Road racing is rich with stories, and not just those of its heroes and riders. From fans, corner workers, and mechanics to vendors, promoters, and others in the industry, everyone’s had an experience worth sharing—and now there’s a place to do it. “Podium” is a new column that welcomes submissions from anyone with a passion for road racing (riders, you guys are welcome, too). And while we can’t guarantee your story will be published, including photos that relate to your writing topic will definitely increase your chances. Keep the length between 800 and 1,000 words, and e-mail finished pieces to laurel@roadracerx.com (write “Podium” in the subject line).

To kick off our very first Podium, we introduce 15-year-old Jessica Lee. If you happen to be a road race-fan who has a daughter in the house, this young lady would like a word with you....

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Calling All Dads
By Jessica Lee

Growing up around motorcycle racing was definitely incredible. My parents owned a CCS road racing team in Florida and my dad built fast motorcycles for magazines; I started riding dirt bikes when I was 4 years old. I can remember going to Bike Week every year to see the Daytona 200 and the supercross race, and we attended other races, as well. I was exposed to almost every kind of motorcycle racing at a very young age, but as I got older there was something about road racing that always grabbed my attention.

Yes, the sport is dangerous. That is part of the reason why road racing is so exciting. During any road race someone could have a serious crash, and although fatal crashes fortunately don’t happen too often, many racers become injured. Broken bones and road rash are common. When I used to watch my parents’ rider race, I would always be holding my breath, hoping he wouldn’t fall. That is exactly how it is when you’re a fan: You normally have one or two racers who are your favorites, and when they take off from the starting grid you’re always thinking, Please don’t fall. When someone crashes, many heads will turn trying to figure out what happened. Finishing a race without crashing is tough, and that is what makes seeing your favorite rider on the podium so incredible.

People sometimes ask me questions like, “Why do you like the sport so much?” or “What makes the sport so different from any other?” Most of the time the people who ask these questions aren’t that familiar with road racing or ask this because I’m a girl. Obviously road racing is exciting and it’s what I’ve grown up around, but besides all of that there is even more that makes the sport amazing.

Access to the athletes and teams is one thing that makes road racing unique. I have never been to a pro ball game or car race that allows you to spend time around the athletes and talk with them; most of the time you have to go to a meet-and-greet or you don’t even get a chance to meet them at all. At a road race, though, you won’t be stuck in the bleachers—you’re able to walk through the paddock and visit with teams and racers. I think this is cool because it gives fans a chance to see how each team works and what goes into putting on a race.

The people are also very friendly and so much fun at a road race. The racing crowd is definitely different than the “Harley crowd,” which loves to hang out on Main Street during Bike Week in Daytona Beach. That crowd might be a little rough for a young lady like myself, but that is not true about the road racing crowd. In the pits of a road race, everyone is generally courteous and dressed appropriately for any age; the racers are happy to sign autographs and take pictures with fans; and most road racing fans are light-hearted and fun.

Besides the people, the excitement, and road racing being what I’ve grown up around, I think there is one other reason why road racing is so awesome: It provides the opportunity to travel. Road races are held all over the world and the U.S. Most of the tracks are beautiful and so are the cities they are in or near. My favorite would have to be Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. The area that surrounds the track is amazing and so is the track itself. I love to travel and I know that a lot of other people besides myself do, too.

Ok, Dads, after reading this you should realize that your daughter might enjoy the sport just as much as you if she only had the chance to go to a race. There is so much about it she will think is awesome. If you take her to a race and let her know who’s who in the paddock and what is going on, that would be very cool. We need more girls to be interested in the sport, and if your daughter learns to love it, she might get her friends into road racing, as well. So, the next time you head out to a road race, make sure to take your daughter along. I’m sure she will have just as much fun as I do.