Women in motorsport (was F.Woman)

[COLIN STUBBS]

All looks deserted at the Formula Woman hq. To Let signs have been up for ages now.

[Andrew Kitson]

Isn't FW based at Dunsfold airfield now or thereabouts - not Louth?

[halecmini]

yes!

[flagwaver]

Have to agree with you Bob on this one.
If anyone can tell me what barriers there are to women competing at the momment then please do tell us.

[foreversideways]

Originally Posted by Denis Bassom

Wish I'd thought of it.

Genius is in short supply these days

[Rob29]

Originally Posted by flagwaver

Have to agree with you Bob on this one.
If anyone can tell me what barriers there are to women competing at the momment then please do tell us.

No barriers other than those affecting everyone else,regardless of sex,race,or orientation. Lack of money.That the number of women that did apply for the first FW launch,would indicate that there was a demand for this offer of a almost free chance?

[flagwaver]

But I question that premise, I think some of it was a chance of "fame" Some of those who enterd where in better paid jobs than some people I know who do club racing. But that is history. This second one is the one that concerns me the money being talked about to enter this is more than say the Caterham academy.

[Al Weyman]

Originally Posted by flagwaver

Have to agree with you Bob on this one.
If anyone can tell me what barriers there are to women competing at the momment then please do tell us.

Maybe the fact that they got no balls (Only joking girls honest)

[TheNewBob]

lol Al,

I personally think Formula Woman was a bit pointless - motorsport is one of the few remaining sports where both sexes can compete equally against each other - why start seperating them now? Only thing I can think of is that maybe a lot of women simply think they can't enter for some bizarre reason...?

[Al Weyman]

If I may be so bold and serious this time if women, bless em and I say this as a father of two grown up daughters, are at all handicapped (and I am generalising here) at club level at least I suspect it is more because of their lack of mechanical and preparation skills than their actual driving capabilities.

I mean I don't know about the rest of you but as far as I concerned preparing the car is half if not three quarters of the challenge of the sport but I admit to being a bit of a sad case.

I know some guys also pay mechanics to do the work but I am talking more at the general club level and can't see many girls wanting to llie under a car up to their manuicured finger nails in grease at 2am in the morning the night before a race and to be quite honest they probably have the right idea!

[Rod Birley]

Crikey, I hope Sue doesn't read this Al. She prepared and raced her own car a few years back, now she helps work on mine.

[Al Weyman]

She sounds a rare find Rob but it probably highlights my point that it is rare to find a lady who does not mind mucking in, don't take it the wrong way ladies it is part of your charm to look good and us guys do the dirty jiobs thats the way it is but is also probably why there arn't so many girls racing.

Also mundane things like lying under your trailer strapping the race car down with the rain pouring down the back of your neck the night before the race, the sheer physical side of the operation of just getting the race car to the track and back can be daunting and ladies, well they just have more sense.

I remember many years ago working as a mechanic for a race outfit who employed a very pretty lady driver who looks outshone her driving ability I have to say, but she got a lot of publisity for the company and I guess it worked a little that way, shame she rolled the car on her first outing so that was the end of that. She sure looked cute in her racing suit though :-).

[Woolley]

As regards mechanical prowess, frankly I'm happy if I can get the bonnet open. Wouldn't have a clue what to do with it once I have. My car comes with a tool kit fitted in the boot and I've only ever used the locking wheel nuts out of it.

[Bob Pearson]

You are right Al, speaking generally car preparation by the driver would be a barrier to the majority of women. However it doesn't provide a reason for inventing formula woman. Just about every type of racing in this country has teams who will provide a car for the paying customer. So the competitors in FW can just as easily put their money into racing by that route and so provide the additional competitors for the existing formulas as I originally pointed out.
I have to say Rod, a woman who can prepare a race car is a precious find.

[Rod Birley]

She's not that keen on cooking though.

[Bob Pearson]

Oh hell, that puts it in perspective a bit.

[ss_collins]

now she helps work on mine.

As I understand it you help her!

[greenamex2]

My Dad is a mechanic.

Not being able to do mechanics seems to be a barrier to most of his MALE clients as well.

[Al Weyman]

Yes but they are not racing are they Dennis so it is irrelevant really. I bet if you wandered around any paddock at a club meeting the majority of the competitors know there way around a car and probably do most of their own preparation.

[greenamex2]

No, but if you wander round the paddock of a track day they ARE there.

[Al Weyman]

Yes but we are talking proper racing not pretending...... Mind you I sort of know where you are at on this and I think in the past when I was a kid we were always tearing machines apart whether building push carts from old prams at 10 or push bikes and mopeds at about 13 or 14 or motorbikes and cars at 15 but kids these days don't seem so into it, just maybe this is another reason for the general decline in grids and not just about the lady drivers missing form the sport.

[mark_l]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

...when I was a kid we were always tearing machines apart whether building push carts from old prams at 10 or push bikes and mopeds at about 13 or 14 or motorbikes and cars at 15 but kids these days don't seem so into it....

Al, kids are into cars, just not theirs. Take the 11 year old caught behind the wheel of a BMW.

[greenamex2]

Could certainly explain the decline in modified classes and the relatively lower rise in arrive and drive or one make/limited mod type championships.

Come to think of it, the one make/limited mod type championships DO seem to have a higher percentage of women.

I think those of us who know their pistons from their conrods AND still race are a dying breed. We need to give up and start preparing one make cars for cash rich middle class business men who have finally got rid of their kids and can finally live their life long ambition to go racing for a couple of seasons.

[flagwaver]

When I was a lad you could see dads & lads tinkering with the family car. How many of you see that nowadays?
I don't see any problem with limited modified/one make classes, if they get anybody into racing.

[Al Weyman]

They still need preparimg and maimtaining and getting to and from the track, in fact maybe even more so as you need to squeeze the last drop out of them to stay on the pace.