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¡Punto Final!

Peggy Llewellyn Flying on Two Wheels On this sunny but cool March day at the National Hot Rod Association Spring Nationals in Houston, Texas the thunderous motors from the zooming bikes on the slick black race track make the 35-year-old Peggy Llewellyn (loo-ellen) say, “Oh, I want to be out there so bad.” Although, lamenting the fact that she did not expect the chill in the air and was under dressed, the pure passion this Pro Stock Motorcycle drag racer and native Texan has for this sport counters the chill and burns within. Shockingly, she fears roller coasters. (“It’s something about going really fast, up and down,” she says.) However, for all else she is a 5-foot-2, 115 pound fearless female racer who is the first Black and Hispanic woman ever to win a National Hot Rod Association race in 2007 in Dallas and who has persevered despite all the challenges and detours she has faced. Taking her love for racing, drawing from the strength and support of her family and friends and believing that quitting is never an option, Llewellyn is living proof that dreams—no matter how far—can always be reached. Starting Line “It’s just the pure love of the sport,” explains Llewellyn of why she has continued to race and persevere despite all odds.

Peggy Llewellyn Photos by the National Dragster/NHRA

“I like going back on two wheels. It’s a major thrill,” she adds. Llewellyn, who has thrilled fans ever since coming onto the scene, describes her passion for drag racing as a calling. “It’s hard to explain to someone that doesn’t understand that it’s something that burns in you,” she says. “It’s not something that I could just give up. This is something that I was meant to do.”
According to her mother, who is Mexican, Llewellyn literally began riding from the womb. She acquired the “racing bug” from when, while pregnant with her daughter, she would ride on the back seat of her husbands’ motorcycle. Growing up in the “small town with a big city feel” of San Antonio, Texas, she was surrounded by racing and motorcycles, and the closest one was her father, Eugene Llewellyn, who is from Jamaica, owner of Southeast Cycles in San Antonio, Texas and an avid drag racer himself.

Family outings were spent drag bike racing at the Alamo Dragway on her “pocket rocket” bike going 30 mph against her younger brother. “It was a time to have fun and do what my dad did,” she recalls. “I was seven and all the little boys and girls had bicycles but I was the only one with a Honda nitro funny bike that belonged to my dad.”

Interior designer or nurse was what this pro drag racer had hoped to be as a child. It was not an option for a little girl to aspire to be a female Pro Stock motorcycle racer because they did not exist. Not until the summer of 1996 when pioneer Stephanie Reaves (the first women to ever receive an NHRA PSB license and qualify for a national event) along with Angelle Sampey and Karen Stoffer qualified for the Mile-High Nationals in Denver.

Peggy performs the traditional pre-race burnout to heat up the rear tire of her Buell.

Peggy at 3 years old.

Seeing how these women came into a male-dominated sport and proved they were a force to be reckoned with, gave Llewellyn the confidence and inspiration she needed to make this sport her career. “I remember calling my dad right then and saying ‘Daddy this is what I want to do. That’s my calling right there. That’s when I decided,” recalls Llewellyn when she was 23 years old. “Without these pioneers, it would be impossible for me to even consider a career in drag racing.”

Cross Roads
Drawing from their courage and example, she went full speed ahead when she got the opportunity to compete in NHRA PSB for the 2001 race season. However, as soon as she had the green light, she faced an abrupt red light when her 2001 season did not go as planned and came to a halt. She did not do well and lacked the financing to continue. After this, she pursued a real estate license and sat on the racing track sidelines for five years.

At a crossroads, Llewellyn had to make one of the most difficult decisions of her life. Should she quit her dream of being a Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion or be strong and face the challenges? Turning to her constant role model, her dad, who told her not to quit and to keep on going, she took a course at the Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing school in Florida. Here she learned invaluable skills from her instructor George Bryce.

One of the skills she acquired from Bryce that she applied during her off time was learning how to use mental marks. She would imagine going through a run and even making the sounds. Going through these exercises when she is off the track has helped her focus and instinctively know exactly what to do going 190 MPH at 6 seconds on the track where there is no time to think. “For me it could be a first round, a second round or a qualifying path, you still get the butterflies in your stomach. The exercises help them to subside before you go up to the line because you’re going into autopilot and you have to be a hundred percent focused on your job,” she explains.

Family Fuel
Not only is her father, who arrived in 1967 from Kingston, Jamaica and thrived in the United States despite prejudices against him, a huge source of strength and a prime example of determination and hard work for Llewellyn, but also her Mexican grandmother, Victoria Martinez. A woman who did not know how to read or write, she was able to make a living and support her 10 children in the United States. She also raised Llewellyn, whose first language was Spanish, until she was 3 years old. Her grandmother did not necessarily like that she raced but nevertheless unconditionally supported her granddaughter with her prayers. Llewellyn, who holds her abuela up high, recalls her saying, “Ay, mi hija. Don’t get hurt.” “She was my fan in her own way, “says Llewellyn.

Peggy and her team celebrate her first career win Sept. 23 at the 2007 O’Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex.

Peggy is seen (near lane) leaving the starting line at the 2008 FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals, July 27 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma.

