Drag Illustrated Issue 111, July 2016 | Page 94

Melissa Surber’s Actions Speak Louder than Words This talented newcomer has the makings of a future Pro Stock Motorcycle star if she can overcome her one big fear S he did her best to put on a brave face but it was painfully obvious that Melissa Surber was uneasy. Surber tried to quell her fears by repeatedly telling herself to keep calm. The little voice in her head repeated over and over “act naturally and everything will be just fine” but even that wasn’t enough to cure the anxiety. As she neared the breaking point, it was more and more obvious that the up-and-coming NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rookie was nervous as hell. Far less obvious was the fact that Surber’s angst wasn’t in any way triggered by the prospect of straddling her Buell to make a 195 MPH run in front of a jam-packed crowd of spectators at the NHRA Gatornationals. Nope. This time, it was nothing more than the arrival of the FOX Sports television crew that sent the petite 21-year-old into a frenzy. ¶ You see, riding a motorcycle comes naturally for Surber, the daughter of longtime California-based racer and chassis builder James Surber, but conducting interviews, speaking in public, signing autographs, dealing with large crowds, or anything else that runs counter to her introverted nature is another matter entirely. ¶ “You guys want to talk to me?” Surber meekly asks the TV crew, already knowing the answer. “Okay, I’ll do my best.” 94 | D r a g I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com By Anthony Michaels Photographs by RICK BELDEN