Happy New Year! Let#8217;s get right to the good stuff.
I had a successful and fun time at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach the weekend before Christmas. The International Motorcycle Show is a multi-city tour that showcases a range of motorcycle-related vendors, seminars and entertainment. A big thank you to Sue Slate and Gin Shear of the Women#8217;s Motorcyclist Foundation for spearheading the efforts to get a women-specific area as part of the show for the last three years. There are still seven cities left on the tour as of this writing where you can check out the Women Ride area. Visit the link at the end of this story to see the rest of the stops.
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The show#8217;s women-specific section is the biggest yet in terms of space, but it was put together in limited time, so there are only a few companies showcasing their goods when there could be so many more. Thank you to Olympia Moto Sports, Helmet House, Rebel Girl and Harley-Davidson for sponsoring the women#8217;s area. Show promoters are looking for more sponsors so if youre interested get in touch with me.
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For more information on the history-making gathering of female racers pictured above, visit my story in the WRN Feature Articles section later this week.
To learn more about the show and to purchase discounted tickets, visit the Progressive International Motorcycle Show Web siteand use code WRN when ordering tickets online.
Exclusive News on Women#8217;s Motorcycling Events for 2011
Daytona MDA Women#8217;s Ride
The MDA Women#8217;s Ride that Harley-Davidson has organized for the last few years during Daytona Bike Week is happening again this year. You never know in this tight economy, and with last year#8217;s rain putting a damper on attendance, many were wondering if Harley would can it this year. But morning charity ride is happening. More details are available at MDARides.org and of course here on WRN as they become available. To read about previous years#8217; rides, visit our storyin the WRN Feature Articles section.
May is Women Riders Month
I also found out that Harley-Davidson will not be holding its Celebrate Women Riders event in Milwaukee this year. Harley-Davidson held this event in May of last year in honor of Women Riders month. This year, it will instead focus on promoting Women Riders month at the dealer level. So keep an eye out for female-focused activities going on at Harley dealers in May.
AMA Women amp; Motorcycling Conference in 2012?
Still waiting to hear from the AMA about whether there will be another AMA Women amp; Motorcycling Conference in 2012. Since 2001, the nationwide women-focused rally/conference/tradeshow extravaganza has been held every three years, but the AMA never officially commits to the next one at the close of each event. My inside sources tell me that the event is most likely going to happen in 2012, but the AMA won#8217;t officially confirm it yet. As soon as I know, I#8217;ll post it on WRN so we can start planning for what is one of the most exciting women and motorcycling events out there. Here#8217;s my storyon the last one held in Keystone, Colorado, in August 2009.
Sturgis Women#8217;s Ride in the Works
Plans are underway for an all-women motorcycle ride during the Sturgis Rally this August, and the woman behind this endeavor is Meg McDonough. Meg is an enthusiastic rider, go-getter and salesperson working at Cowboy Harley-Davidson in Austin, Texas. She used to live in Deadwood just a few years ago, so she has a lot of connections and knows the Black Hills well. Meg#8217;s plan for the ride has it happening on Wednesday, August 10, right after the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum#8217;s Hall of Fame induction ceremony breakfast at the Rapid City Civic Center. The ride would leave from there and end up at the Buffalo Chip. The owner of the Chip, Rod Woodruff, is a friend of Meg#8217;s, so she has his support.
Meg is working to get the ride to stop at Mount Rushmore for a group photo and have a police escort along the way. She#8217;d like to have vendors and will be seeking sponsors. From one who has seen women#8217;s rides come and go at Sturgis with little success, I think Meg has just the right knowledge and connections to make a women#8217;s ride a success in Sturgis, with success defined as a ride that attracts at least 100 riders as well as a lot of buzz.
She plans to make this a charity ride benefiting the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame, so entrants would have to earn their spot in the ride. Meg also hopes this ride will bring women who have never been to Sturgis out for the first time to take part. I will keep you posted on details as they become available.
We are excited to announce the 2nd Annual JUGRZ (Just Us Girl RiderZ) Women’s Motorcycle Conference, to be held in the Seattle, Wash., area this May 14th, 2011. Please check our Web site for additional information. Jugrz.com
Be sure to post this in the WRN Forum as well. There is a place there for events.
Let’s go to Sturgis. Ready to ride.
I am patchholder “Journey” with Sisters of Scota Womans Motorcycle Club. In 2009 we celebrated our 30th year anniversary, and still going strong. We have sisters in several states. The Founder of SOSWMC, Dana “Grumbles” Davidson’s, cut hangs in the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. The Idaho Sisters are interested in going to the Sturgis Rally, hopefully this year, if at all economically possible, and would be interested in the charity ride. If not this year, maybe next. I would very much appreciate if you could keep me up to date on this event and on your seminars if you ever have one in Idaho. I think you have done an awesome job in getting your information on motorcycling, wearing the right gear for the many woman who ride, and those that would like to.
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