Drinks Gas, Spits Nails: A Night in the Desert Honoring ‘Motorcycle Mary’
EVERYTHING HAPPENS FAST in the desert. Day turns to night in the blink of an eye, and stillness can erupt into a sandstorm without warning. On a recent Saturday evening in Johnson Valley, California, the desert was alive with a different kind of energy. As a cinnamon-hued sunset gave way to the glow of a supermoon rising over the craggy mountain range, a unique gathering of women prepared for a night to remember.
On a private plot of land in the Mojave Desert, a film projector buzzed to life, casting its light onto the side of a white box truck. The makeshift six-by-nine screen illuminated a crowd of hundreds of women, many dressed in riding gear, perched on dirt bikes or huddled together on the cool desert sand. The temperature was dropping fast, but the warmth of camaraderie filled the air.
The film began, and the screen was soon filled with the face of an older woman. She sat in a garage, a modern-day enduro motorcycle blurred in the background. Her purple turtleneck, frameless glasses, and wispy white hair framed a face deeply etched by time. She smiled mischievously as she held up a gold Hall of Fame ring engraved with a retro motorcycle rider. “It says, ‘Drinks gas. Spits nails,'” she said, her voice steady and playful. The crowd erupted in cheers.
This was Mary McGee, a trailblazer in every sense of the word. McGee was the first woman in America to race motorcycles and the first to hold an International Motorcycling Federation license, which she earned in 1960 at just 24 years old. She was also the first woman to finish the grueling Baja 1000, driving a Datsun pickup, and the first person—man or woman—to solo the Baja 500 on a motorcycle in 1975 at the age of 38. Despite these groundbreaking achievements, McGee’s contributions were largely overlooked by the racing community during her career.
“I didn’t pay any attention to it,” McGee said in the film. “I was having too much fun.”
Now, nearly 50 years later, McGee’s story is being told in a 22-minute documentary titled “Motorcycle Mary”, part of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series. The screening was held at Babes in the Dirt, an annual three-day dirt bike campout for women. For many in attendance, McGee’s story was more than just a history lesson—it was a celebration of the path she paved for women in motorcycling.
From Inspiration to Action
One of those inspired by McGee’s legacy is Ashmore Ellis, who was nearing her 26th birthday when she saw a woman riding a vintage Honda on South Coast Highway 101 near her home in Encinitas, California. “I saw myself in her,” Ellis recalled. “It instantly clicked that I could be a motorcyclist, too.”
Ellis bought a 1970s Yamaha 350 street bike and began practicing late at night to overcome her fear of riding. Over time, she grew more confident, upgraded to a custom Harley-Davidson Sportster, and started attending motorcycle shows. At one of these events, she reconnected with Anya Violet, a fellow rider, and the two decided to organize a girls’ weekend of motorcycle camping. What started as a small gathering quickly grew into a movement.
- In 2013, their first event, “Babes in Borrego,” drew over 50 women.
- By the following year, more than 500 women attended Babes Ride Out in Joshua Tree, California.
- In 2015, they launched the first official Babes in the Dirt off-road campout.
Now, nine years later, Ellis and Violet continue to foster a community of women riders. Watching McGee’s story on the big screen brought Ellis to tears. “Nothing could stop her,” Ellis said. “The way she speaks about riding, her passion—Mary’s one of us.”
A Legacy of Saying Yes
McGee’s journey into off-road racing began with a nudge from her friend, Hollywood icon and motocross legend Steve McQueen. At a party in the mid-1960s, McQueen urged her to leave road racing behind and try the rugged world of off-road motorcycling. “Steve said, ‘Mary McGee, you have got to get off that pansy road racing bike of yours and come out to the desert,'” McGee recounted with a laugh. The crowd at the screening erupted in cheers.
For many women, including McGee, their introduction to motorcycling came through men. But what mattered most was their willingness to say yes to the opportunities presented to them. McGee’s motto, “Always say yes,” resonated deeply with the audience. “Stay calm,” she said in the film. “Twist the throttle.”
As the film reached its emotional climax, McGee reflected on her historic solo ride in the 1975 Baja 500. “If I’m starting a race,” she said, “I’m gonna finish.” The crowd howled in agreement, their cheers echoing across the desert.
A Night to Remember
As the film ended, the desert fell silent for a moment before Ellis stepped forward. “Start your bikes,” she called out, and the desert was soon filled with the roar of hundreds of engines. “We’re going to do this for Mary,” she said, leading a countdown. The sound of revving engines filled the night, a tribute to the woman who had inspired them all.
Just days later, the world learned of McGee’s passing at the age of 87. Her family shared that she left this world peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. In her final days, McGee remained her spirited self, even joking on Facebook from her hospital bed. “NO FACELIFT!” she wrote, alongside a smiling photo of herself.
Though McGee is no longer with us, her legacy lives on. “Probably the thing I’m proudest about,” she said in the documentary, “is that I had something to do with showing women that they can come out and race motorcycles.”
And for the women gathered in the desert that night, McGee’s life was more than a story—it was a call to action. To say yes. To twist the throttle. To finish the race.
Originally Written by: Alyssa Roenigk
