The excitement of your first motorcycle ride is something you never forget. For women riders, the empowering feeling it brings often makes us wonder what other firsts we might be capable of.
Sixteen years ago, Motorcycle Hall of Famers Gloria Struck, Cris Sommer Simmons, and Laura Klock, and ride expert Meg McDonough came together with the Sturgis Buffalo Chip with the vision of a charity ride to elevate interest and support of women in motorcycling. They saw an opportunity to bring women together with a similar interest and create a safe, supportive, and uplifting environment for all types of riders.
The Sturgis Buffalo Chip® became the first home for Biker Belles® Women’s Day each year during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and, as of 2022, at Daytona Bike Week for The Morning Ride™ with Harley-Davidson.
In anticipation of the Sweet Sixteen Biker Belles® Celebration, the Buffalo Chip encourages you to see what you can achieve when you ride with other women. For inspiration, check out these five female firsts!
1. Mother and Daughter Take First Cross-Country Motorcycle Trip
At age 20, Effie Hotchkiss dreamed of seeing California. Her brother had taught her to ride and repair a motorcycle at age 16, and she aspired to convince other young ladies that motorcycling was a healthy sport for women. To achieve her goal, Effie set out to accomplish something no other female had before: a cross-country motorcycle trip. Effie’s mother, Avis, had been a frequent passenger in the sidecar of Effie’s three-speed Harley-Davidson, and she decided to accompany her daughter on the trip.
The two women left Brooklyn on May 2, 1915 and traveled through bad roads, bitter cold, extreme heat, torrential rains and just about anything else Mother Nature could throw in their way. Effie spent time on their trip making repairs—once even using a piece of her rubber poncho to patch a tire. After two months and over 9,000 miles, Effie and Avis made history when they arrived at the World’s Fair in San Francisco.
2. Sisters Pave the Way for First Female Motorcycle Dispatch Riders
At a time when women weren’t even considered capable of voting, Augusta and Adeline Van Buren set out to prove women were capable—not just of voting, but also of assisting in the U.S. war efforts as motorcycle dispatch riders.
In 1916, the adventurous sisters rode their Indian Power Plus motorcycles coast to coast—along the way making history as the first women to summit Pike’s Peak on any motorized vehicle. “Gussie” and “Addie” proved their riding competence and ability to handle a motorcycle on mountain roads, but unfortunately, they were less successful in proving women were capable of assisting in the war effort. Upon their return, Addie’s application to join the U.S. Army was rejected. Nonetheless, the sisters had paved the way, and women members of the Motor Maids began serving as motorcycle dispatch riders by World War II.
3. Two Friends Travel a Rugged Road
Despite her parents’ and society’s disapproval, Theresa Wallach fell in love with motorcycles and riding. She worked to overcome gender prejudices throughout the lifelong love affair, spending time as a motorcycle racer, British military dispatch rider, engineer, author, motorcycle dealer, mechanic and riding school instructor.
Among Theresa’s many firsts was an extreme motorcycle trek she took with her riding companion, Florence Blenkiron. The two traveled all the way from London to Cape Town, South Africa, becoming the first people—male or female—to cross the Sahara Desert on motorcycles. On their journey they encountered nomads, sandstorms, blistering heat, torrential rains, rivers, breakdowns and dangerous wildlife; and they befriended native people in African villages when they needed to stop and rest. Following the trip Theresa chronicled their adventures in her book, “The Rugged Road.”
4. Friends Found First Motorcycle Club for Women Riders
Linda Dugeau was born in 1913 and was already a seasoned rider by the mid-1930s. After learning of the Ninety-Nine Club, an organization of all female fliers, Linda decided there should be a similar club for women who rode motorcycles. She began writing dealerships, clubs, magazines and anyone who might know someone interested in her idea.
Early in her writing campaign, Linda met Dot Robinson, a tenacious racer and motorcycle enthusiast. Through extensive research, the two were able to find 49 other likeminded women riders interested in forming an organization. In 1940 Linda and Dot formed the Motor Maids to unite women riders and promote motorcycling. Today it is the oldest continuously operated women’s motorcycle organization in North America.
5. Mother and Daughters Set Land Speed Record
Flash-forward to modern times, and you’ll find that women riders are continuing to break down barriers. In 2008, Laura Klock defended her World’s Fastest Bagger record. Her daughters, Erika and Karlee Cobb, who were 17 and 14 respectively, joined her as record holders on their own bikes. The three went down in history as the first mother-daughter-daughter trio to set land speed records in the same year at the same event. What’s more, at age 14, Karlee was the youngest female participant, and she set two records in her rookie attempt.
Laura Klock not only reset the record, but achieved a new personal best by reaching 153.506 mph. Erika rode a 1995 Buell S2 and set a new land speed record on the Buell #455 in P-PP 1350 of 130.392 mph. Karlee went after the record her own sister had set on the Buell Blast in 2007. She not only broke the old record, but also set an additional one by running the bike in another class by removing the fairing (107.391 in class M-PG 500). Her personal best is 111.580 mph.
Who are the women that inspire you to achieve great things? Tell us about them in the comments below, then show them your appreciation by reserving a place for both of you at the Buffalo Chip’s sixteenth annual !
The event, held on Tuesday, Aug. 6, will bring you together with other women, their families and friends to celebrate the role women play in shaping the culture, sport, art and history of motorcycling. One hundred percent of rider contributions benefit three worthy local charities, Helping with Horsepower, the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame, and the Jessi Combs Foundation!
The Biker Belles ride allows you to explore the scenic Black Hills from The Lodge at Deadwood, through the canyons of the Black Hills, to the celebration at the Buffalo Chip. Here you’ll be treated to a special catered reception, silent auction, workshops, a women’s ride-in bike show, and more.
Enjoy a day of real women, real stories and real fun, and reserve your place at the Biker Belles Celebration today!
