In the latest issue of Black Girls Ride Magazine, we feature Joi “SJ” Harris, the first African American female road racer. She wants to encourage more women of color to get into the road racing game. Here’s her path to victory:
1. Research your home track – go online and search “road race school” to find a road race track and instructor in your area. She started at New Jersey Motorsports Park, a track 3 hours away from her home in Brooklyn, NY. Each track will have a “track day”, where enthusiasts can come out and hone their skills with instruction from the pros. You won’t learn it all in a day, but a track day is a great way to get your feet wet in the sport. You can spend up to $500 for a day at the track, including travel, supplies, a track pass and lunch. The more you prepare, the more you can save. Going in a group and splitting expenses will help.
2. Suit Up – Riding on the track has different requirements than riding on the streets. You’ll need to equip yourself with a full leather suit or leather jacket and leather pants, racing boots, gloves, and helmet. Visit your favorite motorsports store and let them know you’re interested in road racing and they’ll show you how to gear up properly. Proper road race gear can cost between $1500 – $3000. It’s expensive, but this gear will save your life.
3. Be a Newbie – Each track has three groups for skill sets. The Beginner group is designed for newbies like you to learn techniques and have fun. The intermediate group gets into speed and strategy, and the expert group where the competition begins. Find a track mentor or instructor who would be willing to offer advice on how to better your ride.
4. Don’t let it intimidate you – SJ says, “Sometimes we overthink things too much! Try it! Just do it!”
Check out Joi “SJ” Harris’ feature story in our current issue.
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