North American motorcycle racing legends have rolled onto the great highway in the sky. Malcolm Smith left this world on November 26, at the age of 83. One day later, on November 27, Mary McGee left this world at age 87.
McGee passed away just a day before ESPN hoped to launch the much-celebrated short documentary about her racing career, titled Motorcycle Mary into wider distribution. Directed by Haley Watson and executive produced by seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton and two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot, the just-under-23-minute-long film is a joyous, unflinching look at McGee’s racing career, told in McGee’s own words.
Life of Mary McGee is an inspirational story for aspiring women in male-dominated fields, such as motorsport. Also, its a story for anyone who just wants to go out and do their thing. Why worry what’s ‘normal’ or ‘acceptable.’ to others as if that helps any industry or society.
Hollywood legend Steve McQueen challenged Mary to go from the road racing she was comfortable with to getting into off-road and motocross and Mary accepted this as an opportunity to further prove herself–and said yes. When the chance to race in the Baja 500 came up, she said yes. When she finished, she became the first solo racer ever, of any gender, to complete the event.
So go out and do it and say yes to life.
—Wayfarer
Associate Editor, Bikernet.com™
Watch ESPN YouTube short at
