The Women of AFM Roadracing
by Mike Solis

The women of 250 Production

To many, sportbikes and sportbike riding is the pinnacle of testosterone-related activity. But with the sportbike boom in the late 90s, more and more women have found their way into the sport. Like their male counterparts, a few of the strongest female enthusiasts have evolved from sport riders into club racers. But the presence of females in club racing isn't exactly a new thing.

One of the first notable women involved to be involved in AFM racing was Wendy Epstein. Back in the early to mid 70s, Wendy regularly ran at the front of the 750 Production class, on a top-heavy Honda CB750 that required a great deal of strength to muscle around the track. Wendy went on to compete in AMA nationals on a TZ250, later moving on to spend four years in the Superbike class on a GS1000. Highlights of her career include a top-ten finish in the Superbike class, and an AHRMA Vintage MX National Championship (1995). She recently retired from sidecar racing (as the driver), and is currently one of the co-owners of Mission Honda.

Following in Epstein's tradition as a remarkable female in AFM competition was Christine "The Topanga Flower" Bower. In the late 70s and early 80s, Bower had some excellent results in the AFM 125 GP, 250 GP, and 175 Production classes. With former AFM 250 GP champion Dave Garrote as her tuner, Christine went on to a top 10 finish in AMA 250 GP competition. Bower was also known for her work as a stuntwoman in the entertainment industry, making appearances in the popular "Dukes of Hazard" television series.

Fran Crane on her Hawk 450 at Sears Point International Raceway

Fran Crane began her distinguished career racing motorcycles in the early 80s, with several strong finishes in the 750 Production class. Fran later became an instructor for Reg Pridmore's CLASS motorcycle school. Despite the claim racers commonly make about how street riding "just doesn't do it for them" after closed course competition, Crane showed herself to be exceptional in both pursuits, going on to become an exceptional distance rider in Ironbutt competition after her foray into club racing. She wet on to finish well in many endurance riding events, setting an Ironbutt record by completing a ride through the 48 contiguous states in six days, thirteen hours and twenty-one minutes.

One of the more recent outstanding performances by a female in AFM racing was that of Terri Vogel back in the early 90s. Terri began her racing career on an XT500, eventually moving on to the 250 Production class in 1993 with the help of tuner Frank Smith. She immediately ran in the top third of the field, pursuing the art of learning to race by attending track schools and track days. In 1995, Vogel led her first race, leading a field of talented riders including former AFM number one plateholder Frank Mazur. She crashed on the last turn of the last lap, but returned to the pits with a grin on her face. In her eyes, she didn't just lose a race; she had just proved to herself that she was as fast as anyone. She went on to win the 250 Production championship in 1996 on a Ninja 250 built and supported by Precision Cycles in Vallejo. Satisfied with her accomplishments, Vogel retired from motorcycle racing after winning her championship.

Christine Demas, on her Wonder Woman Racing SV650

During that same time period, Heather Wilson consistently finished a few positions behind Vogel in 250 Production competition. She suffered a few serious injuries during her career as an AFM racer, but always showed the grit needed to return to competition. Wilson eventually moved on from AFM competition to go enduro racing, where she went on to earn a national ranking and a featured appearance on a Kawasaki poster.

This brief history of notable women in AFM racing opens up the question - Who will be the next female to make her mark as a champion in AFM competition? Several women are already making waves in the AFM ranks, but who will be the next to separate herself from the crowd through her achievements?

Kathy Reilly, on her Hayward Kawasaki Motorsports ZX-6R

There's Kathy Reilly, who has already shown her potential by finishing the 2002 season second in points in the 500 Twins class. For 2003, Reilly has stepped up to the ultra-competitive 600 Superbike and 600 Production ranks, where she continues to make steady improvement with each event.

There's also Christine "Wonder Woman" Demas, who has experience in the fierce 600 Production and 600 Superbike classes, as well as a number of respectable finishes in the popular 650 Twins class. Demas has also made appearances in AMA Pro Thunder events.

Jer Stewart, posing with her "Barbie Bike" Ninja 250

Then again, perhaps the next female champion has yet to make herself known. Maybe there's a woman strafing around local backroads on her streetbike, working hard at honing her skills at trackdays, or tearing it up at Carnegie on her motocrosser. Maybe she's attending club races as a spectator, supporting her fellow women in their pursuit, but at the same time thinking to herself - "I can be just as good..."

We asked some female competitors about their most memorable moments as women in the male dominated sport of motorcycle racing. Here's what they had to say:

Jer Stewart, AFM #713 - 250 Production / 250 Superbike

One time a guy asked if he could borrow my hairspray after a race!

Tiffanie Ragasa, AFM #984 - Formula III

I was at a trackday with teammate Dave Vecht, someone came by and told Dave, "Boy that guy on the little neon yellow bike sure is flying!" Dave answered, "Yeah, SHE sure can fly!"

Kathy Reilly, AFM #47 - 600 Production / 600 Superbike

Being the part of the first husband and wife team to finish on the podium in the overall standings (Kathy finished 2nd in the 500 Twins championship, her husband Shawn finished 1st in the Open Production championship).

Denise Howard, AFM #732 - 500 Twins / 250 Production

Rob Mesa had jut clinched the #1 plate for the 2001 season, several people had been stopping by his pit to congratulate him. A while later as I walked past in my leathers, the crowd was gone so I stopped to offer my own congratulations. As we stood there chatting, two boys about 8 years old walked up and asked me "will you sign our T-shirt?" I smiled, pointed at Rob and said "I think you want *his* signature, not mine!" Without hesitation , one of the boys said "No, we already have his signature, we want yours!"

Lisa Birch, AFM #575 - 600 Production / 600 Superbike

It's always two comments. It's a) I had to get around you because you are a girl, or b) I couldn't get around you because you are a girl, and I had to watch you.

Christine Demas, AFM #19 - 650 Twins

During an open trackday at Thunderhill, I was on my SV dicing it up for a while with a rider on a GSXR600, eventually making the pass and getting away from him. After returning to the pits, he came over to my pit area, where my (male) friend was standing next to my bike. He proceeded to address my friend about what an awesome dice it was, what fun it was riding, how do you get that little bike to do that, and so on. Eventually my friend just spoke up and said, "Oh no, that wasn't me out there, that was her!"

Silence. Quick handshake. And off he went, with an embarrassed / dejected look on his face...

Stephanie Caceres, AFM #608 - 250 Production

My first race back after having my beautiful baby boy, I was drafting this guy and just approaching the finish line when I got an extremely strong let down reflex. What is a "let down reflex, you ask? Sorry if it's too much information, but it's the reflex that lets down your milk and makes you go, well, sort of numb. I eventually crossed the finish line, laughing and thinking "guess the baby is hungry". Back to the pit in full leathers to nurse him!

Jennifer Bromme, AFM #753 - 750 Production

Me and my sidecar passenger Christine once received g-strings in our team colors from a fan. I wasn't sure if we should feel honored to have fans, or to view it as harassment...

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