Somerset, UK
Photo by Jackie Bally
They call it "progress." They look at our tracks, our dirt and our communities and they see nothing more than lines on a map, acoustic zones and “anger hoons”. They think a slick live stream and a high-priced consultant can buy local heritage.
But they don't see the sacrifice. They don't hear the heartbeat and the history.
While outsiders see speedway as nothing more than a loud dirt community, there is a much deeper side that represents this sport worldwide. Australia pioneered speedway during the early 1920s, sparking a movement that reached global empathy a legacy that to this day commands deep respect and value across the UK and Europe. Yet, true speedway was never about modern sprintcars. Its original roots lead back to the raw grit of solos and sidecar racing.
Within those roots lies a legacy of defiance and bravery that most modern commentators completely ignore.
The story of women on the dirt didn't start yesterday with a corporate inclusion initiative. It was forged over half a century ago by trailblazers like Naname Okamoto, the legendary pioneer who became the first Japanese woman to break the international barrier, tearing up the hallowed dirt of the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds (The Ekka Showgrounds) during the golden era of the 1960s. She stood on the pegs, defied expectations and showed a packed stadium that courage doesn't care about gender or borders.
That unbroken line of steel runs directly from Naname’s historic laps at the Ekka straight to the women loading up their trailers to race on our local dirt tracks today. We have Jackie Bally, who comes from Somerset, UK, riding on solos and dirt bikes, who genuinely loves and breathes this heritage sport.
Grassroots motorsport isn't built by corporate boardrooms, it is forged by the families who spend their last dollar on fuel, the mechanics who fix engines by flashlight in the freezing cold and the volunteers who stand on the flags for over a century without asking for a cent. When a track is closed or when a community is silenced by closed digital loops, a piece of our history dies. If we do not step up to document our own legacy right now, we leave our story to be written by outsiders who don't know the smell of that sweet methanol scent from the machines or the mateship of the pits.
This isn't just about lap times anymore. It's about survival. Today, Nomad Dirt Culture opens the permanent registry to share Jackie's raw, unaltered perspective:
🏁 I’m from Somerset, UK 🇬🇧
🏁 When I first got started, I was definitely nervous, but mostly excited. The atmosphere and the community got me hooked straight away!
🏁 The number one thing I love about the sport is the community. The friendships, support and shared passion make it feel like family.
🏁 Having women involved in motorsport is incredibly important. Whether it’s racing, marshalling, media, promotion or leadership roles, representation helps strengthen the sport and shows future generations that there is a place for them here.
🏁 One struggle women still face is having to prove themselves more than their male counterparts. Continuing to create opportunities, visibility and mentorship for women will help break down those barriers and encourage more participation.
🏁 Preserving the history of our local tracks and communities is vital. Those stories, traditions and people built the foundation of the sport we love today, and it’s important that future generations understand and appreciate that legacy.
What a grateful time to be in this era as we have multiple opportunities to make the sport great! It was never about the tracks being built, it’s about ensuring our legacy continues for future generations, for women to be given more opportunities to learn the skills and show bravery, for over four generations of grassroots families continuing their legacy and for those we have lost to be remembered and honoured.
Document Your Motorsport Heritage: Email Us Your Story
True culture isn’t just built on tracks, it is protected by the people who safeguard its traditions and its history with pure respect. Nomad Dirt Culture is building the definitive cultural registry for grassroots motorsport, ensuring future generations look back and know exactly who built this community.
Your story matters, whether your journey started locally or across the globe and whether you are a driver, rider, an official, a mechanic, or a dedicated fan behind the fence.
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Step 1: Write down your memories, your background, your struggles or the history of your home track.
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Step 2: Attach a high-quality photo of yourself, your bike, car, go-kart, machine or your team on the ground.
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Step 3: Email your piece directly to our independent watch desk at info@nomaddirtculture.com
The ledger remains open. Let's record the history together.
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