As a new District Director for the Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi District of the Motor Maids, one of my questions to other Motor Maids is why did you join? This is a post I dedicate to those answers that I have received from the women in my district of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Schelley Brown Francis Ark/La/Miss DD
To learn more about Motor Maids, Inc visit the national website at
www.motormaids.org
From Schelley Brown Francis: Louisiana
My love of history goes so far back with me, I can't even remember when I first became fascinated with the love of what has been before. That love carried me into first preservation of old houses then cemeteries, and historic districts in my small town of Minden, Louisiana. My love of old cars and motorcycles was started early in my life before I could even drive. I seemed to be attracted to old, rusty, things that would not start and the paint was peeling off. My first car was a 1951 Pontiac and that was in 1974. My first ride on the back of a Harley was in high school. That ride made such a connection with me that for several years I used that as a way to pick who I dated.
(Maybe not the best method to find the perfect man)
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| April 23, 2011 I did find the perfect man...we got to use both of our motorcycles in our wedding! |
My brother always loved motorcycles and let me ride his mini-bike when he got it one year for Christmas which I promptly ran into the chain link fence. After that I just figured I would always ride on the back with someone else. Well I was about to turn 50 and I guess I wanted to begin a new stage in my life. I sold my 1937 Buick named Olivia and promptly bought a 2004 Harley Heritage Softail Classic. I didn't even know how to ride the bike when I bought it! I promptly signed up for the Rider's Edge Class and to my amazement passed. For a year I rode in parking lots and many back roads before I became brave enough to venture out. I LOVED IT! I felt so free and the thrill was overwhelming. It brought tears to my eyes on several occasions.
My brother passed away in 1996 and I like to think he smiles down and protects me everytime I get on my bike. I still love to ride on the back with my husband when I am not in the mood to think and just want to take lots of pictures; and he is ok with that most of the time.
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| Sporting my Life Starts At The Edge Shirt After I Passed! |
I am such a nostalgic person that when I decided I wanted my own motorcycle which to me could only be a Harley I started doing research on which groups I wanted to be a part of. I had seen
Cris Sommer Simmons on CBS Sunday Morning Show talking about her new book "The American Motorcycle Girls", it sparked a fire! I later saw where Chris would be in the Cannonball Run and it would be coming close to my area of the country. I took off to Danville, Arkansas. I had ordered books by Cris and wanted to get her to autograph them for my girlfriends that also rode their own! I met Cris and saw that she was a Motor Maid.
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| Cris autographing my copies of "THE AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE GIRLS" at Cannonball 2010 |
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| A girl and her motorcycle...What more could a girl ask for on a nice sunny day! |
I had read a lot already about this group. I didn't know that the District Director lived only 20 miles from my house (plus she was married to an childhood friends brother), until I got on the Motor Maid Website. That is where I found a link that would lead me to where I am today...
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| Me with Ronnie and Miram Hennigan at Run With The Nuns Event |
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| Hot Springs, Arkansas 2012 |
Ronnie Hennigan happen to come in the Museum where I serve as the Director one day and I couldn't believe it. He was just who I wanted to talk to and asked him to please tell his wife I wanted to talk to her and join. A few weeks later in walks Miram Hennigan into my life. In life they say there are no strangers only people we haven't met yet and so it was with Miram. She is fearless for sure. I am more a fair weather rider so far but my love of what being a Motor Maid is strong and I think that is what counts with me for now.
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| Riding Into A Life Of Women In Motorcycle History! |
The fact that this organization is the history of Women In Motorcycling is very important to me!
