Jody Perewitz is the Fastest Woman on Two Wheels

Record First Time

The first time Jody Perewitz took to the salt she went a blistering 203.111 mph, setting the record as the fastest woman on an American-made V-Twin. Since that inaugural run at the Bonneville Speedway during the 2011 BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials, Perewitz has claimed even more awards. She now holds numerous Land Speed Records, one of which is a World Record and has earned four AMA number one plates.

Family Business

If the Perewitz name is familiar that is because Jody is the daughter of award-winning custom bike builder Dave Perewitz. When not blasting down the Bonneville Salt Flats or melting the asphalt at drag strips across America, Jody Perewitz is the Manager of Marketing at Perewitz Cycle Fab in Halifax, Massachusetts. Beyond the paperwork, Perewitz is also learning the skilled art of custom paint jobs.

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Pink Power

It took a week to convince her father that pink wheels would look good. Perewitz' record-setting partially streamlined machine is powered by a custom-built 100 cubic-inch V-Twin with a JIMS bottom end, housed in a Daytec frame. Coupled with an Intercooled B-1 ProCharger Supercharger and a Baker Five-Speed, the pink and purple machine cranks out over 200 horsepower at the rear wheel.

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Race Prep

To prepare for Bonneville, Perewitz completed shake-down runs at the former Air Force base in Loring, Maine. After clocking in at over 160 mph with no fairing, it was off to the Bonneville Salt Flats for the ultimate test. Perewitz explained that building a race bike was a new thing and, unlike customs, “this was a bike that was totally about function, and being strong, being aerodynamic and going fast.” 

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Guesstimate Speed

Prior to her record-setting run, the tachometer broke, leaving Perewitz with only the shift light to gauge her speed. Reflecting on the run, Perewitz explained “My shift light came on and I knew when my shift light comes on I’m going over 190 mph. So I was like, giving it more and more, so I knew I did really good.”  

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Average Pass

To set a record at Bonneville riders must complete two passes in either direction, with the average of each run counting as their final speed. Record-setting riders get waved-off the pits and go straight to impound for inspection. Perewitz completed her run without knowing her speed, but was immediately directed to impound by someone holding a sign that read '203.' She remembered thinking, “Oh my God, what did I do, what did I do?” 

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Pack Leader

Already something of a motorcycle celebrity, Perewitz and her 1963 Panhead were invited to lead the pack on the five city trip of the 2014 GEICO Hot Bike Tour Jeff G. Holt, editor in chief of Hot Bike magazine, stated that “We are very excited to have Jody on board for the Tour as she is a great role model and a really fun person to be around.” 

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Vintage Run

Perewitz' passion for motorcycles does not end with a need for speed — slow works just as well. In 2018, she became one of only three women to complete the entire route of the Motorcycle Cannonball — a yearly transcontinental endurance run for vintage motorcycles. Perewitz made the 3,875-mile trek on 'Marjorie,' her custom-painted 1926 Harley-Davidson JD. Fast or slow, it is anyone's guess what record Perewitz will set next. 

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