LIFE IN THE FAST LANE: MARY MCGEE

Mary McGee looks like a typical grandmother, white hair and a million dollar smile. However looks are deceiving as she’s anything but typical. You see McGee has spent most of her adult life in the fast lane as well as been a pioneer for women in racing.

“I got interested in racing by accident, she said. “I had a MGTD I drove to work with, also drove a couple guy’s cars and competed in Gymkhanas.”

Her older brother and future husband met each other while in the service and they both wound up in Phoenix. Eventually she got married and around their first anniversary, in December 1957, they went to a SCCA race near to Phoenix where they lived. Back then one had to be 21 to drive in a race.

“I just turned 20 and I was so tall they let me sign up,” she said.

They didn’t go out Saturday but were there on Sunday with George Rice, who had a Mercedes 300 SL Gull Wing that his mechanic drove.

“Then George asked if I wanted to race in the Ladies Race. I had never driven a Mercedes so on Sunday I had four laps of practice. Since we weren’t there Saturday I started at the back, spun out but it was a lot of fun,” she said. “So in 1957 I was introduced to car racing at Beardsley outside of Glendale, Arizona.”

One of the many articles about Mary McGee when she was one of the very few women racing cars. Photo courtesy – Mary McGee

Over the next few years she raced there but in 1960 she and her husband moved to Manhattan Beach, California. In those days a lot of races were staged on many airports built in WW II but were no longer in use.

Another important person in her life was Vasek Polake. He raced motorcycles in Czechoslovakia but was able to escape and went to work for Porsche. Then he came over here to help racers and ended up in Manhattan Beach.

“I started racing for him in a Porsche 550 then moved up to a RS60,” she said. “My last race with him was 1964 then bigger stars came in and he moved up but I stuck with road racing.”

Her introduction to motorcycle racing was also interesting. It came as SCCA, Cal Club, used to hold duel events with cars and AFM motorcycle racing at the same venue.

“Back then the SCCA didn’t always have races for women so I drove what was available,” she said. “One day at Santa Barbara I was racing a car then I went to watch the bikes. Polake said I should race bikes and I laughed. My husband worked for Honda Motor Company so they looked at me and said I should do.”

Since she knew nothing about motorcycles McGee called the president of AFM (American Federation of Motorcyclists).

“He called back and said I could go out at Willow Springs but had to have a full set of leathers and it would be in two weeks,” she said. “After a scramble the leathers were made but I had never sat on this motorcycle before I had to try out.”

There were about seven or eight racers there and they wanted to see her lines through corners. In motorcycle racing this is important especially if someone is passing you. She passed the test so her first motorcycle race was again at what is now Santa Barbara airport.

Mary McGee, then 24e-years-old in her first ever motorcycle race at Santa Barbara. Photo courtesy – Mary McGee

“I got a lot of strange looks walking out to the bike,” she said.

At that time very few women raced and in fact women weren’t allowed in the pits for what is now Indy Cars or even NASCAR. But she entered the world of motorcycle racing when she was 24.

“Back then there were lots of races even at Hanford as the SCCA fixed up a course on the infield. It had three banked turns and we used the middle one,” she said. “There was even a course at San Louis Obispo but they don’t have them any more.”

Mary McGee racing down the corkscrew at Laguna Seca in 1962. Photo courtesy – Mary McGee

McGee also raced at Reno, actually Stead Airport in 1962. The team used an old VW bus to haul her motorcycle and would tow the Porsche behind that. She related that 395 was a two-lane highway and they made it until the hill leading from Lee Vining to Bridgeport.

“The VW bus could not make it up the hill so we pulled off and they took a look at the engine. They said that’s as far as they could go, it was cold and we were freezing.”

Fortunately another motorcycle racer passed then came back and towed the Porsche for them. They were able to climb the hill but at about 20 miles an hour. Once at the event she ran into the then attitude about women racing.

“The guy at registration told me I can’t race while I’m showing him my licenses. He said no woman has ever raced here before. Then after some discussion he said, ‘I’ll be back,'” she said. “He wasn’t happy when he got back and said I could race but just this time.”

