Police have named the motorbike rider who died following a crash on Te Poi Road near Matamata on Friday.
Donna McCauley
She was 51-year-old Donna Gaye McCauley from Waipa.
Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
Motorcyclists empowering women
9 May
Donna McCauley likes nothing more than feeling the wind in her hair and experiencing the adrenalin which comes from riding a Harley Davidson motorbike.
Turns out the Te Awamutu 50-something woman is not alone with nearly 225 fellow female bike riders turning up in Cambridge on Saturday for the International Female Ride Day®️ .
Waipā rider Donna McCauley on her Harley Davidson with friend Mel Duff of Hamilton wait on the Cambridge Town Hall piazza for the International Female Riders’ Day to get underway. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
The global event is into its 18th year and on the first Saturday of May annually celebrates the cultural, social and active lifestyles of women who ride and enjoy motorcycling and powersports.
Add to that revving up the throttles while parked outside Cambridge Town Hall for the event to get underway.
The Waipā version was hosted by the Waikato community of Litas, a female motorcycle group founded in 2015 by two moto-obsessed women in Salt Lake City, Utah. Co-founder Paige Macy had used the name Litas to tag her art and thought it sounds like a “sweet” name to describe female motorcyclists.
The event was opened by Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan outside the Town Hall.
“We are thrilled to have you and we hope you have a fantastic weekend riding Waipā roads, eating in our cafes, shopping in our stores and generally creating wonderful havoc,” she told the riders.
Hitting the road: Female motorbike riders head out for Saturday’s ride around the Waikato as part of International Female Riders’ Day. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
The event takes place in 120 countries and is a very visible shout out for gender equality, awareness and respect for women in motorcycling and encourages other women to take up the activity.
McCauley said she was surprised at the age brackets of the women participating – most were around her age.
“As an unashamed feminist the words describing this event resonate with me,” said O’Regan who confessed to staying off motorbikes since she fell of a Yamaha farm bike as a girl.
“It scared me off motorbikes for life. But don’t worry … all is not lost.”
Daughter Lily sold her pony for a motorbike because it was more fun, cheaper to run and easier to look after.
“To cast a spotlight on women paving a way for a future where their presence is anticipated and not exceptional in spaces previously considered a male domain. Yes, that rings very true for me,” said O’Regan who was accompanied by her son Jack who made no secret of his passion for Kawasaki bikes.
But O’Regan over-ruled him giving Sally Johnson’s Panda motorbike the Mayor’s Choice award.
McCauley started riding motorbikes 10 years ago and got her learner’s licence when she was 42.
“I don’t know why I started. I’d never driven dirt bikes or anything and I just saw all these females who had a bike licence and thought that was for me.”
She bought a new Harley Davidson Low Rider 1690cc bike for $25,000 in 2016 and it sports the licence plate MZHOG.
The route for the 100km ride on Saturday took in Lake Karāpiro, where riders had lunch, and the back roads around Mangakino, Arapuni and the Waipā district. It ended with a dinner at the Cambridge Raceway.
“It was just really cool to catch up with all the riders,” she said.
Road users did a double take particularly as many of the riders had decorated their bikes while others wore costumes for the event, some sporting pink tutus.
This Harley Davidson owned by Sally Johnson featuring pandas and a personalised number plate, won the Mayor’s award.
It is McCauley’s fifth time in the international ride which will be held in Taranaki next year.
“There’s nothing like feeling the wind in your hair and that little bit of adrenaline that goes with riding a motorbike.”
And it is just as well she is unrecognisable underneath the helmet and leathers as McCauley says she likes to swear out loud while riding.
But you will not see her if it is raining.
“I hate riding in the wet weather.”
It can be an expensive hobby – annual registration for her bike is $565 and the clothes and boots are not cheap. She favours Kevlar motorcycle jeans and pants while other riders go for the pricier Dririder versions.
“I never ride without my full gear on.”
McCauley has also taken part in Pro Rider courses, so she is safe on the road from what she called “dickhead” drivers.
O’Regan later told The News riders had raved to her about Waipā and particularly Cambridge which had rolled out the red carpet for them.
“What I saw was a bunch of strong, independent women who embrace every moment and who instead of seeing barriers, see opportunities,” she said.
- Gang has been replaced with group in this online version, numbers altered from 300 to 225 and headline changed.
The motorbikes in Cambridge Town Hall piazza.
