“We bid farewell to a legend, icon, hero and friend, Mary McGee.”
— Maggie McNally
Motorcycle Mary McGee
The world lost a true pioneer of women in male-dominated sports, including motorcycle and car racing. Mary McGee passed away on November 27 at age 87, just weeks after making a final appearance at the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Motorcycle Hall of Fame. A Hall of Famer herself, McGee’s racing career spanned thirty years and shattered gender norms while mastering multiple racing disciplines. One of the first women to race motorcycles in motocross and road racing events in the United States, McGee inspired generations of women riders. Despite gender backlash, she always exuded a positive and courageous character.
Leave it to Women to "Find" Mary McGee!
AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) Director, Maggie McNally recalls, “In 2012, the AMA received an email from a man, Chris Sunderland, stating that his ‘aunt lives in the area where the AMA International Women in Motorcycling Conference was to be held that year and she used to ride motorcycles.’ I remember the four of us on the event committee chuckling about how everyone had that ‘aunt who rode motorcycles.’ The plan was to visit her on our way to the airport so we could make it a quick ‘in-and-out’ with the nice little old lady.”
What a hidden gem the ladies found that day! WomenRidersNow.com’s Sarah Schilke was one of those four women.
“As a desert and MX racer myself (at the time), meeting her was particularly special.” recalls Schilke. “I couldn’t believe everything she had accomplished with ‘old school’ motorcycles and gear, and especially going about it solo in such unforgiving terrain. She loved telling her stories, and she sure had amazing ones!”
Mary McGee, Pioneering Woman in Racing
Born in Juneau, Alaska, on December 12, 1936, Mary (Connor) McGee spent much of her youth away from motorcycling. Mary and her older brother, Jim, were sent to live in Iowa at a very young age to live with her grandparents due to fears of a Japanese invasion during WWII. Their father had been estranged and their mother, a nurse, had been ordered to stay in Alaska to attend to war needs. Mary recalls being quite frightened without her mother, but her brother watched out for her. He taught her to take a breath and stay calm. This collected composure and resilience likely set Mary up for future success in her racing and life.
McGee’s love for auto racing began in the 1950s as she watched Jim race cars. This inspired her, so she decided that she wanted to give it a spin. It turned out she was pretty good! She married a mechanic who also raced and soon afterwards she started driving competitively.
Woman in a "Man's Sport"
McGee learned to ride a motorcycle on a 20cc Triumph Tiger Cub she bought from a friend in 1957. In 1960 she started racing motorcycles on- and off-road and became the first woman in the United States to hold an FIM license. (required for racing in North America.)
Being the first woman racer in the male-dominated sport, she often faced special challenges, including rule changes seemingly designed to cast her aside. Never did she allow it to hinder her accomplishments.
Racing in the Dirt
McGee shifted to dirt motorcycle racing in 1963, competing in an AMA District 37 enduro aboard a 250cc 1962 Honda Scrambler. She also continued racing cars in her brother’s honor after he was killed in a tragic racing accident in 1964 at the age of 31.
In 1967, McGee rode the Baja 500, a grueling off-road race through uncharted territory over more than 500 miles in Mexico. There were no real roads, no electricity, doctors, or even phones back then. In the ESPN film short titled Motorcycle Mary, McGee remembers the Baja 500.
“That’s the hardest racing I’ve ever done,” she recalls. “The right shock blew out…just blew out. It was just gone. It pitched me into a cactus. I had to continue on to the first checkpoint and there were hardly any spokes left in the rear wheel…it needed a wheel, chain, sprockets. It just destroyed it with only one shot. But if I’m starting a race, I’m going to finish.”
In 1975, McGee was the first person to complete the race riding solo piloting a 205cc Husqvarna, passing 17 two-man teams.
A Long Riding Career
McGee continued to compete until 2011, racing both motorcycles and cars. Throughout her career, she remained a steadfast ambassador for motorcycling, encouraging people—most notably, women—to ride.
“Mary McGee devoted her life to promoting the motorcycling lifestyle to women throughout America, and did so with unrelenting passion and spirit,” AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman says. “Her contributions to motorcycling will never be forgotten, and her legacy within our sport will live on forever.”
Watch Motorcycle Mary Now
A 22-minute film short titled Motorcycle Mary, offers stunning never-before-seen archival footage and photographs and stories from Mary herself. Viewers get a firsthand look into what made this woman so incredible. Premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival last summer, ESPN released the film to the public within days of Mary’s passing.
“Mary’s energy is so contagiously optimistic,” says Director Haley Watson, “you just want to be around her. I wanted people to feel her optimism and character when she was telling the story.”
“It has been an honor to be a part of telling Mary’s story,” says Producer Rachel Greenwald. “I cherish the time making this film and getting to know such an incredible trailblazer. What I gravitated to most about Mary’s story is that she never let the challenges of the time prevent her from enjoying herself in a sport she loved so much and as a result changed it for the better. This is a story for women crafted by women to inspire viewers everywhere. I cannot wait for the world to fall in love with Mary as much as I did.”
Mission accomplished, ladies. The world is a bit duller without Mary McGee’s lively spirit. Thanks to all involved for creating this incredible archive so we can relive moments of what it’s like to be around this captivating character.
Watch Motorcycle Mary now by streaming on YouTube or ESPN+.