Track Report by Bonnie J Strawser

I awoke thinking I was a little girl again and it was Christmas morning. The 2nd annual Femmoto event was finally here after a year of hard planning. The morning was gorgeous with the sunrise throwing a red cast over the mountains of Pahrump and there was a slight breeze in the air for a morning temperature of 70 degrees. Rupert Bragg-Smith, owner & designer of the track was available to help me with set up and presentation of the pastry and coffee table. Trasi, the track manager and Rupert's assistant opened the gate at 7a.m. sharp to the 70 anxious women who were attending Femmoto 2003.

Registration started at 7:30 with the help of Nancy Johnson and Christine Dietrach. Once the women were signed in they went to the designated tables where they filled out waivers to demo ride the Aprilia's, Moto Guzzi's, and Triumph's. From there it was off to get signed up for the particular brand and model of motorcycles they wanted to ride through out the day. Each rider having her choice of a different demo model for each of their five on track sessions.

The riders meeting was started out with a big welcome, cheers, and a pat on the back to all the women riders. A big round of applause to the manufacturers Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, and Triumph for coming together to support women riders. All this enthusiasm was captured on tape by Speed Channel for a segment that will appear on Cobin's Ride On which will be aired the week of: October 28; Dec. 16; April 13 . The floor was then given to Rupert Bragg-Smith to talk about the facility and how he designed the track. After Rupert welcomed everyone Monte Lutz gave the riders meeting explaining the rules of the track, rotation of groups, flags, corner workers, safety, and also to remind everyone that they were on borrowed motorcycles.

The Intermediate group was the first group out on the track at a little after 9a.m. to start the morning riding. While they were out on track the Novice group got together for their first of five-classroom session of the day held by senior Sportbike Track Time instructor Michael Massara and (his gal) Sal Inch also an instructor who flew in from Michigan to support the event. To assist Mike with classroom and track instruction were: Jim Bear, STT instructor also coming from Michigan, Ron and Nancy Johnson, STT instructors and organizers coming from North Carolina, John Hill who splits his time between Utah and South Africa and who is also a regular STT attendee, Michael Dietrich, Joe Harison, Cathy Reily, and Britt Bohannan all four from California.

Genevieve Marie Schmitt, editor, Women Rider Magazine gave a seminar on how she got started in journalism, her struggles as a women journalist, and how she left a six figure salary to follow her passion of editor for a women's magazine. After the seminar Genevieve hosted a question an answer session.

SuperSarah took the place of Amy Holland from Friction Zone (unfortunately Amy could not attend due to a family emergency while en-route to the track). Sarah did an excellent job with such short notice to prepare; talking about how she got started in riding and the struggles she has had to endure being a women rider.

Brian, from Subway in Pahrump served lunch. What a feast of sub sandwiches, chips, and cookies. During lunch Monte Lutz gave a workshop on tires covering, selection, care, troubleshooting, and suspension set up. Special thanks to Ron Wood, head of Michelin Motorcycle North America for supplying Michelin T-shirts, key chains and Mr. Bib stickers for all attendees. During lunch Speed Channel selected a few women riders going out on the track for filming of an up coming segment on Corbin's Ride On.

Riding commenced again at 2:00 to temperatures in the 90's but no one was complaining. All the women wanted was to get back out and ride. The afternoon also held another seminar by Genevieve from Women Rider before she had to depart.

As the sun set all the women gathered to have a group photo taken by Speed Channel, Women Rider, Moto Euro, Friction Zone and husband/friends who support women riders. I cannot express the feelings that came over me at the time the group picture was taken and afterwards when all the women came up to me for a hug and to say thanks for a wonderful day. To say I was overwhelmed by emotion would be an understatement.

To all 70 women who attended Femmoto 2003,thank you for your support.