By Jessica Coleman -- Daily Staff Writer

FRONT ROYAL — With their helmets on, it was hard to distinguish male from female drivers at the amateur ATV drag races at the Warren County Fair on Tuesday.

Only the glimmer of jewelry or a glimpse of some long hair peeking out could identify these hard-core riders as members of the fairer sex as they sped around the 250-foot mud track on the back field at the fairgrounds. Of the 142 adult riders registered, only three were women. Of the children, only six of 21 were girls.

"I just want to kick their butts," said Katie Clem, 20, who was racing for the first time on her Kawasaki four-wheeler. "I don't want them to cut me no slack because I'm a girl."

She said she had been riding ATVs since she was about 6 years old, when her grandmother would push her around on a much smaller version of the vehicle she raced at the fair.

With the lights from the midway in the background, spectators watched as rider after rider sped by at alarming speed, throwing dust, exhaust fumes and caution to the wind. Both Clem and Bobi Jo Swartz, 20, another female rider, said their biggest fear was "red lighting," or taking off before the green light is lit, which can result in disqualification.

Swartz, also a first-time racer, said she was used to participating in male-dominated activities and was not concerned about the lack of estrogen on the track.

"I tractor-pull every weekend, and I'm usually the only woman in the class," said Swartz, who grew up on a farm. "I think it's fair game."

Little girls were also representing the females in the divisions for youngsters. Debbie Hott, head scorer for Tomahawk MX, the company that facilitated the races, said there is an increase in interest among women to race ATVs. She said they start young, with many racing Hot Wheels Barbie jeeps at Tomahawk's track in Hedgesville, W.Va.

"It's just a big family function," Hott said. "At our track, when we have a good turnout, we're not equal, but we're closer."

Seasoned racer Amanda Omps said the male drivers are generally quite respectful of the women who participate.

"They cheer more for us women because they think it's cool," she said.

Six-year-old Chloee Burton, of Woodstock, raced for the first time at the fair Tuesday. She placed third in the first group of young racers. When asked about her experience on the track, only one adjective came to mind — "bumpy."

Autumn Hott, 9, won her first race at the Frederick County Fair this year. She came in fourth in her class on Tuesday. She said she thinks more girls should race, because it's fun and exciting. When asked if she thought the females had an edge over the guys, she simply wiped the sweat from her forehead with one muddy hand, shrugged her shoulder and smiled sheepishly.

* Contact Jessica Coleman at jcoleman@nvdaily.com