COSTA MESA, CA - What better way to get a bunch of women motorcyclists together than to broadcast a Ladies Night where free food and wine was abundant, as well as motorcycling bonuses like gear and safety seminars, a raffle and a book signing by Christina Shook. I couldn’t think of anywhere I’d rather be on a Thursday evening than at the D-Store, a Dainese motorcycle gear retail location in Costa Mesa, CA, for some good ole fashioned laughs and communion with fifty of my feminine motorcycling peers.
The D-Store’s owner, Tom, opened the evening by providing a thorough overview of what Dainese gear had to offer women riders. He also added some tips on w
hat to look for when buying back protectors, leathers, jackets and other gear a lady might need to be ATGATT (all the gear, all the time).
Between the mini seminars, representatives from M1 Grand Prix racing were there to lure women riders into minibike or motard racing. Meanwhile Dustin, a representative from Trackdaz, was also there to answer questions about doing track time on the bigger bikes. But even if racing wasn’t your thing, there were plenty of other reasons to be there.
Jessica Procup, Motorcycle Industry Council representative and founder of Powerlily.net, put a lot of effort into getting the ladie's night organized. Jessica, who is also an MSF Ridercoach, gave a brief monolog
ue on the importance of seeking additional rider training, saying that training “develops good riding habits.” She discussed what training courses the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) has to offer and encouraged the riders in attendance to check them out.
After Jessica primed the audience with talk about Powerlily, her new website that provides support and networking for women working in the powersports industry, she introduced Christina Shook, photographer and author of Chicks on Bikes, a photographic novel about women motorcyclists. “Christina looked at women who ride from behind the photo lens,” Jessica said with a smile. “She came all the way 
down from the bay area to talk to us!”
Christina introduced herself by enlightening the crowd with the story of how she came to begin photographing women for Chicks on Bikes. She told us how she began her career in the music industry. But unsatisfied with her day-to-day routine, she picked up shop and hopped on her bike, riding to another part of the country to start over. Her story of how her independent spirit translated through her camera lens proved to be the perfect precursor to the slide show showcasing photographs from her book. With pictures of women motorcyclists from all walks of life flashing across the makeshift white screen to the retro alternative riffs of Joan Jett’s Bad Reputation, the un
animous chill in the room was exciting. Christina’s book was visual proof that any woman, regardless of background or interest, could be united with other women through a love for two wheels.
After dinner, wine, seminars, socializing and a little shopping, the night was topped off with a raffle where a Dainese women’s jacket was given away, along with a signed copy of Chicks on Bikes, T-shirts and some free track days from TrackDaz and Hypercycle track organizations.
Even though a few of us went home without any raffle prizes, the camaraderie and stories shared throughout the evening made it all worth while. After all, it's not every day you get fifty motorcycling
ladies under one roof to talk about their passion and relax. I only hope we can do it again soon.
Words by Rachael Westfall. Photos by Rachael Westfall and Walt Fulton.
Until now, camping had been fun. But in true British fashion, the good weather disappeared as quickly as it had arrived, giving practice and qualifying a bitter chill in the blustery conditions. Keep moving during the day and it’s manageable, lie down at night and you’re shivering in your sleep.
Luckily, race day was brighter, and the racing was spot-on. Despite the extremely rapid Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo running off with the main race, there were good battles all the way down the field. Most impressive was the fight for the last podium position in Moto GP, involving both Ducatis and ex world champions Nicky Hayden and Casey Stoner, as well ex-AMA superbike champion Ben Spies, a rookie to the class.
It was Ben who came out glorious, moving himself into position to benefit from Rossi’s absence as well as other parts that could soon become available. An interesting and exciting season is now likely to unfold, and Ben’s right on the pace at the right time to arrive in Laguna Seca as a race-winning candidate. In fact, I’m now going to say that he’ll win it — and it won’t be his last of the year, either.
I saw lots of old faces in England and caught up with some good friends. And at least I now understand why the British drink so much. It’s to numb ourselves from the cold. Whiskey warms you up from the inside out. With 3 T-shirts, 3 hoodies and a full set of Cold Killer later, I was still shivering in my rather shoddy sleeping bag. Thank god for the hip flask.
USA Moto GP: www.motogp.com
Laguna Seca: July 25, 2010
Indianapolis: Aug. 29, 2010
Ladies Night at the D-Store. Costa Mesa, CA on August 19, 2010.
Ladies Night at the D-Store. Costa Mesa, CA on August 19, 2010.
Ladies Night at the D-Store. Costa Mesa, CA on August 19, 2010.
Ladies Night at the D-Store. Costa Mesa, CA on August 19, 2010.
Ladies Night at the D-Store. Costa Mesa, CA on August 19, 2010.
Ladies Night at the D-Store. Costa Mesa, CA on August 19, 2010.
Ladies Night at the D-Store. Costa Mesa, CA on August 19, 2010.
Ladies Night at the D-Store. Costa Mesa, CA on August 19, 2010.
Ladies Night at the D-Store. Costa Mesa, CA on August 19, 2010.
Ladies Night at the D-Store. Costa Mesa, CA on August 19, 2010.
Ladies Night at the D-Store. Costa Mesa, CA on August 19, 2010.
Ladies Night at the D-Store. Costa Mesa, CA on August 19, 2010.
Ladies Night at the D-Store. Costa Mesa, CA on August 19, 2010.
Ladies Night at the D-Store. Costa Mesa, CA on August 19, 2010.
Ladies Night at the D-Store. Costa Mesa, CA on August 19, 2010.
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