels; the experience is incomparable to anything else motorcycling. Indeed, don’t pass up the chance if you have the opportunity.

As we ride into 2013, I hope your year will be filled with ever more new motorcycling experiences. They need not happen on the track- some can be as simple as touring to a new region or taking out a scooter for the first time during a demo ride.

Take it from me, every aspect and form of motorcycling offers up its own unique sensation- more fun than a "barrel of monkeys" - you might say!

Happy New Year riding!

Thanks again VRRA, especially to Paul and Marie Whittaker!

These fabulous photos by Richard Coburn, 

Coburn Photography www.coburnphotography.ca

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Sidecar Smarts (ala Wikipedia)

The sidecars are often classed by age or engine size, with historic sidecar racing often being more popular than its modern counterpart. Older classes in road racing generally resemble solo motorcycles with a platform attached, where modern racing sidecars are low and long and borrow much technology from open wheel race cars. In all types of sidecar racing there is a rider and a passenger who work in unison to make the machine perform, as they would be almost unrideable without the passenger in the correct position.

Road racing sidecars began to change away from normal motorcycle development in the 1950s with them becoming lower and using smaller diameter wheels and they kept the enclosed "dustbin fairing" banned in solo competition in 1957. By the 1970s they were using wide slick tyres with a square car like profile, the rider kneeled behind the engine instead of sitting on a seat and the motor of choice was generally a 500 cc two stroke. In the late 1970s sidecars began to appear with hub centre steering and later the engines moved to the rear of the rider, to lower the centre of gravity further still, making the sidecar very long. Sidecars raced in the world championship known as Superside are all hub centre long monocoque framed machines, the most common being LCR, ART or Windle, with 1,000 cc four-cylinder four-stroke engines, the most popular being the Suzuki GSX-R1000.

These at club and national level are known as Formula One sidecars, as opposed to Formula Two. Formula Two sidecars are short front engined bikes, which must have a frame made of steel tube and have leading link forks as monocoques and hub centre steering is banned. Engines are 350 cc two strokes or 600 cc four strokes. F2 sidecars are raced in their own championship but are often on track at the same time as the F1’s, but competing for their own points. Since 1990 at the Isle of Man TT, the Sidecar TT has been solely contested by Formula Two sidecars as Formula Ones were deemed too fast, then lapping at 108 mph (174 km/h) average. By 2006 however, F2s were faster than this lapping at 116 mph (187 km/h).

Off Road Motorcycle riding fun – the dirt speaks for itself!

Yesterday I headed up North to enjoy my other favourite form of motorcycling, off-roading! It's as simple as that, getting off the street and riding on trails, off the road. Riding through the woods, sliding around loose dirt corners and accelerating over jumps is incredible fun! And it's the jumps I personally can't get enough of! It's the kind of motorcycling which is full of fearless fun and gettin' dirty!

Off road riding never requires good weather or roads; in fact the worst conditions are usually sought accenting the - challenge! The bike gives you lots of feedback as it shakes and wiggles beneath you. The handlebars move around constantly from the terrain and sometimes, as is in my case, the seat comes up behind you and whacks you a good one on the rear!(riding over a log for example) You relax your grip and let go of all that mental jibber-jabber visualizing that it's you, you are the "being" with the knobby tyres riding over those chunky rocks!

It was when I moved to the Caribbean I started riding duo sport and off road motorcycles. There really was no other choice as a paved road was a challenge to find. The island of St. Maarten was accessed namely by gravel roads or dirt - not conducive to the usual fun sought on a sport bike. On the French side of the island, St. Martin, the motorcycle club built a track on the beach it was all sand- deep sand! I tried it often but seemed to always get buried - too challenging and heavy for my abilities- then. There was a lot of local rider talent to be found on that island! I recall the president of the bike club (I was also a member) could literally ride the entire island on the back wheel of his Honda XLR500 – the longest wheelie I've seen- to date!

