In the rapidly shifting sands of the Mojave Desert, hundreds of women motorcycle riders recently gathered to honor the life and groundbreaking achievements of Mary McGee, the first woman to race motorcycles in America. As the sun sank and a full moon rose over the mountains, they settled in to watch a new documentary about the woman known as “Motorcycle Mary” – and in doing so, celebrated the thriving community of female riders that exists today because of her.
Pioneering a Path for Women in Motorsports
Mary McGee, who passed away at age 87 just days after the gathering, was a true trailblazer in the male-dominated world of motorcycle racing. In 1960, at just 24 years old, she became the first woman in the U.S. to receive an FIM racing license. She went on to achieve a series of firsts:
- First woman to finish the Baja 1000 off-road race
- First person, male or female, to solo the Baja 500 on a motorcycle
- Competed in motocross and desert racing at a time when women were not welcomed
Despite facing constant pushback and lack of recognition, McGee never let it deter her, famously stating, “I didn’t pay any attention to it. I was having too much fun.” Her tenacity and passion set the stage for generations of women to follow in her tire tracks.
Finding Strength in Numbers
The recent gathering, dubbed “Babes in the Dirt,” is an annual women-only motorcycle campout that draws riders from across the country to the Southern California desert. For co-founder Anya Violet, it’s an event that may never have existed without McGee’s influence.
“Mary’s one of us. She didn’t just talk about it. She did it and she did it her way, without reservation and through adversity, through people telling her no and that she shouldn’t be there. That resonates with me.”
– Anya Violet, Babes in the Dirt co-founder
As the women watched a screening of the new short documentary “Motorcycle Mary,” which chronicles McGee’s life and career, whoops and cheers erupted at her many quotable moments, like “Always say yes,” “Stay calm, twist the throttle,” and “You just do your thing for yourself, not for other people.”
Revving Engines in Tribute
When the film ended, the assembled riders walked back to their bikes for an emotional tribute to the late icon. Together, they counted down and then simultaneously revved their engines, filling the night desert air with a thunderous roar.
“Thank you, Mary!”
“We love you, Mary!”
“We are you, Mary!”
In that moment, the powerful community that McGee fought so hard for was not only visible, but deafening. And while she has sadly passed on, her legacy is sure to live on through events like Babes in the Dirt and the thousands of women who now confidently throw their legs over a motorcycle, twist the throttle, and race toward their own finish lines.
