Our bike accident attorneys are excited to celebrate Women’s History Month by sharing some iconic women in motorcycle history! Women have been part of the motorcycling world since its invention. While they might not feature in the history books as much as their male counterparts, women have significantly contributed to the rise of motorcycling and are still a major force today.
In recent years, women have continued to break new ground. In the United States, female riders have been an integral part of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since its inception. Women have also formed their own organizations, such as Ladies of Harley and Women in the Wind, which provide support and ride programs for female motorcyclists.
Today, women motorcyclists can be found worldwide, from beginner riders to professional racers. They are tackling every type of riding imaginable – from motocross to touring, street riding to endurance racing – proving that gender does not define what is possible on two wheels. There is nothing stopping a woman from achieving her dream of becoming a motorcycle enthusiast or taking on any adventure she pleases. Here are a few women who made history on their motorcycles.
Avis and Effie Hotchkiss
Effie Hotchkiss first learned to ride motorcycles at the age of only 16. In 1915, she got her first Harley-Davidson, a model 11-F with a sidecar. The Harley-Davidson Model 11-F was the first to feature a 3-speed gearbox. Effie made it her goal to become the first woman to travel across the United States, from Brooklyn, New York, to San Francisco on a motorcycle. On May 2, 1915, she began her journey across the United States with her mother, Avis, in the sidecar. It took them two months to reach San Francisco, California. After reaching the Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach, the two women were photographed pouring out a jar of Atlantic seawater into the Pacific Ocean. Their successful journey made Effie and Avis the first transcontinental female motorcyclists.
Susan Lang
In 1915, Mrs. Susan Lang broke a record for the longest-distance solo motorcycle trip. She even brought her three kids in the sidecar! Susan Lang is also recognized as one of the most accomplished motorcycle mechanics in the US, both male and female.
Valerie Thompson
Valerie Thompson is the fastest female motorcycle racer in the world and a ten-time land speed record holder with membership in the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame. She is a member of eight 200 MPH clubs and one 300(!) MPH club. Valerie is the designated rider for the famous BUB 7 motorcycle streamliner. This American-built streamliner has held the motorcycle land-speed record twice from 2006-2008 and again from 2009-2010.
Dorothy “Dot” Robinson
Dorothy “Dot” Robinson established one of the first women’s first motorcycle groups, Motorcycle Maids, which still exists today. She was the president for 25 years. She was also known as an impressive racer, earning her first victory in a 100-mile endurance run with a perfect score. She also took second place in a very challenging two-day “Jack Pine” enduro in 1937, a race where less than half the racers even finished. She later went on to win the Jack Pine in 1940. She is estimated to have ridden her motorcycles more than 1.5 million miles in her lifetime. She is often called “The First Lady of Motorcycling,” thanks to the efforts she put into motorcycling. She was inducted into the American Motorcycle Association Hall of Fame in 1998.
DO YOU NEED A BIKE ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS?
If you are in a motorcycle accident that results in a personal injury- no matter the severity—and you are not at fault, you may be eligible for compensation. If this may be your case, you should consult with a personal injury attorney with experience in motorcycle accidents so that you can better your chances of a payout in court.
OUR BIKE ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS CAN HELP YOU
If a motorcyclist is injured in an accident due to the negligence of another driver, the motorcyclist can recover compensation for losses that result through a personal injury lawsuit. Compensable losses include property loss, medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
Furthermore, if a loved one was killed in a motorcycle accident, family members may be able to recover damages in a wrongful death lawsuit. If you are a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident, do not hesitate to contact a Texas motorcycle accident attorney at Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., who will review the facts of your case and represent you through this difficult period.
CONTACT OUR ATTORNEYS
For more information or to schedule an appointment with an experienced Texas lawyer regarding a motorcycle accident injury or death, please contact us first!
Our firm has offices in the following locations: Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi South Side, Brownsville, McAllen, San Antonio, Houston, and Ft. Worth , TX.
