Local Girl Eans National Recognition

Dec 27, 2006 | Sports & Recreation

“I can’t doesn’t get you anywhere.”
– Bela Karolyi,
Olympic gymnastic coach

Nearly 10 years after attending Bela Karolyi’s gymnastics camp, Bailey Williams is living his quote even though her passion today has changed from gymnastics to dirt track racing.

Three years ago, Bailey had an experience that changed her life. While watching her soon-to-be brother-in-law, Adam, race, Bailey decided she would like to try all terrain vehicle racing. She remembers thinking it looked like fun so, over the course of the next year, she went out riding with Adam and her sister, Tabby. During that same time, she tried to convince her parents to let her race.
“It took about a year of begging my mother to let me race,” Bailey said. “Finally, I think I just wore (my parents) down and they let me race.”
The daughter of Troy and Rinda Williams of Lock Springs and the granddaughter of Roy, Jr. and Donna Ferguson of Trenton. Bailey is currently a junior at Tri-County High School in Jamesport.
Her first race came at HRL Motorsports in Moberly at age 15.
“I was pretty nervous,” Bailey recalls. “I don’t think anyone really expected too much from me. I know I was thinking ‘I just don’t want to get lapped.’ But when things went pretty well, I think we all found out I had a talent for racing.”
That experience set the tone for a great two-year run for the young rider. Bailey went on to win six track titles, four district titles and most recently she placed second in the ATVA Extreme Dirt Track Nationals.
“I remember after that first race thinking that was the hardest thing ever,” Bailey mentioned. “Now, when I race there, it seems pretty easy.”
The start of the race is what appeals to her the most. Bailey notes that “there is a real rush” heading into the first turn. Hole-shot, as it is known to riders, is when a rider is the first to get around the opening turn. Getting hole-shot allows a rider to control the race.
“I love getting hole-shot,” Bailey said.“It is my goal every race, because I usually do pretty good once I get in the lead. In fact, Hole-Shot Queen is my nickname.”
Bailey’s first national race came at the Bullet Speedway in Brashear, TX. She placed second and three weeks later at Britch Creek Motorsports in Danville, VA, Bailey won her first national race.
“One thing was for sure after that first race, I loved racing,” Bailey said. “There is no way I was going to stop.”
Bailey went on to place in the top four in all eight national events, including earning first place a second time – this one coming in Round 8 at Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, KY.
“I have always set goals ever since I was little. Last season my goals were to place in the top five in a national race. I did that in my first race in Texas. Next I wanted to win a national race, I did that twice, once in Virginia and once in Kentucky. Finally, I wanted to place on the podium during the national awards banquet, I did that by placing second,” Bailey said.
She notes the jump last season to the women’s class at age 16 was a big adjustment. Moving up meant riding against older, more experienced riders. In 2007, Bailey plans to also compete in the Open B Class, which is dominated by male riders.
“Moving up to the women’s class last season was a big change. At the youth level everyone roots for everyone. But when I moved up it was very competitive,” Bailey said. “Racing in the Open B Class is even harder because men are more competitive than women. No guy wants to say they got beat by a girl.”
In fact, Bailey points out her worst wreck ever came while racing with men. It was an accident that landed her in the hospital.
“The worst wreck I have ever had happened in a district race at Moberly. I was wrecked by a guy. I don’t remember the wreck, I have just seen it on tape,” Bailey said. “I don’t remember a thing about it. One minute I was racing, the next minute I was in the hospital. I also had my tires slashed in Illinois. It is crazy. Some guys just don’t think girls belong in racing.”
The idea that some people would do anything to win may seem scary at times, but it is just part of the race once it gets under way.
“It is a little scary to think about it before the race – to be on the track with 20 guys that would do just about anything to beat you,” Bailey said. “But once the race start, that all disappears; I don’t think about it at all.
“Racing is my passion, I truly love it,” Bailey added. “It takes a lot of self-discipline and lot of sacrifices, but when I get hole-shot and have that rush of adrenaline, it all seems worth it.”
Bailey attributes a lot of her success to her family and her friend and fellow rider, Mandy Brodil. Brodil is a two-time World ICE champion. The two met a couple of years before Bailey started racing.
“I actually met Mandy before I started racing,” she noted. “I picked her out because of her pink fenders and I got to watch her and man, was she good. After the race I went up to her and told her how great I thought she rode. We talked, exchanged e-mails and when I started racing, we kept in contact. So when she asked me to come out to the east coast and train with her, I was really excited.”
During her five weeks with Mandy, Bailey learned to break-down her bike and also spent several days on the tracks. That time paid off when she won races in Kentucky and Virginia. Bailey noted that she had a better understanding of those tracks. That experience helped propel her in 2006.
“Honestly, before I went out (to east coast) I had never aired up my tires or even filled my own tank with gas,” Bailey said. “Out there we took my whole bike apart, – the frame, motor, everything and basically rebuilt it.
“My time with Mandy was the biggest opportunity I have ever had,” Bailey added. “She is a two-time world champion and I got to spend five weeks training with her. I learned so much.”
The other key to her success is her family. They pack up and go most everywhere. From Texas to Virginia, the Williamses travel all around the country.
“Racing has given me so many opportunities to go places and see things, that I never would have done without racing,” Bailey said. “We all pack up and go to the race, it’s like a little vacation.
“My family is great. I would not be able to do any of this without them,” Bailey added.
Also not to be overlooked is the job of her machanic Jeff Roberts of Roberts Racing of Bevier. Bailey’s other sponsors include Elka Suspension, Durable, Graves Motorsports, Rath Racing, Outerwears and J. Crowe Photography.
This season‘s nationals include races in Greenbrier, AR; Taylorsville, IL; Danville, VA; Ashtabula, OH; Elizabeth City, NC; Franklin, PA; Paducah, KY; and Ava, MO.
“In 2007 there is a national race down around Branson and my whole family is going,” Bailey said. “It will be great to have everyone down there with me.”
Being a person who sets goals, Bailey has her sights firmly fixed on a national championship in ‘07. She had hoped to team up with Brodil this season but an injury to Brodil will keep her out of racing. Bailey noted that she still hopes to someday be teammates with her friend and mentor.
“I used to do gymnastics and dance, but I gave them all up for racing,” Bailey said. “I really don’t have a lot of time for anything other than racing and I would not have it any other way.”
Bailey hopes to be able to a role model for the next generation of female riders, like Brodil is for her.
“Mandy is my inspiration,” Bailey said. “After we trained, Mandy got two new sets of pink fenders and she mailed me one set. They are like the ones she had on her quad when I first met her. They mean the world to me.”
To be able to be someone else’s inspiration is always on Bailey’s mind. She wants to be able to give younger girls a person to look up to.
“I love racing, but I am still a girl. Pink is my favorite color, but I am also a competitor,” Bailey added. “I love it when little girls come up to me after races. I try let them know it is alright to be a girl, by signing everything in pink and having little bracelets to give out. You don’t have to be someone you’re not to be successful. Hard work and belief in yourself and never saying you can’t will get you a long way.”