Editors Note: The Staff here at the ORC Dirt Bike Page want to take an active role in supporting and nurturing the "other riders" out there. We know that there are enormous groups of riders that do not fit the standard definition of a "dirt biker"... i.e. white, male, motocrosser. There are enduro riders, trail riders, minorities, and yes, even WOMEN. Sadly, the last two groups are vastly under represented in most dirt bike related media.

This last group is one that I feel a personal challenge to reach out to. If we all could get our girlfriend/wives involved in the sport, I think we would see unparalleled growth. Is this an unreal goal? I think not. Women are active in any number of 'extreme' sports. Why not dirt biking?

But I have to temper my enthusiasm with one basic fact. Men and women ARE different in some ways. Seeing as I am your standard 40 year old male, I doubt I have the insight to reach out to these potential enthusiasts.

Enter Kim Orndorff. I first learned of Kim when I read a post on the internet newsgroup rec.motorcycles.dirt (RMD) announcing her 'Woman Off-Road" web site. I sent an email wishing her well in her endeavours and received an enjoyable reply. "Hey", thought I, "We need more people like her in our sport".

So a little begging and pleading (women like that) and she capitulated and is now our resident 'Woman Racer'. Cool, huh? Kim has a pretty free hand at bringing you the dirt bike world from a womens point of view.

So please join me in welcoming Kim, and don't miss the start of her column which will debut in the January '99 issue.

Y'all better appreciate it too! During the intense negotiations I almost got stuck with one of her cats!

Oh yeah, we will get a better picture up of Kim.

Kim Orndorff

I hate biographies. I never read them. So, I'm going to get back at all of you who think biographies are really neat (thus perpetuating the myth that all writers should have one) -- and write one about myself because I am being held at gunpoint by the editor. You, dear reader, will feel compelled to read it simply because it's there -- and I will have my revenge.

My life began when I was 34. Up until then, I had no clue, not the foggiest notion, I was completely clueless (are you getting the idea here), that people rode motorcycles on anything but pavement. True story. I was a sheltered lass who grew up in the Midwest, surrounded by subdivisions, cornfields and Notre Dame fans.

I got married, had kids, got divorced, went a little crazy, found this really neat guy who took me out for a ride on his dirt bike, married him and started riding. There, can I be done now? (Editor: Keep going) Shoot. My first ORV was a 4-wheeler. But they just can't go where bikes go, so I whined to my husband "I wanna biiiiike."

And he patted me on the head and bought me a gutless wonder so I wouldn't get any bad boo-boos. Then I said "I wanna raaaaace." And he patted me on the head and let me race. In desert racing here in Utah, you start racing in the Beginning Women's class with the minibikes on the minibike course. He figured I would be safe and happy there till I died, or broke a fingernail and quit.

But all you need to know about me is that it's three bikes later, I'm now 41, my husband got injured so bad HE quit (for the time being) and now he pits me - and I still race the desert only I moved up to the Women's class, with the big guys. I'm not fast, but I finish . . . usually before the sweepers.

I adore my husband, though I hesitate not to heckle and razz him when I write. I have two Orndorff children in this house, a 16-year old racer, Jason who is the #1 125 Exp desert racer in Utah this year, and a 5-year old, Connor who thinks bikes are dangerous. I also have two children who live in Washington State, Mariah and Jordan Fielding. I hope someone up there tells them hi for me someday.

I began writing about five years ago. I have written articles for Dirt Rider, Cycle News and local and other internet publications. My first printed article was about my second hero of desert racing, Danny Hamel. My husband is and will always remain my first. They are followed by Doug Henry, and, of course, Jason Orndorff who rode like a pro this year.

I became the first woman president of our club, the Sage Riders, last April. All the old timers watch me very carefully. They're just not sure what estrogen influence will do. The Sage Riders put on an AMA National Hare-n-Hound every April so if ya'll come out to it - look me up. I'll be the little bossy blonde.

It's not often I get to tell a bunch of guys what to do. And finally, realizing that there really isn't much out there just for women riders, I started a company called Women Off Road (WOR). See us at home.earthlink.net/~the98s/.

Now, if I tell you anymore, I'll ruin all my stories!

Kim