Is there still a stereotype when it comes to women who ride?

I'd like to think women have come a long way in the world since feminism first began to break the mould that kept girls at home in the kitchen.  My own mother was one of those original stereotype-smashers of the 1960's.  She raised me to grow up not just "believing" but truly knowing as fact that I could do anything that my two brothers could do.  I played footy, owned an impressive Matchbox car collection, and I started riding quads around our backyard as a little kid in the 1980's.  So I find it strange that nearly half a century after the feminist revolution, I am still met with shock and disbelief when I mention my favourite hobby.  It has happened literally hundreds of times.  Whether I am talking to a man or woman, it doesn't seem to matter.  The conversation invariably goes something like this;

[new acquaintance] "So what do you get up to in your spare time?"

[me] "I ride quad bikes, and race motocross"

[new acquaintance] "WHAT?! I never would have guessed that just by looking at you!"

So then I am often left wondering...what does that kind of girl – the type that rides and/or races – look like???

After a bit of random polling on the subject, it became clear to me that the imagined standard of female motorcycle enthusiast is more masculine than feminine.  A butch tomboy who wouldn't be caught dead in a skirt, and can belch the alphabet better than the average bloke.  Or something along those lines.  And then there are the likes of The Jim Beam MX Girls.  That team of  fashion models-slash-racers from a few years back was just a clever advertising tactic that rocketed the bourbon brand to the forefront of every Aussie blokes mind.  It was a simple blending of 3 great things: booze, bikes, and busty babes.  Brilliant!  A pat on the back for the marketing genius who dreamt up that idea!  But it also seemed to compound the idea that good looking sorts don't usually ride bikes and that those three girls were to be viewed as something unique in the sport.  But were they really?  I don't think so.  In fact I'd go so far as to say that they are the overwhelming majority these days, the way I see it.

Take Teniel Morgan as a random example.  This pretty young motocross-addict from Karratha WA, is a 3rd year electrical apprentice with a swag of ATV titles under her belt.  "Most people are generally shocked when they find out I race. I'm often questioned by males about my bikes and race results and I feel as if it's a test to see if I'm telling the truth. Most people commend me on doing well in a male dominated sport, but honestly when we are on the track everyone's a 'fellow racer' gender is irrelevant."  I asked Ms. Morgan about her experiences with the stereotype. "In my experience most girls do not fit the "butch" stereotype. It's outdated and I find people who still believe that stereotype also believe women shouldn't race motocross anyway. I'm a 20 year old female who wears dresses, high heels and make up. It doesn't mean I don't love the dirt, sweat and adrenaline rush."

So if women are being pigeonholed in this way, is that such a crime?  What's the harm?  Well for one thing, it can dissuade plenty of potential female riders from taking up the sport for fear that they are not physically capable of doing so.  In Colac, on Victoria's Great Ocean Road, bubbly young hairdresser and quad rider, Ainsley Anderson shares her thoughts.  "My clients at the salon were all really shocked when they found out what I got up to on the weekends" she laughs.  Ainsley is also keen to point out that it was actually her that got her husband into the quad scene, and not the other way around.  "It's great that [my husband] and I have a hobby we can enjoy together."  Mrs. Anderson took part in a demonstration race at a monster truck show in Geelong back in 2008 and remembers fondly how the women and young girls in the audience responded to her.  "I was walking off to get changed after the show and I was just blown away by the amount of girls that approached me saying you know like, there's a normal girl like me and she rides, you know I could do it too. That's a real buzz!"

Donna Newman is yet another very accomplished lady, whose past achievements include 1st place in the Womens Open class of the grueling Thumb Pump 300 Enduro in 2009.  This lovely lass is well-known in the Quad Riders SA club for her racing ambitions and her dedication to the sport.  "The stereotype is quite interesting and [my husband] and I joke about it a bit in relation to myself.  It's interesting that to do well must somehow be related to being more 'manly'.  The majority of the women I currently ride with are quite feminine.  Some of the guys do the whole 'crap, beaten by a girl' thing but I think a lot of the women in the sport have worked really hard to achieve and hence have gained great respect along the way."

