 Beatrice Mae Brazzle, Jasmine's Aunt"Cookie" 1940 
A Day at the Park, Jasmine and Scarlett Dancer Read Marjorie Fanning's Excerpt Book Reviews Women In The Wind From Noted Female Moto-Journalists and Riders Book Reviews ABC's of Wrenching Site Map & Links Bluecreek Art Works Home Page
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Cookie & Chick, A Motorcycle Love Story Excerpt from Chapter Three My Aunt Cookie was born in 1917 with the maiden name of Beatrice Fanning (no relation to Marjorie Fanning that we know of). She was a beautiful blonde and she rode her own motorcycle back in the 1940's,'50s and '60s. Even more impressive was the fact that she was barely 5'2" tall and weighed only about 90 lbs. Cookie had already been riding for several years when she met my Uncle in 1951. As my Uncle Gerald, nicknamed 'Chick' by his friends, was also an avid motorcyclist, they all soon discovered that it was a match made in Heaven. Cookie and Chick were stationed at Carswell AFB in Texas. At the time that they first met, they both worked in U.S.A.F. Security. From my vantage point, it seems like it was love at first sight. Cookie was riding a Truimph Tiger Cub at this time and Chick rode a 1942 military issue Harley. That Tiger Cub was the same motorcycle that she had ridden across the U.S.A. with three friends earlier in the 1940's and she really loved that bike. After 'going steady' for three years (the custom at the time), they were happily married for 48 years until her death from emphysema in 2002. This is a story about their love of motorcycling and each other. ~~~
It was more likely to rain than not when Cookie and Chick went off on their European motorcycle trips. My Uncle told me they never took off without packing their oil slicks, properly called 'Barber Suits'. Those suits were really heavy, even when dry... Their helmets were only made out of leather and women usually rode in 'jodhpurs' or a similar style riding pants. ~~~
Any rider would need to have moxy and more than a little strength, fortitude and endurance to ride in those conditions, especially such a petite woman! Their protective gear alone weighed about 30-40 lbs. when wet. ~~~
I know my Aunt Cookie had true spirit and really loved to ride. She never let inclement weather stop her or even slow her down! 
Beatrice Mae Brazzle, Jasmine's Aunt"Cookie" 1938 The Fugawe Tribe Stories Excerpt from Chapter Six
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