Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1527902
I n the 21st century, the motor- sports' victory podium almost seems to be a choreographed diorama, one where race victors and energy drink girls are posi- tioned both safely and legally distant from one another. Not so long ago, however, to the victor went the spoils and those spoils included a sloppy and sweaty canoodle with the now-extinct species known as "the trophy girl." This was a day when men would be boys, and when those boys celebrated a victory on the AMA's Grand National circuit, they reached for a Camel. Miss Camel, that is, an Alabama belle named Lynn Griffis, and she was there on that podium, lips-await - in,' to make that victory celebra- tion even sweeter. Everyone, that is, who was ca- pable of sliding a Harley-Davidson XR750 or manhandling a Yamaha TZ750 into victory circle during the 1970s and early '80s Camel Pro/Winston Pro sponsored AMA Grand National Championship events. The tobacco giant was a faithful sponsor of the series, and Griffis was there to represent the company and congratulate winners with a victory smooch. Known as Miss Camel (and later Miss Winston), Griffis has stood on more victory podiums than Jay Springsteen, Kenny Roberts and Scotty Parker combined. Growing up in the Birmingham, Alabama, suburb of Bessemer, Griffis (who now goes by the abbreviated "Grif") knew early on that her life's journey would take her far away from the path being followed by those around her. "When I was 13, I told my mom, 'All I see in Alabama is women getting married and having chil - dren, or women having children and getting married. I won't be doing that, Mom!' "My mom was very supportive of me, and she understood. We were very close—and still are! She is 97 years old and lives with me here in Maui." She was denied a career as a flight attendant—"I discovered they had strict restrictions about perfect vision"—and she began attending Mississippi State Col - lege for Women in Columbus, Mississippi, before transferring to the University of Alabama. But college life was put on hold when, at age 19, she began a brief stint as a model and was part of a contingent of young models invited to visit Japan. It was a life-changer. "I decided that I wanted to know more about cultures and people and that I had to travel!" "In 1970, there was a job open- ing with RJ Reynolds. I was one of several girls applying and I remember the interview was held at Talladega Raceway. I wound up getting hired and spent the first couple of years working with auto racers in the Sebring series. There were only about 10 races each year, so when Camel got on board with the AMA, where there would be 30 events per year, I moved into motorcycling. CNIIARCHIVES P142 MISS CAMEL/WINSTON LYNN GRIFFIS: THE QUEEN OF "TROPHY GIRLS" BY KENT TAYLOR In the 1970s-'80s, "Trophy Girl" Lynn Griffis, aka Miss Camel, has stood on more victory podiums than Jay Springsteen, Kenny Roberts and Scotty Parker combined.