Another big fan of hers is her 10 year-old niece, Dayzha, who Llewellyn raises. At such a young age Dayzha understands why her aunt must leave a couple of weeks at a time and fully supports her. Llewellyn admits that if it were not for the support of her family, friends and co-workers she would not be able to balance her personal and professional life. With the economy down she counts the fact that the real estate firm where she also works allows her the flexibility to pursue her dreams a blessing. “It’s the help from everyone that makes it easier for me to balance everything and do so well,” she adds.

Changing Gears
After her five-year hiatus, with the burning passion to race within her, after completing her course at the Pro Stock Motorcycle school, and with the support of her family, Llewellyn was ready and determined to start fresh and get back into the drag racing circuit.

Prepared but patient Llewellyn knew everything would take time as far as learning, getting used to a new bike and crew. With the same willingness to sacrifice, determination and goal, Llewellyn and her team did very well, very quickly. All the hard work and perseverance paid off when she won the event in Dallas where she was the first black and Hispanic woman to win an NHRA PowerAde event, making it into the Championship round.

This unprecedented accomplishment was significant on so many levels for all women in sports, for women of color and personally for Llewellyn. “It set me apart from all the women in the sport because there has never been a black woman,” asserts Llewellyn who has received countless letters and emails from men, women and children thanking her for being someone who looks like them and who is doing what she loves. Llewellyn wants her victory to send the message that, “your background doesn’t matter.” “If you have the drive and determination you can go out there and do it.”

Just as Stephanie Reaves, Angelle Sampey and Karen Stoffer were the ones who broke the mold for women back in 1996; Llewellyn broke the mold for minority women in 2007. This is where she sees the NHRA growing in diversity. “It’s like ‘Wow’,” she says. “It’s not even a question anymore.” There are a lot of black and Hispanic women riders coming up in the level under the NHRA, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), observes Llewellyn. “They just need that chance, that door to open and the funding,” she says.

Role Model P(eggy)
Giving back and being involved in her local community in San Antonio, Texas is just as important as racing. As an active member of the Women’s Sport Foundation, Llewellyn visits elementary schools once a month to speak to girls about the importance of physical wellness, staying active, and pursuing their dreams, through the program GoGirlGo! GoGirlGo! uses sport and physical activity as an educational intervention that supports girls’ health and wellness in childhood and early womanhood.

“If I can touch one little girl or ten little girls and just give them a little bit of advice, it’s rewarding,” shares Llewellyn about her experience. It is especially important for Llewellyn to empower young girls in her sport because of the misconceptions that are sometimes placed on her. “They’ll look at me and say ‘Oh, wow. She’s so small’ or ‘it’s a girl’,” she says. However she explains that “when the helmet goes on it doesn’t matter if you’re a man or woman. Once you crack that throttle it’s whoever gets to the finish line first.”

Dream Detour Whether you are a man or woman in Pro Stock Motorcycle racing one thing is certain. You can not compete with out sponsorship, and this has been one the biggest challenges for Llewellyn in pursuing her dream of becoming a multi-time champion and helping expand the presence of Pro Stock Motorcycle in the motor sports industry. This has been difficult because, “you can do well but that doesn’t automatically mean you are going to get the funding; the sponsorship,” she says. Her goal is to align herself with companies that have products that she tends to use. Having Llewellyn as a spokesperson would be a benefit for that company or product. She believes that companies who think outside of the box and advertise with the NHRA will get more “bang for their buck” because it is not as costly as NASCAR and there is more diversity in terms of more women involved with the sport. Llewellyn’s idea of an ideal sponsor would be a make-up company. “Yes, I may ride motorcycles but I’m still a girly girl; makeup, shoes, clothes, hair products.”

Finish Line
For 2009 Llewellyn is hoping to secure the sponsorship to get back on the track. She has a team ready and wants to start before they begin running for the championship. Although, this is a definite goal in her horizon, Llewellyn has her hand in other endeavors as well. A movie career would not be absurd as she has admired the career of Dwayne Johnson, also known as “The Rock”, who went from being a front wrestler to acting and endorsements. Llewellyn has been involved in a movie called “Seven Second Barrier” that is still in development about motorcycle drag racing.

If she were not racing, Llewellyn would still be in the schools telling her dynamic story, working with the youth and encouraging them and she would stay in the real estate business. “Maybe I could be like a Donald Trump on the side,” she says laughing.
All in all, she hopes her legacy will be that of a humble champion. “That I was always down to earth but I rode the hell out of a motorcycle,” she says.

One More For the Road
She has learned to live one day at a time and always make it a point to treat people the way she wants to be treated. “Be well respected and respect other people. That is always important even after all the accolades are gone,” she advises.
For those looking to reach their dreams despite the odds she quotes a line from Walt Disney that says, “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”

“Maybe something set you back but you keep on reaching for that dream, for that goal. I was on the sidelines for five years. I began to have doubts but I never stopped dreaming. I continued to pursue it. It took me all the way to the winners circle and a run at the championship. Don’t let your dreams die. A little bit of faith goes a long way.”

By Esperanza Urbaez