I grew up with a father (GTM member Romano C) who was and will always be very passionate about cars. Naturally I was drawn to all things that had a motor. I went from watching NASCAR every Sunday to being my fathers pit-crew for his weekend RC races. Then I purchased my first car, a black 1984 Chevy Camaro when I was 17.
Developing my skills as a driver was something I became passionate about. Any chance I had I’d practice being smooth with my acceleration & steering and learned to feel what my car was doing. This hard work was all in hopes that I would be an amazing race car driver one day. However, as you may have guessed, that’s not exactly how things turned out. Going to college for 6 years then straight to a full time job made things difficult. And I had very little to no money.
“Four wheels move the body but 2 wheels move the soul”
I found another way to embrace the world of racing, or at least get a taste for what it could be like, through motorcycles! My first time ever on a motorcycle was a two-up with my now husband. It was the most freeing yet equally terrifying thing I had ever experienced. Yet after each ride it left me wanting more. The adrenaline rush became something I looked forward too.
However, being the oldest daughter, and yes we can put emphasis on the ‘daughter’ part, still no money and a mother who would lose her mind it if she even knew I thought about buying a motorcycle made it damn near impossible for me to be apart of the two wheel world. If I couldn’t afford to be out there driving I need to be out there riding.
Making it happen
After being my husbands backpack for many years I finally got my own bike. I started with my husbands 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R fully built and ready for the track (above). As a novice new rider it was a heavy bike full of power and my feet barely skimmed the ground.
Even with those obstacles and people nervous I couldn’t handle the bike, I had a husband who knew I could do it. Instead I used all of obstacles to my advantage. My first lesson was in braking. Not being able to reach the ground so easily taught me the importance gradually applying the brakes when coming to a stop so that I wouldn’t upset the suspension and risk falling over. Over time my smooth braking off the track translated to smooth trail braking later on as I progressed as a rider!
Being a women in the motorcycle or even car world has its pros and cons. Fast forward 5 years, add a new bike (2015 Kawasaki ZX6R as seen in purple) and more seat time on and off track have given me so much. What I have gained from riding (regardless of gender) is a life full of passion, adrenaline and excitement from here on out!
More to come, keep the shiny side up. ~Alicia.Â