It’s a given in dirt riding that you fall, pick yourself up and do it again. And here's where I like to bring into play “guy” mentality -minimal thinking, more doing. It's that mindset of fearing a fall that creates a mental set back. Of course the bike can get out from underneath you and yes you are not free from danger. It was two years ago now I fell wrong and the handlebar went into my ribs resulting in two small fractures. But it's the spills which are great fodder for laughs and après off road stories! The bikes are designed to take abuse as is the special moto-gear required - you'll not see a rider without full gear. It’s a rough and tumble sport that’s super fun, physical and totally skill enhancing! I've always likened motorcycling to skiing-and off road riding even more so. As in skiing (or snowboarding), when you fall, you learn. I’ve had some days though, where I fell so repeatedly, it was exhausting! It's hard work especially as the day moves on-  picking up that motorcycle!

Getting dirty is such a fun part of it –so I challenged the women riding with me with a prize for the rider who ended up being the dirtiest! Stipulating language didn't count!  The prize went to Nancy who lost it in a corner and in the midst of a huge puddle! In my case, the day was evident when I removed my helmet - a dirt brown moustache! (Sweeping in back of the group ensures eating a lot of dust!)

Ah yes, my moustache, mud covered boots and a few bruises - the proud souvenirs of an exhilarating day where not just riding through challenging terrain and improving 'trick riding' skills is enough -  it's the fact of getting dirty- the proud tell-tale signs of a day spent off-roading! Come join us next time!

Meet South Africa's First Black Female Motocrosser

Dolly Mdiniso, from Kensington Johannesburg South Africa had never ridden a motorcycle. She grew up in Soweto, the second of four siblings raised by a single mother, graduated from high school and got a job. But all she ever really wanted to do was ride a motorcycle. It's probably the dream of many but for Dolly it was a silent passion- until she came across an advert in a local magazine for a woman’s motorsport day.

At thirty three, older than most riders entering into motocross, she arrived at “Wild Thing Raceway” with little idea of what to expect, but convinced instructor Neil van der Ross that her passion to learn and ride bikes was genuine.

Neil took her under his wing from that day forward and patiently trained Dolly into a competent and able motocrosser, utilizing his own time, money and resources. Neil decided to approach Yamaha for possible assistance. They immediately saw it as a great opportunity to promote motocross, and motorsport in general, to the greater population of Southern Africa – and to women and couldn’t pass up the chance to support Dolly.

South African’s in Gauteng and within the motocrossing circuits are very proud of Dolly, for you see - she is South Africa’s first black woman motocrosser! Feeling very proud of the fact herself, she has big plans and wants to try hare scrambles, enduro, Supermoto and even circuit racing!

She’ll be a great influence to women in Johannseburg area.

Go Dolly!

New Year Closer to the Riding Season

Hope you had a terrific ringing in of the New Year! Not only the start of the Dakar brings all riders much excitement at the turn of the year, but with each day that passes, we get closer and closer to spring. Those of us residing in Canada put all our motorcycles in storage, so the withdrawal, as you might imagine is extreme. Thank goodness we all seem to get by with a little help from the motorcycle shows within our various regions—Europe, North America, Britain.

Recently at Toronto’s Industry show case exposition we featured some great activities for women. Women's night hosting special focus activities for female riders are common place now (thank goodness). I was on hand for various activities, such as pictured here with John, Yamaha Motors Canada product manager (photo thanks to the talented Mr. Mondo) during new bike presentations at the Yamaha booth.

Pictured in the background is one of the models we highlighted and presented with women in mind—the FZ6R. Terrifically adaptable, all-round sportbike with numerous slight but valuable features (seat adjustments, closer positioned handlebars, etc.) all aimed at producing huge results in comfort and handling. I’ll hope to provide more details first hand later this year, after my test ride review.

The entire show was a little smaller and less visited than the year prior—sadly the result of one of the most challenging years financially, experienced by all.
Well, here’s looking forward to a more stable, profitable and active year for all! --filled with many many kilometres of riding fun!!