Bikegirl: Racing Ladies’ Open Day at Silverstone
By Carly Rathmell
November 8 2004
The drive to encourage women into motorbike racing is gathering steam, as Feisty Racing heads toward its first full season as the UK’s first ever all-girl motorcycle race team to boast more than ten racers.
Team Manager and creator of Bikegirl.co.uk, Susie Grayson, spent the last few weeks organising and promoting their first Recruitment Open Day at Silverstone racetrack, on Saturday 25th September. The event was a resounding success, with team members now more than twenty-strong, including thirteen racers for the 2005 season. Other recruits have joined to offer mechanical help, general support and other services, as well as many hoping to race with the team in 2006.
Deb Cartwright, Feisty’s Chief Instructor, told us, “all the girls who attended the event have genuinely enjoyed the day and taken a great deal of information from it. In fact, much more than they expected. That’s really gratifying, since we’re putting so much effort into getting it right.”
L-R: Cath MacDonald, Instructor; Tazzie, Team Co-ordinator;
Deb Cartwright, Chief Instructor; Susie Grayson, Team Manager;
Red Cartwright, Instructor
photo by Maria Salt of www.moto-photos.co.uk
Many guest speakers were invited to provide information during the day, including Lisa Thorne, BSB GP125 racer, who explained how it took her only three years to get to the British championship; ex TT racer, Hilary Musson, mother of current TT racer Gail Musson, told the girls how they too could compete in the TT.
photo by Maria Salt of www.moto-photos.co.uk
Susie said, “I’d like to thank everyone who helped us on the day, and all the guest speakers who gave up their time for us. I’d especially like to thank Brent Gladwin for bringing his whole Team NVidia and race truck to the event to support Lisa Thorne and our event. We’ve had so much positive response to our efforts that I can only see the team growing from strength to strength. We intend to organise another recruitment day within the next few weeks for those who couldn’t make it to Silverstone, and those who have just found out about us through our recent TV and press coverage. You’ll be seeing a lot more of us on your screens and in the general press!”
“There are many benefits to joining the team: the camaraderie and support of sharing a paddock area with other women in exactly the same position; benefiting from shared resources, volunteer engineers, shared equipment, instruction from current racers, media attention and associated sponsorship. Above all... the girls will be acting out a dream out there racing on a full grid!!”
Any girls who are still interested in joining the team have the opportunity. The next two events are 17th October at Silverstone, and 24th-25th October at Brands Hatch. Visit www.bikegirl.co.uk for more information, or e-mail site 'at' bikegirl.co.uk.