AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer
Mary McGee Passes
T
he motorcycle world lost
another icon with the pass-
ing of AMA Motorcycle Hall of
Famer Mary McGee—a pioneer
for women riders, who passed
away on November 27. She was
87 years old.
As one of the first women to
race motorcycles in motocross
and road-racing events in the
United States, McGee inspired
generations of women riders
across the country with her acts
of courage despite facing back
-
lash due to her gender.
"Mary McGee devoted her life
to promoting the motorcycling
lifestyle to women throughout
America and did so with unre
-
lenting passion and spirit," AMA
President and CEO Rob Dingman
said. "Her contributions to mo
-
torcycling will never be forgotten,
and her legacy within our sport
will live on forever."
Born in Juneau, Alaska, on
December 12, 1936, McGee spent
much of her youth away from mo
-
torcycling. McGee moved to the
continental United States at a very
young age to live with her grand-
parents in Iowa. In 1944, McGee's
family moved to Phoenix, Arizona.
McGee's love for auto racing
began in the 1950s. In 1957, her
focus shifted to motorcycling as
she hopped aboard two wheels
for the first time, learning to ride
on a 200cc Triumph Tiger Cub
that she bought from a friend.
Soon after, McGee became the
first woman in the United States
to hold an FIM license.
Getting her start in road rac
-
ing—with the goal of improving her
car-racing skills—McGee shifted to
dirt racing in 1963, competing in
an AMA District 37 enduro aboard
a 250cc 1962 Honda Scrambler.
In 1967, McGee became the
first woman to ride the Baja 500.
Eight years later, McGee com
-
pleted the event, which is typi-
cally a two-person race, solo.
McGee continued to compete,
racing both motorcycles and
cars, until 2011. Throughout her
career, McGee remained a stead-
fast ambassador for motorcy-
cling, encouraging people, most
notably women, to ride.
For her efforts as a competitor
and advocate for women in mo
-
torcycling, McGee was inducted
into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of
Fame in 2018.
CN
VOLUME ISSUE DECEMBER , P25
Mary McGee, a
pioneer for women
riders, passed away
on November 27.
PHOTO: WILLIE BROWNING
