The Interview: Stilettos On Heels
Briefly describe yourself and what you do/did.
We are the Stilettos On Steel – Newnan Chapter. We are an all-female motorcycle riding group based here in Newnan, GA. We have a total of 49 members and two of those live in Germany.
Best piece of advice you’ve received.
“Look Twice, Save a Life” “Keep the rubber side down” “Loud Pipes Save Lives” and most importantly “It’s not about the destination; it’s about the journey”
If I had it to do over …
We would have started this group years ago instead of just 3 years ago! What were we thinking?
You are going on an extended solo trip. What three albums and three books would you take?
Not albums, but what three songs would definitely be on our playlist: Born to be Wild – Steppenwolf; I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide – ZZ Top and Hell On Heels – Pistol Annies
Three books for the journey:
Gloria: A Lifetime Motorcyclist – 75 Years on Two Wheels and Still Riding .. By Gloria Tramontin Struck
Lone Rider: The First British Woman to Motorcycle Around the World .. By Elspeth Beard
Hear Me Roar: Women, Motorcycles and the Rapture of the Road .. By Ann Ferrar
Tell us one thing about yourself that few people know
We are in our third year of hosting International Female Ride Day – Newnan. This will be the 20th anniversary of the global event. We are thrilled to be able to host the event that brings women riders together from (3 different states so far this year) to celebrate by riding together on an escorted 75-mile ride that covers Coweta, Meriwether and Troup Counties. We are fortunate to have grown from 36 our first year to 69 last year and we are hopeful that we will hit our goal of 100 for 2026!
You are hosting a dinner party for six. What five people, living or dead, would you invite and why
Well, like good women, we are going to bend the rules a bit. There are 7 people we would have to invite:
Bessie Stringfield – she was an African American motorcycling pioneer. A female motorcycle rider who was one of the ones who paved the way for us ladies today! She’s left this world, but her memory and her legacy live on!
Elspeth Beard – to sit and talk with her about her journey around the world riding her motorcycle. Reading about it is one thing but being in the room with her and getting to hear it from her and to be able to ask her questions would be amazing. If she ever comes to the US in the near future, we are finding her!
Gloria Struck – she is still with us at 100 years old. She was one of the early members of the Motor Maids all female motorcycle club. She is both the Sturgis Hall of Fame and the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Oh the stories she could share and tell with us. Who would not want to be in the room with her? 
Dorothy “Dot” Robinson – she was the first woman to win an AMA competition and also founded the Women’s International Motorcycle Association and the Motor Maids! No longer with us, she was the one who set the standard for women who ride. She proved you can still be a lady and still ride a motorcycle.
Vivian Bales – native of Albany, Georgia and a schoolteacher. In her twenties, she got on her Harley and road across the country for 78 days. She rode for every woman who’d ever been told to stay quiet, sit still or stay behind. She rode over 5000 miles without a GPS – just a paper map and a suitcase. The things we could learn from her!
The CEO of Harley Davidson and the CEO of Indian Motorcycles – we have got to have a conversation about what females need and want in their bikes. We ride differently than men, we are typically a lot shorter, and our anatomies are different (of course). The reason – when they are designing motorcycles and the motor clothes we would love to have a little input. Our motorcycles are not garage art, we really do ride them!
Name an as yet unfulfilled dream
To be brand ambassadors for Harley Davidson and Indian Motorcycles
If you weren’t doing what you are, you would be …
Running a travel company for female motorcycle riders – planning, executing and leading motorcycle adventures both in the US and abroad.
Your go-to food
We love those special little dairy dips, diners, BBQ joints and restaurants we find on our journeys. Most of the time it includes a good Hamburger, Milkshake and fries (or onion rings)!
Favorite movies(s)
Not movies, there really aren’t any out there that are truly about women riders. There are a couple of documentaries though – Driven to Ride by Michelle Carpenter and Motorcycle Women by Janice Engel.
Now, when we want a good laugh – Wild Hogs.
Dogs or cats?
Oh, we love cats and dogs. To be honest, we just love all animals! Some of us even plan our motorcycle rides around exotic animal experiences.
Your favorite quote and why
“Ride to Live, Live to Ride”… pretty self-explanatory.
Name something that you are extremely glad you did or accomplished
Starting the International Female Ride Day – Newnan. This is something that helps to raise awareness and showcase female riders in our community.
What advice would you give your younger self just starting out on their own
Ride motorcycles as early in life as you can, but if you can’t until later in life – do it! You are never too old or too young. There is nothing like the thrill, the experience, the joy that it can bring with the added bonus of the fellowship and sisterhood!