Donna is proud to declare that while she is very aware of the stereotype in motorsport, she believes it doesn't hold much weight in her club.  "I don't know about the 2 wheelers but I feel we are very fortunate in the quad community – most people are your friends and I believe this helps to reduce the prejudicial attitude.  The one thing I have found by not fitting into the stereotype is that other women actually consider the sport.  There was one other female in SA when I started –Jodie Wood; and she inspired me to give it a go.  Since I have been racing at least 8 other women in SA have given it a go without feeling intimidated and they credit me for realising it is possible."

So if the old stereotypical tomboy is no longer the norm, why is this standard still lingering around?  And where did it come from in the first place?  To gain some retrospective view on the issue I spoke to Chrissie Matthews, a club-level veteran in dirtbikes.  Ms Matthews started riding local dirt track events around Victoria's Mornington Peninsula back in the late 1970's and into the early 80's.  She competed at club level for 6 years before making the permanent switch to roadbikes.  Chrissie tells me she'd prefer I not publish her actual age, but suffice to say she is a full member of The Ulysses Club, which only accepts riders over the age of 50.  "It was really hard for us back then.  You girls today have it so easy. It's not equal ground yet, but motorcycles aren't just a men's domain anymore.  But back then, I was bullied and ridiculed for wanting to ride a motorbike.  The chaps at [the club] called me a lesbian and all sorts of other things I won't repeat.  And they ran me off the track so many times I couldn't tell you."  Chrissie's usually sunny demeanor turns matronly and scolding as she dictates to me her recollections.  And she makes no apologies for it.  "The way I coped and the way I know the very few other girls I knew that rode coped, was by totally rejecting our femininity.  If we wanted to ride with the men, we had to act like the men.  It was as simple as that."

And the moral of this story?  Just ride. If you want to ride, then ride. And be yourself while doing that!  Women no longer have to pretend to be one of the boys.  There are many talented young girls and women out there on the tracks and the trails, doing what they love – riding quads.  And they are every bit as diverse as the rest of the population.  The mould is broken.

Photograph used under permission by Katie Groves of Groveton Photography, www.groveton.com.au

bike competitors that Finke Desert Race entries will open online this coming Monday 30^th January at 9am CST.  Online entry will be accessible via the Finke website: www.finkedesertrace.com.au under competitor info / bikes and quads / online entry

Listed below are some answers to FAQ regarding entry:

• Bike entry fees are $580.00 and must be paid at the time of entry by Master Card or Visa (there is no EFT option this year). An email invoice/receipt will be issued.
• Current MA Licence is not required at the time of entry, but proof is required prior to the event.
• Engine and Frame numbers are not required at the time of entry, but are required prior to the event.
• Entry confirmation for competitors will be when they receive race number allocation via email. Preferred race numbers are allocated to competitors in order of entry date and time (i.e.: first in best dressed)

Remember there are 550 places (maximum of 80 quads within the 550) - you need to be prepared.

The 2012 Thumb Pump 300 ATV Festival will be hosted once again at Pinnaroo's "Scorpion Park" on the border of South Australia and Victoria. The track for the main senior 300km event remains largely unchanged from recent year with everything from flat out top gear straights along established tracks, to tight, winding scrub trails through the brush and tough sandy hill climbs to test the competitors.

With record numbers at the 2011 event the line up will include with the addition of just one class in the Junior event. For the Thumb Pump 300 itself there will be Pro 450 Class, Men's Open Class, Women's Open Class, Teams Class (2 riders) and 4x4 Class who will all start separately but run together, and awarded separately. Sand Drags will be run over the weekend on the purpose built drag strip, plus two junior 90 classes (Limited and Comp) and 300 racing will be run. Throw in the UTV class and not to forget the 100km night enduro (open class only) you have the biggest, most diverse ATV race festival in Australia.

There is also the possibility of there being a 100m mud pit for some 4x4 mud racing action if there is enough interest shown.