Then in 1962 there was another big change in her racing career and it came at a New Year’s Party held in Manhattan Beach.

“There were all car guys and we were the only motorcycle people except for Steve McQueen and I had known him from car racing,” she said. “He came up and said, ‘you’ve got to get off that pansy road racing bike.'”

After a moment she answered, “And get dirty?” My husband said I can get a bike but I wasn’t going to the desert because I didn’t know anything about it.”

But it came to pass while she was road racing a Honda CB92 and on the desert it was a 250cc CL72. That signaled a big change for her.

“That fall I was still racing cars and bikes but I started going trail riding with McQueen’s guys and I loved it,” she said. “Up in the morning, out then lunch and out again. In road racing I never got really tired but out on a damned dirt bike I was worn out. That’s how I started in the dirt.”

Later on of McQueen’s guys told her she was going to be the fourth person on an Enduro bike team and that was in 1964.

“I did finish but thought I was going to die. I was a tall skinny person and not so strong as I never worked out. But I continued doing desert races and did finish some hare scrambles but was falling a lot,” she said.

There was an event at Willow Springs where she became the first woman to get a FIM license, which she needed to race there. It was an AFM event but run by USAC.

Things changed in December of 1965 but she got the notice that September.

“Wes Cooley called me to get my desert sled ready as he was going to have a motocross,” she said. “They didn’t have any of those yet and it would be in the first of December at Castic Junction.”

That time 42 riders showed up and McGee was riding her husband’s 500cc Triumph but it looked like a CD72. The third race at Castic brought 70 entries, all desert guys.

But for McGee it was an educational experience.

“They wanted to see this scrawny European dude, Torsten Hanlon from Sweden,” she said. “I paid particular attention to his style. He was a world champion MX rider and he was so smooth and gorgeous to watch. I wanted to ride like that.”

She explained that Torsten just flew past the Americans. Then in 1967 he and Edison Dye were partners and put on the first Inter-AM series that started at Saddleback then went on to Candlestick Park, Santa Cruz and back to Saddleback. She did the series on a 250 CZ.

After two more series it joined with the AMA and became the Trans-AMA.

By then she had quit racing cars in 1964 then switched the road-racing bike to dirt. On one trip her husband had to go home when they got to Denver. So she traveled with her then 2-year-old son and a 10-year-old nephew. Her husband later flew up where a friend picked him up and brought him to Candlestick Park.

Her next adventure was Baja.

“In 1967 a friend asked if I wanted to race a car at the first Baja,” she said. “It was a modified Datsun 510 and we got to pre run in a Toyota Land Cruiser. The 510 made it to the halfway point and it was bitter cold.”

In fact at the stop they were burning tires to stay warm but McGee said the smell was so bad she didn’t want to stay there. Then she found two motorcycle riders sleeping on a large piece of cardboard with a space between, which she used and got warmth from them.

In the morning one of the, Don Bohanon got up and said, “I slept with Mary McGee.” Everyone had a good laugh about that.

By 1970 she and her husband had moved to Idaho where she said there were plenty of motocross tracks in the south part of the state.

Then Baja called her again.

“Joe Parkhurst from Cycle World wanted me to partner with him at the Baja 500 and Husky will paint the tank for Cycle World,” she said. “This was 1969 but unfortunately Joe fell during the pre run and broke his leg. We didn’t finish that year.”

In the ’73 Baja she said it was the hottest year ever. Had wanted to stop at the halfway point but another rider was there. So McGee got a gallon jug of fuel on one hip and had to figure out where to stop to use the gas.

Going down the road she saw a boulder, hit it and broke her left foot. Then she found another stranded rider and gave him a ride to the next stop. Not easy as one shifts with the left foot on a motorcycle.

She said it was late and her lights weren’t that good but she found another rider that needed help. She stopped for him and his bike had good lights so she followed him.

At the halfway point due to the heat the team only had half an orange pop left for her to drink. After sitting down she accompanied two other riders to the road. Sadly no one would stop for them until a bus came by.

