Something about roller derby that inspires the "F-this" in any gal. And Drew Barrymore did just that Saturday night when she split from the endless line into the single-stall VIP women’s loo and bee-lined it for the empty men’s room.
I cursed. Not because she dared to enter the boy's cave (what chick hasn’t done that before?). Ahead of her as I was, and just three friends away from relief, I was just about to bust such a move.
Drew was among the sold-out crowd at the L.A. Derby Dolls all-star match in the gritty downtown-adjacent ‘hood of Phillipinotown, there to cheer our girl Iron Maiven—who’s got a cameo in her directorial debut Whip It! That’s right, for her maiden launch behind the camera, Drew is doing the screen adaptation of Shauna Cross’ first-time novel “Derby Girl.” In the film, slated for an October release, the cast assumes the crafty tags of real roller derby queens: lead Ellen Page as Bliss Cavendar, Kristen Wiig as Malice in Wonderland, Juliette Lewis as Dinah Might, Eve as Rosa Sparks and Zoe Bell as Bloody Holly.
The multitasking, multi-talented Drew also takes turns as lead Smashley Simpson. But our very own Eastside leading hunk Har Mar Superstar ends up with the mundane name Coach Jeff. Go figure.
Play at derby as they might, they couldn't possibly feel the pain and ecstasy of the sport-as-entertainment that these athletes in the rink do monthly at the Doll Factory, home of the L.A. Derby Dolls, or at the many rinks popping up nationwide during this latest roller renaissance.
Iron Maiven is Rachel Piplica, captain of team Tough Cookies ("sugar and spice and far from nice") and a similarly tough broad of a production manager for Lucky 13, the hot rod-psychobilly fashion line designed and art directed by Heathyr Lawrence. Heathyr and I go back two decades when she put the whole "pussy power" phrase on the map--and on T-shirts and other streetwear. At the time, she was married to skate legend John Lucero, and I lived with my own 24/7 skateboard engineer (yes, dear readers, my past lies in the Wide, Wild World of Ramps and Trucks). Besides sharing a son named Lucky (who turns 11 on June 1--Marilyn Monroe's birthday, his platinum-tressed mom likes to point out) Heathyr's employer Lucky 13 and Lucero's company Black Label are sponsors of L.A. Derby Dolls.
Our trio back then and Saturday night was rounded out by Cindy Jimenez, wife of Marty, a.k.a. Jinx to all of you skate enthusiasts who know that equally legendary name.Shepard Fairey does, and he was beyond thrilled to regale them with tales of getting his first skateboard in the mid-80s when he was barely out of high school. At that moment, I couldn’t decide who was more excited about meeting whom. Even when Drew interrupted to speak to Shepard, she sheepishly apologized, clearly realizing this was quite a nostalgia trip for her pal.
Ditto for the rest of us. Heathyr, Cindy and I recently reunited after eons. And it's been an absolute high getting together and rooting at the top of our lungs for a sport we all dreamed about doing as little girls in the 1970s, the last time derby ruled. (At last month's match I cheered with an old pal from another period in my life.)
Young as we were, we recognized the power and freedom, beauty and boldness of those women on wheels. Then as now, the F-word that truly rocked our world was feminism with a capital F.


The next L.A Derby Dolls match is May 30.
See you in the bleachers.








Note: Cameras are not allowed inside the Doll Factory, so had to rely on the crude iPhone cam. Will get credentialed for the next game.