Posted by Grannie on December 14, 1999 at 04:04:49:
I tried to post this below, but it never showed up on the board, so I will try again.
Bessie lived her adult life in Miami. She traveled the states on a Harley from the 30's to the early 80's, sleeping at folks homes, or along the roadside on the bike. She had a little thing she used to do called her penny tours, she would open a map of North America and flip a penny onto the map, where the penny landed is where she would go. I saw Bessie when I was a child, tho I did not discover whom she was till later in life, I only ever saw her once here in our little town, one afternoon in traffic riding home with mother or grandmother, I can't remember which, I might have been 5 or 6, that was the early 60's, I have never forgotten seeing her tho, she is one reason I ride today, she was my inspiration. Needless to say it was very unusual in the segreated south to see a woman on a big bike, much less a solo black lady on one, she was alone, I suppose passing through town as the bike was packed, I can remember thinking "If she can do that, then I can too" I suppose that actually started my fasination with motorcycles, I also suppose I will also continue to carry that vision of her with me for the rest of my life, as I will the the first meeting I had with Dot Robinsion who started the Motor Maids in 1940, it was 1994, Dot was in her early 80's and riding a big pink harley dresser with a sidecar, we were in Muskogee, Oklahoma, she had ridden it from Orlando, Fla.
Bessie died in Maimi in 1994 or 95, Dot passed away this past Oct at age 87. Both women were pioneers for women in motorcycling, both rode for the most part of their whole lives, both set a presedence for women in motorcycling to be ladies and still ride and enjoy what we like to do best. I joined the Motor Maids in 93, I am very proud to be a part of this organization that will celebrate it's 60th Anniversary in 2000, I am also very proud that my daughter (Lucy Lurker) has applied to also be part of the Motor Maids. I am very much in awe of some of the women in this club, I have friends in it that have been riding all over North America some for over 50 years. You ought to hear some of the road tales.
Grannie
P.S. ladies I have searched the web for things on Bessie, I didn't find anything, but I have something here I will try to scan and send you if you like.