Once the driver found they were in the race he didn’t ask for money, good as they had none, and took them to race headquarters where he husband was waiting.

During the year of the gas crises there was no Baja.

“In ’75 Rolf called and said I was going to ride the Baja 500 solo,” she said. “I kind of laughed but he wanted me to ride it solo.”

Her husband and son stayed in a trailer close to the start and finish. The bike had gas shocks but she had never ridden with those.

She was the first to ride solo at a Baja 500. Photo courtesy – Mary McGee

“The race started out well until one of the shocks blew out and pitched me into a cactus. My husband meet me at a road crossing but didn’t have any parts,” she said. “Riding to the first check-point wasn’t fun and I must have fallen off three times. At the check point they put on new wheels, new shocks, had something to drink and was ready to go.”

It was quite a feat as she was the first one to ride solo in the 500, which was actually longer than 500 miles. The car guys had an Iron Man award and wanted her to receive it but it was given to a car guy.

She also did the Mint 400 that year with a woman teammate. But later there was a huge change in her life when she and her husband divorced.

McGee took their son and moved back to Hermosa Beach were she got a job as the western sales rep for Motorcyclist Magazine. She stopped racing motocross and went back to road racing.

She rode a motorcycle to work and all over the west as well as got a bike for her son and a friend. Took son and went riding. She also got back into road racing and competed in a 24-hour race at Las Vegas and a 6-hour one at Ontario.

“Had a good time doing those 6-hour races,” she said. “I wasn’t doing motocross but a lot of dirt riding. The editor Brad Zimmer as well as other guys teamed up and we would race enduro events.

By the time she was ready to retire vintage racing had captured her interest. McGee liked the vintage racing because there were events from Arizona all the way up to Washington including Fernley and Honey Lake.

“I moved here in 2001 when a friend and her husband came up. He was doing vintage racing with the AHRMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association.). So she joined him.

“Vintage racing is really cool, met a couple of guys and rode other people’s bikes. Finally found a Husky and wanted to buy one. I love vintage motocross as it’s so low key, everyone is so nice and it’s fun.”

She feels that off-road and motocross is something everyone should try. However she said one of the things keeping people from the big time is that it’s so serious.

Mary McGee was honored by the FIM in 2012 as she is the first woman racer to receive a license from them. Photo courtesy – Mary McGee

Over the years she’s also been given several honors. One of them came from being the first woman racer to have a FIM License. The international group in 2012 had a gala in Monaco and gave her an all expense paid trip to there.

While in Monaco she said someone, “spilled the beans,” and let her know the Trailblazers were inducting her into their hall of fame on the group’s 70th anniversary, which was in 2014.

She’s also been invited and went back to Laguna Seca as an honored guest. Got to make some remarks and was in the announcer’s stand during a race.

Then the AMA inducted her into their hall of fame.

“At first I thought it was a joke as I got a call on my message machine. Never called back but whomever it was called back,” she said. “This was in November of 2018 and I asked if they were serious. Yes they were.”

She would fly out to Columbus, Ohio and they paid for her room at the Hilton. The ceremony was on Saturday at the museum and she’d fly back on Sunday.

She is now an inductee in the AMA Hall of Fame in Ohio. Photo courtesy – Mary McGee.

Every time I got an award I’d have to talk at those gatherings. However AMA wanted a written speech with a word and time limit,” she said. “And I would use a teleprompter, which I had never done before.”

Apparently her speech went well and one woman attending the ceremony said she was he best that night. Some of McGee’s long time friends from Southern California also came to see her.

She also received other awards since McGee is a pioneer for women competing in motocross and other types of racing.

Over the years she’s also put on riding clinics for girls and women interested in doing motocross. However in 2013 she had to give up riding and racing due to arthritis, which she thinks is heredity.

In 2013 McGee rode her Husqvarna in the final AHRMA event she competed in. Photo Courtesy – Mary McGee

Asked how she feels now, McGee said, “It’s fine, not easy being 84 with a lot of arthritis. I’m still here, still interested in motorcycles. I only wish there were more women riding.”

