In 1971, Kerry Kleid became the first female AMA Pro Motocross racer—
but not without a fight

WORDS: LARRY LAWRENCE
PHOTOS: RACER X ARCHIVES

The early 1970s were a time of general upheaval in American society. People, especially the younger generation, were questioning the traditional ways things were done and advocating for a more inclusive society. One of the major questions Americans grappled with was women’s place in society. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) sought to help women break out of the traditional gender roles that had long been considered the norm, aggressively working to help provide a more level playing field for girls coming up in America so that they would no longer be viewed as less than men—not just in career opportunities but also what they might contribute to society at large.