Entry fees for the event continue to remain unchanged, however a venue fee has been added to help the property owner with some of the maintenance he must perform throughout the year to keep the venue at such a high standard. This is a one off fee for each senior rider of $30, regardless of how many classes they enter, and $15 for junior riders. These fees are included in the entry fees to avoid confusion.

Thousands of dollars worth of cash and prizes will be given to podium finishers over the weekend along the lines of previous years (and if previous years are anything to go by then there should be some great stuff) and all pre entered riders in an event will receive a TP300 t-shirt and one of the famous Thumb Pump 300 Race Plaques.

There will also be a major prize for the SA Ambulance raffle for which tickets will be available over the course of the event.

Entries are open for the 2012 Festival and be sure to check up on the progress of this years event on our latest info page and be sure to get on board and be part of the biggest ATV event in Australia.

The following is a statement directly from the CAMS website after the recent controversy over top Buggy teams not attending the AROC round that has been appointed on the same weekend that Finke is run.

CAMS intends to work on re-instatement of the Finke Desert Race to the Australian Off Road Championship as quickly as possible.

The race is currently not part of the Australian Off Road Championship in 2012.

David Morgan, CAMS CEO, says he is disappointed that the Organisers of the Finke Desert Race chose not to be part of the Championship, but would like to see it return to the Championship in the near future.

“The Finke is one of the iconic Australian races,” said Mr Morgan. “It is a marquee event on the Australian Off Road Racing calendar, and we are working to have it back in the championship.”

Organisers for the race withdrew their Expression of Interest to be included as part of the 2012 Championship late in 2011, and subsequently declined to attend a meeting in December with CAMS to negotiate a resolution to their key issues.

Organisers of the Sea Lake Mallee Rally in Victoria submitted an Expression of Interest for the Australian Off Road Championship in January 2012, – which was accepted.

The Sea Lake event is the second longest-running event of its type in Australia, and returns to the Championship after an eleven-year absence to open the series on 8-10 June, 2012.

“The Sea Lake event has traditionally been held on the June long weekend since 1973,” said Mr Morgan.

“This is the weekend it is always held, and it was the only event that the Championship had a submission for on that weekend for 2012.

“We welcome Sea Lake back to the Championship as it, too, is a special race in Australian Off Road Racing.”

These days there is a lot more you can offer your potential sponsors than just sticker real estate on your bike.

The GFC. I'm getting pretty tired of hearing that evil little acronym. And just in case you require further clarification, no I'm not referring to the Geelong Football Club, I'm talking about the Global Financial Crisis. Why is this on my mind? Well because it seems to be everyone's magic answer for every finance-related question of late. Why are club memberships so low this year? Because of the GFC. Bike shops aren't doing so well right now? Yeah, 'cause of the GFC. Are you racing next weekend? Nah. Why? GFC. Why can't I get sponsored? GFC!!!

Yes the world economy has taken a beating, and Australia has been "pinched" but overall we were very lucky here and the GFC has become a very convenient covers everything excuse. It is a lot harder for new racers to obtain sponsors than it was just a couple of years ago, as many shop owners have had their confidence shaken by the gloomy world news. They are less inclined to part with their cash to unknown and/or unproven riders.

Will dropping off your glossy 10 page Race Resume change their minds? Unlikely. Truth be told, those printed resumes often end up in the bin, unread, many months after being shoved in the "To Do" pile of the store managers desk. Professional Proposals do still have their place of course, but for the average racer chasing support from their local shops, printed reports have well and truly had their day. Besides, what does the store get out of the deal? A few stickers slapped on your bike and a mumbled thank you in your trophy acceptance speech? The world today demands something much more dynamic. And the answer is right under your nose. Social media sites are easy to use and deliver a unique kind of exposure – one where the audience can interact with the subject immediately, giving real-time results and feedback. You probably already have a Facebook or Twitter account anyway. Now it is just a matter of switching on to the potential it holds.

