Women-only track day

[xwhatsit]

Bleh I don't see the problem with it. Male and females -- well at least in late teens/early twenties, which is the age of most people I spend time with socially -- have quite a different social dynamic. Most of my friends are girls. I often find myself in situations where I might be having lunch or going dancing or whatever with all girls. If you add a guy, or especially a couple of guys into that mix of people, the dynamic instantly changes. Certain topics of conversation have to be avoided, there's more aggression and loud joking and laughing.

Testosterone can be a pain in the arse. I know this, that's why many of the friends I choose to spend time wih are female. Likewise, sometimes a group of catty girls can be a pain in the arse.

At something like a trackday, which is a place prone to a lot of aggression and competition and `boys being boys' I can totally sympathise with the girls here wanting a day for themselves. Likewise, I can think of a few situations where I'd want to hang out with just the boys. I'm sure you lads can think of a few too.

Obviously it goes without saying that if there can be a girls-only trackday, there can be a boys-only trackday too. I doubt Motogirl would contest that, or anybody else, really. However it seems rather pointless due to the sheer numbers of boys going to trackdays anyway. But the option remains.

This has very little to do with sexism. It's just that a group of boys running around in high spirits on their fast toys playing up can be a bit of a pisser when you want to concentrate and be left alone. I'm sure there's many guys here who wouldn't want to bring their nagging wives to a trackday, either.

[MotoGirl]

I'm sure there's many guys here who wouldn't want to bring their nagging wives to a trackday, either.

Hallelujah! Someone who actually understands where I'm coming from

[cowboyz]

This has very little to do with sexism. It's just that a group of boys running around in high spirits on their fast toys playing up can be a bit of a pisser when you want to concentrate and be left alone. I'm sure there's many guys here who wouldn't want to bring their nagging wives to a trackday, either.

Have you ever been to a trackday?

[Grub]

From the PM's I've been getting (it is so lovely to chat to you all too) I don't think you do. It has nothing to do with the merits of women having their own trackday.

Quite simply, a women's-only trackday is against the law. It is discriminatory and therefore cannot be held. The Law prohibits it.

The ironic thing is (and my point entirely) is that this law was agitated for by women because they objected to men-only events. They succeeded. The resulting law made them (and women-only events) illegal.

Just in case you think this is all poppycock and have short memories, last year women made it front-page news that the Waikaremoana Fishing Club have a men-only dormitory, right alongside a family dormitory but a men-only one nevertheless. That there is only one toilet in the corner without screening was apparently beside the point also. That case is being seriously considered as a case of discrimination by the Human Rights Tribunual.

In short, you can't get a law passed and then not be bound by it simply because it's not convenient to you to do so.

Brett

[Trudes]

I'm not arguing with you Grub, I don't have a law degree and don't know the ins and outs of everything involved, but why are there women's centers where men are not even allowed on the premises? And men and women only days at Golf corses?

[Panther]

It's like when you go bowling and your husband tells you how to improve your technique, even though his score is worse than yours!
some women wouldn't feel comfortable asking for advice from a male.
Women's days are a good intro and many women would use them before they're confident to show their skills in front of men.
unwelcome comments necessarily come from other riders - they could be from male partners

having a little trouble at home?
hubby not being very helpful with riding tips?

[Kickaha]

Quite simply, a women's-only trackday is against the law. It is discriminatory and therefore cannot be held. The Law prohibits it.

The law prohibits a lot of things, doesn't mean people can't or won't do them

[Drew]

Would you mind explaining how it adds more pressure?

It requires more people for marsheling, more time to organise, a logistical nightmare for bikes going out onto the track, and coming back in. The clubs that run these things dont pay the people who staff it, so it's not that easy to find people to put thier hands up.

All I was trying to say, is that a track day, is the wrong place to be teaching basic skills. Dont get me wrong, it would be a great idea to get beginers more confident, but I dont think someone without the required control to do a U turn competently, should be anywhere near a race track. Think about it for a second, we go there to speed, this is indesputable, if we didn't, we could just go for a ride on the road to practice riding. If someone isn't capable of the basics, should we really be encouraging them to learn to ride fast?

