MAKE WAY FOR THE MOTORCYCLE MAMAS!
The Osgood File. I'm Charles Osgood.
Did you know that women are the fastest-growing segment of the motorcycling public?
SOT - Karen Davidson
"About 23 percent of all U.S. motorcyclists are women..." (:03)
That's Karen Davidson, the great-granddaughter of William Davidson, co-founder of Harley-Davidson.
She's been riding since she was nine, and is now in the family business - as creative director of merchandise.
SOT - Karen Davidson - with Rita Braver, CBS News Correspondent
"(Braver:) And what does that mean? (Davidson:) Well, that means that I like leather a whole lot! (laughter)" (:04)
More after this...
((( SPOTS )))
When it comes to fast women, 26-year-old motorcyclist Melissa Paris is right up there.
She races against male drivers, going up to 168 miles an hour on the Daytona Speedway.
Our "Sunday Morning" colleague Rita Braver asked Melissa...
SOT - Melissa Paris, with Rita Braver
"(Braver:) I'm told you're the fastest woman around. Is that true?
(Paris:) It's definitely not my ultimate goal just to be the fastest girl. So I'm just trying to focus on being as fast as everyone else. It's the only sport I know of where we're on a level playing field with men." (:13)
Melissa's husband is motorcycling champion Josh Hayes.
SOT - Melissa Paris, with Rita Braver
"(Braver:) Who's faster?
(Paris, laughs:) Right now he is.
(Braver:) Right now?
(Paris:) Yeah, it depends on what we're doing. We are competitive in everything we do. We have our go-kart race times posted on our refrigerator. So, yeah, we're competitive, and I hope to racing with him soon." (:15)
Biker Mamas are not a new phenomenon, says Cristine Sommer Simmons.
SOT - Cristine Sommer Simmons
"Women were always riding motorcyles. They were brave, they were adventurous..." (:04)
She wrote a book about women like Clara Wagner, who entered an endurance race - Chicago to Indianapolis - in 1907.
SOT - Cristine Sommer Simmons
"390 something miles, and she won. She didn't just ride in it; she won. But they wouldn't give her a medal, because she was a woman." (:07)
...Gloria Struck, who started riding in 1941.
SOT - Gloria Struck
"They felt you were a tramp. Yes, I've been called names..." (:06)
She's 84 now - and this winter, rode a thousand miles from New Jersey to Florida, with her biker-daughter Lori.
SOT - Gloria Struck, with Rita Braver
"(Struck:) She's a pretty good rider. But she's very cautious - you know, which is good.
(Braver:) Are you?
(Struck:) I'm more - a little wilder I think, I don't know... (laughter)" (:08)
The Osgood File. Transcripts, podcasts, and MP3s of these programs can be found at theosgoodfile.com. This is Charles Osgood on the CBS Radio Network.
The Osgood File. July 22nd, 2010. |
|
|
