Second Go-Round of Powder Puff Picnic Gates Up

The second annual Powder Puff Picnic will be held this Friday, September 3 as part of the NBL Grand Nationals in Louisville, KY. Last year’s event was a runaway success, with over 100 girls in attendance, getting autographs from their favorite lady pros, and muching down on Grands grub.

Founder/Organizer, Lisa Motley, told “News” that the roster of pros includes Dominique Daniels, Felicia Stancil*, Carley Young, Kyla Reed, Ashley Lynch, Tiffany Bontorno, with all confirming they’ll be there. Allie Dragoo, Amanda Carr, and Jamie Lilly are also “scheduled to appear.” As part of the event, Pro-Gate is sponsoring a gate clinic just adjacent to the picnic area, which will start, just as the picnic is ending.

*No, Felicia has not gone and done it…no pro card for her yet. But you don’t have to squint and tilt your head much to see that a Felicia Stancil autograph today will be a top pro signature someday soon. Then you can say: “I knew her when…”

When asked about her motivation in creating the first picnic last year, Lisa said: “I started the PPP to create an opportunity for girls in our sport, racing or not, to interact with each other in a casual, noncompetitive, environment. Our approach is to invite as many non-riders and moms as possible to the picnic, hoping that the enviroment makes it easier for them to ask questions. For the girls who already race, a conversation with Elite Woman might be that special connection that keeps them interested in BMX for life.”

The Powder Puff Picnic is a “girls only” event, open to all ages (racers and non-racers alike). It will be held near the staging area…look for the “Pro-Gate” area, and you’re there. A limited number of commemorative T-Shirts will be available on-site, so you can get all your autographs in wearable fashion.

History Lesson: If you’re asking yourself “why ‘Powder Puff’ Picnic?” For the first dozen-or-so years of BMX racing, the girls classes were called “Powder Puff,” as in “11-Under Powder Puff.” At the Jag World Championships in 1979, the class was 11-Under and 12-Over. By 1982, there were six Powder Puff classes (7-Under, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 14-24, 25-Over). The winner of the 12-13 class at that 1982 Worlds was none other than Lisa Vonderahe (whom you now know as Lisa Motley).

Donations of food, drink or dessert are welcomed. For more information email lisamotley@hotmail.com

—Mike Carruth