[BigG]

We dont need seperate track days, most track days acomodate for all rider types wether male or feemale or inbitween, they are for learning and having fun going fast or slow, its the experience you go for the people yuo meet and the big Buz. Signe up for the 6th of May this will be fantastic

[Disco Dan]

It requires more people for marsheling, more time to organise, a logistical nightmare for bikes going out onto the track, and coming back in. The clubs that run these things dont pay the people who staff it, so it's not that easy to find people to put thier hands up.

All I was trying to say, is that a track day, is the wrong place to be teaching basic skills. Dont get me wrong, it would be a great idea to get beginers more confident, but I dont think someone without the required control to do a U turn competently, should be anywhere near a race track. Think about it for a second, we go there to speed, this is indesputable, if we didn't, we could just go for a ride on the road to practice riding. If someone isn't capable of the basics, should we really be encouraging them to learn to ride fast?

Good point. Sexism aside, if you cant do basic skills like u-turns you should not be on a track 'fine tuning' skills you have not got yet. You need to go slow before you can go fast

[MotoGirl]

Dont get me wrong, it would be a great idea to get beginers more confident, but I dont think someone without the required control to do a U turn competently, should be anywhere near a race track. Think about it for a second, we go there to speed, this is indesputable, if we didn't, we could just go for a ride on the road to practice riding. If someone isn't capable of the basics, should we really be encouraging them to learn to ride fast?

Yep, I hear where you're coming from. These could be more a "training day" that just happen to be held at a track.

Everyone is welcome to argue this if he or she wishes to do so, but I think learning basic skills helps you on the track, especially emergency braking exercises. After all, speeding is one thing; slowing down is another!
Edit: I'm referring to people who may be experienced on the road, but not on the track. After a few track days, I'd expect everyone to know these skills already. We all know that you never go your absolute fastest during your first time on a track.

[MotoGirl]

Quite simply, a women's-only trackday is against the law. It is discriminatory and therefore cannot be held. The Law prohibits it.

You raise an interesting point; however, I don't see how this is different from the Special K Women's Duathlon. Excuse my lack of legal knowledge, but how come this event isn't discriminatory?

Ok, so the aforementioned event isn't motorcycle-related, but how does WIMA get away with discriminating against men? Or Ulysses with under 40s?
What about with Suzuki track days? I don't believe the April one is open to any other brands, so how is this not discrimination?

[Drew]

The law prohibits a lot of things, doesn't mean people can't or won't do them

I think that would be different for a Maori only track day, or a whites only track day. The law is (no pun intended), black and white here, you may not discriminate.

I dont really give a shit if girls have thier own track days, but I will oppose it, because I would go friggin mental about a race related bias, and essentially, it's the same thing.

[cowboyz]

You raise an interesting point; however, I don't see how this is different from the Special K Women's Duathlon. Excuse my lack of legal knowledge, but how come this event isn't discriminatory?

Ok, so the aforementioned event isn't motorcycle-related, but how does WIMA get away with discriminating against men? Or Ulysses with under 40s?
What about with Suzuki track days? I don't believe the April one is open to any other brands, so how is this not discrimination?

since you are bringing it up. What about womans gyms? How about that chick last year who moaned about not being able to get a $10 haircut at a barber because the barber only wanted to do mens hair. Kicked a right stink about it. Why dont you make a list of mens only activities and womans only activities. I think you will find it is already extremely one sided womans way.

Apart from getting volenteers there is also a money problem. Trackdays often struggle to get enough people along to cover costs as it is and limiting it to woman I think you shouldnt be surprised if the fee is $400 per person.

[Kickaha]

I think that would be different for a Maori only track day, or a whites only track day. The law is (no pun intended), black and white here, you may not discriminate.

the law says a lot of things, the prime example would be the 100kph speed limit how many on here obey that?

Womens only track days have been run in the past and I personally see nothing wrong with them