Ruth Lemass - Event Organiser, Irish Motorbike & Scooter Show
What was your first machine and how much did it cost? A Honda 175 in 1977 that cost me around £200.
What attracted you to motorbikes? Total freedom for a girl in the 1970s, the biker boys, speed, fun and the opportunity to ride in bike races.
Is there any biking heritage in your family? None - my family were very against me getting a motorbike. Girls just didn't do that sort of thing in those days.
What is your current machine and its cost? I own a classic 1970 Honda 750 KO with rare period performance modifications. It cost €5,000.
What attracted you to this particular bike? This is no ordinary Honda KO. It was modified in the 1970s with the addition of a Dunstall tank, seat and side panels, Jap Auto, big bore 810 cc performance kit including gas flowed head plus Yoshimura sports camshaft, alloy rims and numerous other period extras.
A friend located this pristine example in South Africa and on seeing a photo of it, I just had to have it.
What is your next bike likely to be? I probably won't ever part with my classic Honda, but I'd like to build an outrageous streetfighter to my own specs.
What's been your longest journey on the bike? I recall a trip during the 1970s on a 1952 Norton Dominator to Italy. Unfortunately the bike was stolen in Milan and I had to get the train home.
What would be you dream bike and road trip? USA, coast to coast on a Harley V-Rod.
Have you ever had an accident on the bike? Not on the Honda yet (touch wood)! But I was the main feature on RTÉ's 6 o'clock evening news in the early 1980s when I crashed my Racing Honda Sidecar 960cc Outfit in spectacular fashion during the Phoenix Park Race Weekend.
What obstacles did you encounter when you started racing in the 1970s? Corners, other riders, crash barriers, tarmac, etc . But seriously, there was a bit of resistance in those days to the idea of girls going racing. When a few of us proved we were well able to compete with the lads, we eventually earned their slightly grudging respect.
Have things changed for women in biking since then? Biking in general has become more popular. Nowadays, many women who started on commuter bikes have progressed to larger sports machines and are now slightly less of a rarity.
What can visitors expect from this year's Motorbike Show?
A fantastic range of motorbikes - all the 2003 models from the main manufacturers plus scooters, trailies and all types of off-road bikes. There will also be a large choice of accessories, clothing, tyres, bike security devices, insurance.
Is the bike industry in Ireland merely a satellite of the British market? The level of interest, professionalism and commitment shown to the show by the entire motorcycle industry has graphically illustrated to me that the Irish bike industry is an independent and expanding business in Ireland and not a satellite of the British market.
The Irish Motorbike & Scooter Show is on at the RDS between March 7th-9th.