Women's only race class

[kingralphthe3rd]

Why don't y'all ask elena myers about it. She is 100% against it and refuses to race women classes. Her response was "there is a 250, 600, 1000 and a boob class, what doesn't belong"

[Candie]

Originally Posted by kingralphthe3rd

Why don't y'all ask elena myers about it. She is 100% against it and refuses to race women classes. Her response was "there is a 250, 600, 1000 and a boob class, what doesn't belong"

I did. She hasn't respond. If she is against it, then so be it. She is entitled to her opinion, but her opinion carries no more weight that Melissa's or anyones else's. Everyone has different opinions and they are neither right or wrong. If she would have replied for or against it then I would have posted in here as well. I am not threatened by they fact that someone has a different opinion than me. I can't understand why some of you seem to be. Anyhow I thought it was very cool that Melissa responded at all.

[bubby]

I think the bottom line is would it bring more females into the sport and would it be good for CMRA by having more people grid up. If someone feels it's beneath them to race the class then so be it. It's not like adding one more race is going to hurt anyone else. I think it's a great opportunity for the CMRA with as many females in the area who are currently doing trackdays.

[kingralphthe3rd]

I think it is awesome that she replied and am not threatened at all by different opinions. U know me Candie, I just like to voice mine lol. I think it will be good in getting more women to grid up for that one race but they will be in for a reality check when they grid up in a mixed class. I won't have a problem till it becomes unsafe like the guy who was in brady's class at ecr.

[JDuc]

I realize I'm a bit late to the discussion. I also realize that I'm not really active on this forum either, but I'll put my two cents in.

I've been asked a few times about my thoughts on the whole female only class and if I would race in it. I think Melissa's response sums up my thoughts: it's another chance to grid up, nothing more.

First of all, I feel the need to clarify a few things. Yes, I want to race, there is absolutely NO question about that. The NANOSECOND that I have my weekends back is the nanosecond I can justify spending the money to get my CMRA license. Until then, I can spend that money on tires and track time. I currently work weekends, and it's killing me. Yes, I'm actively searching for another job that would allow me my weekends, let me do what I'm interested in, and be a job I enjoy. On a side note, I'm kinda surprised at some of the responses I get from folks who don't understand why this would cause problems with racing...*scratches head*

On to my thoughts on the topic:

Would I race in the class? Yes. Would I feel like a win in that class would be as hard earned as a win in a full on class. Absolutely, positively, without a doubt - NO!

Here's now I see it and where I'm coming from. From my earliest age of playing sports, I've played sports along side the guys. I've played roller hockey, basketball, I've been involved in cars and racing of various types. I've played 14 seasons of softball, including All* ball. I've competed for 14 years in car audio competitions across the nation and have 6 world titles in sound quality with a car that my husband and I built ourselves in our garage. We've been in magazines and have been invited to display our car on the floor of CES in Vegas (talk about a male dominated sport!). I work in IT. I've constantly had other women approach me and ask me how I got into _______. How have I overcome the fear, etc. Inevitably, I'm always asked if my brothers or my father got me into ________. I didn't have any brothers (only child) and my father was non-existent. I've run into all kinds of women over the years. From all of these experiences, I've concluded the following:

In regards to male dominated what have you, there are women who simply don't give a damn and will go at it the same as they would ANYTHING else and there are women who will shy away and think to themselves "that's not something women do, I wonder what other people will think of me." Let's face it, in general, women are still raised to be uber feminine.

In introducing a women's only race class, the CMRA would be doing one thing: bringing attention to the sport. Naturally, in doing so, the news would reach its intended audience: women.

Many of the men I run into at the track have this to say: I wouldn't trust my wife/girlfriend/significant other on a motorcycle, much less on the track! Or even better: this is my ME time! I don't want her out here!

This specifically comes up because my husband and I both enjoy this sport together (as do Candy and her husband, I might add). Do I understand it? Um, NO! I couldn't imagine not sharing these experiences with my husband!

