...Hear Me Roar

Stephanie Parton puts a whole new meaning to the term "Mud Bath."  The 31-year old native of Malta, Ohio has been racing ATVs since 1999.  "I saw a Dirt Wheels magazine with GNCC coverage and told my husband to train me to do that," she said.  And she was hooked after just her first race.  "I come from a competitive family, but I got more motivated after my first race.  It took a lot more than I ever imagined."

According to GNCC an average of about 10 to 15 women race in an event.  They did not have figures as to the total number of women racing around the country.  It is said that women account for 16 percent of all people who own ATVs.

Parton has been riding ATVs since she was 10 years old.  It was the lure of the woods that first put her on an ATV.  And her first sojourns were on a Honda ATC 70 and 250R Fourtrax.

Today she races all over the East and Midwest of the U.S. and also participates in some local events in Southeast Ohio.  Her accomplishments include 2004 ATVA Female Rider of the Year, Three-Time Morning Overall Champion, two time women's national champion and she has 34 women's national wins.

Initially she raced on a Honda 400 EX.  "It was the only real sports quad out at the time besides the 240R," she said.  Now she rides the Polaris Outlaw and that has led to her being sponsored by Polaris.  "I made it known that I was interested in riding the new Outlaw because of its revolutionary independent rear suspension.  Other sponsors include Moose, Klotz, Maxxis, Douglas Wheels, Custom Axis, IMS, AC, White Brothers, Smith Goggles, DP Brakes, Tireballs, Cycra, KK of Dayton, Works Enduro Rider, Liquid Performance, Outerwears, Phantom Energy Drink, Oury Grips, Sosebee Racing, True Speed Graphics, and Don Wood Polaris.  Her greatest supports though are her mom and dad and her mechanic husband, David.

She has earned the wide range of sponsors, by being top in her class.  She has been racing the GNCC circuit for seven years and has raced the 12 hours of ATV America.  She claimed that most of her finishes have been first or second.  Nationally she races in the Women's Category and in local races she runs as a Pro.  She finished second in the Women's Category with 176 points in 2005.  She had garnered just two points less than Traci Cecco, the winner in the category.

Out of all the places she has raced she said that she likes the tracks in North and South Carolina the best.  "They both have awesome, get the groove on kind of woods and great dirt," she said.

What does she like about racing? "All the great people you meet."

And what does she hate about racing? "Losing!"

She has also seen an attitude change among men racers toward women racers.  "Guys used to not respect us or tell us to get out of their way," she said.  "In the last few years we've gotten the guys to come around.  We've actually have to put more effort into it since it is a 'man's sport' and men are a lot stronger than women.  The respect level is at the highest now."

She credits her success and longevity in the sport to her sponsors.  "I see myself staying in racing as long as I can keep getting help from major sponsors like Polaris," she said.  And she sees the future of ATV racing in general to be bright.  "I see racing getting better and riders getting faster," she concluded.