Out of the Blue: Presented by Schrader's Motors

Sponsored by: 

Thanks to Schrader’s Motors in Yorkton, SK for their continual support of women's motorcycle racing in Canada. Out of the Blue is presented by Schrader's, a Yamaha Five Star Dealer, serving you for all your ATV, motorcycle and snowmobile needs. Schrader’s is also a proud sponsor of Canadian Women’s National #3, Denaye Giroux. If you’re in the area, stop by Schrader’s Motors and buy some parts or accessories off of Denaye or, of course, any of the other staff. THANKS Schrader’s for making Out of the Blue possible!

Schrader's Yamaha #3 in 2010

Where is she now?

This month’s interview features Ontario’s Tracy Rowan. Tracy was a late moto-bloomer; she started racing when she was 26. Now married with three kids, Tracy doesn't get to ride as much as she used to. However when she was racing more frequently, she was doing quite well. It helped that she had a major obsession with the sport. Nowadays she's mostly racing Vet Races. 2007 was her last hard core year racing. It was her last year racing the Walton TransCan and her last year traveling via camper to race the WMA Cup in Texas.

Tracy Rowan is ready for the long trek to Texas in the camper, 2007

DMX: Hey Tracy, did you drop off of the motocross planet?

Tracy Rowan: Trying not to.  With three kids, two involved in hockey and soccer, and a full time job, it’s very difficult to get out to practice let alone a full day of racing.  Maybe a few hours here or there but races – forget it. Any mom would know – it’s all about the kids!

When was the last time you rode casually?

Casually would have to be with Paul (Rowan) and Greg General at his friend’s track the week before the Walton TransCan.  I was able to get in about 45 minutes of riding…without kids! Not only did we get out for a ride during the week but we rode one of the nicest tracks I’ve been on. It’s a private track so it was a real treat for both Paul and I.

When was your last race?

The last time I raced was at Walton for the Eastern Vet Nationals. It was pretty much my first and last race of the summer and it went OK. Bike was running perfect – I wasn’t. Seat time is what it’s all about. Unfortunately, couldn’t find the time this summer, especially after being landed on in practice at the TransCan off the natural double in practice.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank #490 on the 450 CRF (Chris something) for jumping a jump that the five riders in front of him didn’t. Thanks for thoughtfully taking me out of the competition and sending me off on a backboard to the hospital. I would also like to extend a warm thank you for seeking me out in the pits to see if your careless pitiful amateur move could have seriously injured someone. Of course you wouldn’t know the extent of my injuries unless you attempted to find out. I am sure others who saw the accident look up to your sportsmanship.....what comes around goes around. Your family must be proud of you!

Sorry to hear about your incident at Walton, hope you’ve recovered. So Tracy, what kept you busy this past summer?

Work and kids.  We were up at the cottage for the month of July and the weather was the pits.  We always bring our bikes up in anticipation on heading over to the Parry Sound track, one of our favorites, during Lino Zecca’s motocross camps. When the kids go in for lunch, Paul and I have the track all to ourselves. I think we might have got out twice the whole month! Weather was really bad and, well since we’re fair weather riders…

Got any cool plans for the winter?

Not really. More of the same stuff – snowmobiling up north; however, will be much less this winter because of Pierce’s hockey schedule.

Paul still riding?

A little. He gets to ride about five times a year and maybe race once. 

Tracy and her husband Paul freeze their butts off at the WMA Women's Cup/AMA State Challenge in Texas. Freezing in Texas? Yup, it was only like +4 degrees Celsius. Brrrrr.

 

What do you miss most about racing the "big races"?

Your smiling face.

Awww, so you miss me?

I think I just answered that.

 

Canadians in Texas: Tracy, Melanie Taylor-Wallis, Megan Ring and me, 2007. I don't know who's finger is in the top left corner of the photo; I can't remember what random rider I asked to take this photo for us.

 

Lastly, what are your thoughts regarding the recent CMRC rumour regarding the demotion of the women’s series? (this question was asked prior to Stally’s confirmation of keeping the women racing on Sunday).

Typical is my first response to that. It’s really too bad if the ladies get shoved to the side line after all the progress Miki Keller has made in the USA which really has spilled into Canada. The ladies have worked so hard and deserve their chance to be in the spotlight – they earned it!

The manufacturers, dealers and race teams are sponsoring and supporting many of the ladies so I can’t see why CMRC would pull the plug from having these events on the main day. Not being one that participates in the Women’s Nationals, due to obvious restrictions, I can’t comment on how the ladies feel about that but I’m sure if enough people raise an objection, hopefully it will not pan out. I’m a little bias but if the ladies weren’t racing at the nationals I probably wouldn’t go to watch. It’s amazing to watch these girls rip up the track and a good chance for me to size up the competition!

 

Miki Keller is responsible for the success of women's motocross in the States. And she's a damn good vet rider too!

 

Thanks Tracy! I miss you too!

 

Tracy won the WMA Vet Jr. +25 class at Cycle Ranch in '07

 

 

Lovebirds

As you probably already know, Canada’s #2 - Jocelyn Killough is engaged to MX1 Champ, Colton Facciotti. They’ve set the date and booked the location. The two lovebirds will be married Sept. 11, 2010 in Langley, BC.

 

Jocelyn loves her muddy Champ

Enduro Series for FIM ladies

Italy will host the first ever FIM Women’s Enduro World Cup race in 2010. The recently announced series will consist of three races at two rounds ran in conjunction with the FIM World Championship Enduro events. Awesome news!

2010 schedule:

May 22-23 - Lovere – Italy
June 12-13 - Kwidzyn – Poland
September 25-26 - Noirétable -France

Check the quotes from World Enduro Maxxis website:

Beaulah Schoeman, Commission for Women in Motorcycling President: The introduction of the FIM Women’s Enduro World Cup once again highlights the FIM’s commitment to promote women in motorcycling, and this decision is of course warmly welcomed by the CFM. On behalf of the CFM and all women motorcyclists, we wish each and every lady who will be participating in the FIM Women’s Enduro World Cup only the very best

Amedeo Michelotti, Enduro and Cross-Country Rallies Commission President: The CER is proud of the creation of the FIM Women’s Enduro World Cup which will give women participating in Enduro to be under the spotlight and show that this discipline may also be practiced by women. This year at the ISDE in Figueira da Foz, in Portugal, no fewer than five women's national teams participated, and all competitors finished the race! We wish long life to this new World Cup and hopefully a big women's participation worldwide.

Click here for more information:
http://we.abc-wec.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=542&...

Rekluse Rider of the Month

Find out who's the Rekluse Rider of the Month: http://www.rekluse.com/rotm_1209.shtml

Diaz tribute

2008 Women's national champ, Jacqueline Ross sent me some photos of the tribute ceremony that took place at the Mini O’s for her friend Oscar Diaz who was murdered in September at a race in Guatemala.

CMRC Schedule MIA

So Stallybrass informed me that the 2010 MX1/MX2/Ladies schedule would be out first week of December... It's now the second week of December and no schedule has been posted. Come on Stally! We want to start marking up our 2010 calender!