I suspect that there would be certain amount of push back from some men out there because they might feel that this is 'the one last area they can still call their own'. As much BS as that is in all reality....the fact still remains that there's some guys out there that feel that way. Marco Simonchelli recently brought this to light with his comments about women on the race track, as Melissa Paris pointed out in a Tweet not too long ago. Source

In short, would I race in the class? Yes, but only because it would be yet another chance to grid up. I would also do so on my 749R. Do I think it would help bring more women to the sport? No, I don't think that having a womens class alone will do anything to bring more women to the sport.

There's FAR more that needs to be done before grid to get more women into racing. More female instructors at track days. Women who do ride on the track doing more to get the word out to other women and encourage them to come out and give it a try. Perhaps discounts for the women for the first few times out? Track day organizers who don't discriminate against females who want to take advanced classes would be a nice start too. A few brainstorming sessions there would no doubt yield some great results.

Better accommodations for the females at the tracks wouldn't hurt either... A single bathroom in the pits for women at TWS, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?! The men have how many stalls there?! NOTE: And I'm not talking about having to walk half way across the track to get to the rest of the bathroooms...RONNIE.

Anywho, enough of my thoughts. Sorry I'm late on the discussion.

[K D]

hummm.....

[leslie_b]

Originally Posted by Candie

My questions to this female track day riders who may be thinking about racing is:

1.. Do you think it would be less intimidating to start racing if there was a women's only class with smaller grids?
2.. If there were a women's only class next year would you race in it?

I am far from being ready to race, but I don't think that a separate class should be made for women. The guys don't intimidate me at all. Instead, they make me want to work harder to compete with them. Most of the guys that I have ridden with have been very kind to me and have gone out of their way to work with me, so that I can improve riding my skills on the track.

Leslie

[memo]

FYI... there's more than just one restrooms at tws.. just walk a little further

[JDuc]

*sigh* & some concepts are simply lost on some people...:-(

Sent from my HERO200 using Tapatalk

[dean laden]

I think the fact that this thread is 2 months old and has 11 pages full of opinions, all with different prospectives and a wide variety of views really says alot. Mot of us are not politicans and will not be able to pursaude another to take our view point, but here we have all expressed them. In the end I have heard ladies say they are against it but would race in this class, while others said yes I am all for it and would race it.

The reality of this topic is that adding a class of say 10 racers to the schedule would affect the CMRA as such: (and this does not include any added or extra publicity or press the CMRA gets or how it COULD bring ew people to the sport)

lets say 5 of this grid doesnt race any other class and you have $75 entry fees ($375)
then 3 (say Candie, Lisa, and Reya-or sub Sheila here or Mel or-get the point?) at $55 which equals ($165) and then 2 @ $35 because it is their 3rd entry ($70) so we have a guesstimate of 610 dollars worth of entry fees. then take the gate fess for the 5 females riders who as of right now don't race but would thats a $100.

A total of $710 per weekend times ten equals $7100 dollars.

The math is simple. If at least ten riders commit and the CMRA adds that amount per year it's easy to make the decision on what to do. I respect and have read everyone's opinions, agreed and disagreed with some, but you cannot argue with the math. And in the end, it is about bringing money to the club not how you feel about a class. I hope the BOD really takes a look at it.

Candie,
I think you should really push this to the next level. First of all, you have broken your CB two times and thought you were giving up, but decided to come back. That gives you an edge right there. Put a petition together, ask the ladies who now hold CMRA licenses to sign it saying they would race the class. No opinions, would you race? Yes? Sign Here!
Then go to trackdays, and say would you race in the Formula F class? Yes? Sign here! Those ladies, need to show their efforts by getting their license this year. You stay on top of it and when they do get it, let the BOD know. So and So sign this petition and she now has her license.

Takes some work, some dedication, but when all is said and done, it would be worth it for each rider to get seat time, for the spectators to see the race (same way we all flock to watch RE), and for the club to add revenue which could mean better things for us. Heck, this may be the ticket to getting MSRH on the schedule.

All in all it is a business decision, not a personal one for the club. Provide them with proof and back up that this could work and more than likely it can.