Even in the absence of sponsors, you can begin promoting yourself and building your profile to gain a strong following – one that store owners will want to get their slice of. For obvious reasons, it makes sense to stick to the most popular sites. More site traffic equals more potential viewers. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn can all be employed to great effect for even the least tech-savvy among us. If you're confident of your video editing skills, a YouTube channel could be the ultimate self-broadcasting tool. Use these accounts to update your followers of racing results, riding pics, plans, and other race-related updates. Mentioning your sponsors services or products in this way, offers them a more attentive audience than the standard old stickers and thanks. One that is much more likely to convert into referred sales for the sponsor.

But just remember social media is a double-edged sword! Sponsors will be happy to be associated with you and your marketing efforts as long as it is in keeping with the company's delicate corporate image. They will probably cut your support short if they are mixed into your posts along with the rather unsavoury pics of your wild weekend out, or the expletive-rich comments left by your mates. Your best option is to set up a separate account specifically for managing your race image. Set up a separate email account just for that purpose, and link this to your racing profiles.

And the best part of all is that it costs you nothing but a bit of set up time to accomplish all this. In fact, once it is all set up, you could delegate your media releases to a trusted member of your crew such as a parent or a partner, giving you more time on the bike and less behind a keyboard. Another advantage there is that many people are uncomfortable promoting themselves. But a parent or partner will trumpet your successes with pride.

Holden versus Ford, Carlton vs Collingwood, Wallabies vs All Blacks. Down Under, there are plenty of great sporting rivalries. In world of Powersports, Polaris and BRP have fought in North America for over 50 years. An agreement has now been made with the Australian Rally

Championship to bring the battle to Australia with the first of four rounds of the Australian Side by Side Challenge to be held at Calder Park in March 2-4 2012.

Since the 1960's the snowmobiles of both premium brands have been raced against each other. In the 1980's came ATVs (quad bikes), and most recently Side by Side (SxS) vehicles. Polaris are from Minnesota, USA, and across their northern border sits Canadian arch rival, BRP,

makers Can-Am ATVs and SxS.

Since the introduction of the Polaris RZR in 2008, the sport of SxS Racing has exploded in North America, with tens of thousands of Polaris SxS now sold each year. In Australia Polaris RZR owners have been welcomed at events all over the country, from the Outback races such

as Finke Desert Race and Cliffhanger, to KharnaCross and plenty of other events endorsed by CAMS or the Cross Country Drivers Association, not to forget the fact that we had SxS race at our very own 2011 Thumb Pump 300 ATV Festival under Motorcycling Australia.

"One of the key things the ARC SxS Racing will deliver is a CAMS nationally recognised cage spec. From 2012 a Polaris RZR owner will be able to enter a host of different CAMS events with the one spec vehicle" said Neil Anderson, Polaris National Marketing Manager. The CAMS spec cage should then of course be eligible for MA and CCDA events also.

The only permitted vehicles in the Rally Australia events will be the Polaris RZR XP and the Can-Am Commander. Neil also pointed out that this will effectively be a stock class, basically everything is standard apart from the necessary safety changes such as approved racing cage and harnesses. "We are very keen that this not become cheque book racing. As a result, there will be no engine or transmission modifications allowed. Even the alloy wheels must be stock."

Rounds will be held on the following dates

Mar 2-4 Rally Calder Melbourne VIC

Mar 31-April 1 Quit Forest Rally Busselton WA

May 26-27 International Rally Sunshine Coast QLD

Oct 13-14 Coffs Coast Forest Rally NSW

Now is the time to start getting a cage made if you want to compete at the first round, competitors are free to choose their own manufacturer or make it themselves, so long as it complies with CAMS Schedule J.

Sporting and Technical regulations are published at

www.rally.com.au (Competitors – Regulation)

http://www.rally.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&

http://www.rally.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86&Itemid=100

Supplementary Regulations and Entry information is also

at www.rally.com.au (Events – Rally Calder – Rally Calder

Event Information – Competitor Information)

http://www.rally.com.au/index.php?option=com_c

ontent&view=article&id=1316%3Acompetit

or-information-australian-side-x-side-rallychallenge&

http://www.rally.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1316%3Acompetitor-information-australian-side-x-side-rallychallenge&catid=79&Itemid=199

View the Rally Calder Video