Now she’s coping, enjoying retirement and life as well as being a grandmother. Mary McGee has many memories of the people she’s met as well as her decades spent in the fast lane.

Disclaimer: While this reporter and Mary do share the same name we are not related. However it was such a honor for her to make time for the interviews. Words can’t express how I appreciated this.

REPORTER’S NOTE: There is a photo gallery of McGee as well as her trophies she’s been given over the years and it appears after the sponsor list.

OTHER RACING NEWS:

• Teresa’s Garage Radio Show is on the air Tuesday afternoon from 2 until 3 p.m. Now the show is on 1060 AM, which can be heard all the way to Susanville, Minden and Fernley.

Teresa’s Garage Radio Show poster with new and stronger frequency.

There is also a Podcast at amm.streamon.fm or it can be seen live on Face Book. Co-host Emily Cook now has a website, www.emilycookracing.com and has merchandise such as t-shirts and the sales help her racing efforts.

• SPONSOR LIST:

• If you enjoyed this article please “like,” and share it as widely as possible. Comments are welcome.

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We now have seven very appreciated sponsors supporting this site. Please patronize them as they not only support your sport but they help nvracingnews continue. Please let them know you heard about them through this site.

Our newest sponsor is G.I.S.L Land Services that, while having a global client base it has a Western U.S.A. Focus. Owner Greg Ekins is a long time off road motorcycle racer competing in the MRANN Series as well as the AMA National Hare and Hound series.

Among the services offers are Surface and Mineral Title Reviews and Cartographic Services. The website is www.gislandservices.com.

Another great sponsor is General Transmission and Power Train Specialists. The shop is located at 2515 Sutro Street in Reno, a few blocks below Hug High School.

Former motorcycle racer Pete Attashian is the owner and they not only service older and newer transmission but now have a section dealing with high performance units including those used for towing.

The phone number is 775-786-5888 and the shop’s website is www.generaltransmissionreno.com.

Another sponsor is fantastic race photographer Melissa Coker. If you have raced at Summit in Elko, Battle Mountain, Lovelock, Rattlesnake Raceway or Diamond Mountain Speedway she probably has a photograph of your car on the track.

She’s also been at the IMCA Duel in the Desert was well as the Wild West Tour and IMCA Super Nationals in Boone, Iowa. Melissa not only has photos of the cars, and many times drivers, but she can produce hero cards and even a book covering from your season.

To see her collections or to place an order please check her website at www.melissasoutonalimb.smugmug.com.

Two of our sponsors are first class motorcycle shops located in Reno.

Our first sponsor is Reno Motorsports (RMS). Not only do they have about anything a rider might want or need and the store also has a full service shop.

Their location is at 964 Terminal Way, by the intersection with Mill Street. Store’s phone number is 775-322-1499 and the site is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.

The next shop is Moto-Source located at 3180 Mill Street. Once again they are a full service shop plus about any thing a rider might need or want.

The phone number is 775-856-3855 and the website is, www.moto-source.com.

The next sponsor is an excellent place if you need collision repair on your car or truck. It’s Concours Body Shop, located at 250 Telegraph Street in Reno and has a long history of first class repairs.

Brian Saul is the owner, a car enthusiast himself and he’s committed to continuing the shop’s reputation of quality work. Phone number is 775-329-4557 and the website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.

Hungry, want a great place to eat, then try PJ&CO for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and it’s a great place to watch your favorite sports. If you’re a rider, well Wednesday evening is Bike Night, always a great time to see some great looking bikes and meet like-minded people.

The location is 1590 South Wells Avenue, just north of the round about. Phone number is 775-323-6366 and their website is www.pjandco.net.

Have a business targeted toward motorsports or an off road demographic? We are always looking for more sponsors and will expose your business to the racing and off road community in this area.

You can contact us either through the comment section of this site or on our Face Book page.

PHOTO GALLERY:

All photos are courtesy of Mary McGee.