Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Women in biking/racing?

[desmojen]

Sell freaks bike!! No, seriously, just have a go, one race if need be. Get your licence- £35 plus £50 training, join Derby Phoenix- £20, choose 1 track you like, enter one race £80 and come and show me and Weeksy how it's done!!
1 race is all you need to do, you'll know then if it's for you or not

[Lily]

I was thinking of doing that and tbh, i dont want to be a 'racer' I would just like to have a go at racing. I have had a go at lost of sports/activities and any that I have enjoyed I have always competed, even if it was just for fun. The difference is the cost/risk factor of racing motorbikes.

I am a little bit accident prone. Amongst other incidents, I have broken my collarbone three times and i dont fancy doing it again. I fell onto the bed on Saturday and landed on it and have had some difficulties this week!!

Its not out of the question, just on hold for a while

but, back to the subject. I am not fussed if it was with other women or just with blokes. Like you said I get alot of attention being a girl on a bike and to be honest i quite like it, but that doesn't stop me wanting to go as fast as i can whether that is against blokes or girls.

[Edited on 20-10-2004 by Lily]

[desmojen]

Racing against girls or guys. I don't see the point of racing just against girls, I mean, it's not like theres that many for a start! I would still be just as last or thereabouts I'm sure!
Problem is, if it was girl only, I don't think anyone would take any notice. Take ladies football, who watches that? But I bet if a woman was in a league team it'd be a different matter!
It's the fact that we're taking the men on at their own game that makes us interesting in my humble

[rcgbob44]

Should never have been given the vote let alone allowed to learn how to drive, now there`s talk of racing! Pah humbug!!!!!

[kwikbitch]

Can I put my ten pence worth in here?
I dont think this has anything to do with Nature or Nurture but its a psychological thing. Women are naturally nurturers and will think of partners, parents, children as a matter of course.
What stops alot of women from racing is the finances and the inability to stop putting others before themselves.
I for one would love to have a go at competing, even signing up for the all girl team (which by the way WILL compete at a level WITH men but just as an all girl team with all femele support), however I have a job...a class full of children that need me...as well as the children I help on social service panel meetings. AND then there are my own two and the hubby.
With all that responsibility in my head HOW will I ever hope to make it clear enough to be in a "racing" frame of mind.
Just the thought of my two watching me stops me committing to a corner.
Men are different in that even though there are alot of dads/partners on this board their responsibilty is always slightly detached. I dont say that in a derogatory sense, just noting that men and women are different mentally as well as physically!
Suzie knows she will get sponsors because the whole idea of the team is a novelty...I think that it is a poor tale that we HAVE to use the "girly" card to get any where in any career or line of sport.
Anyone that knows me will vouch for the fact that I will always "have a go" but when it comes down to it if the girly card gets me out of it then I will use it. In exactly the same way that a male uses the "ug" card!
I also think that women are their own worst enemy...
I wanted desperately to join in at Silverstone. I asked if anyone would ride with me...no-one offered to meet up with me, I asked for assistance when my bike capputted on me...no-one offered.
The people who did offer were my mates off this board WHO all happen to be men...
I know it isn't a good thing to judge things just on one meet, I did go and meet everyone and they all seemed very friendly but I would have thought that when people are travelling in the same direction more people would meet up if only for safetys sake.

I hope that the all girl team get going and get stacks of sponsorship. I also think that all girl trackdays would be great for those women on their own that feel a little intimidated. If it helps more people to get on a bike then great!

[skidlids]

Originally posted by KeefyB
Sandra Barnett and Maria Costello are two very fast ladies that have gone well both on short circuits and the IOM TT.

Not quite the same league if you ask me Sandra Barnett was a far better rider, and it has taken Maria a Decade of machine and tyre development and Thousands of pounds in sponsorship to eventually beat Sandra's TT fastest lap.
MC certainly plays the Girlie card well and it quite often gets her on the same machinary as the person wining the Manx GP. Taking the ride away from more talented riders.
One lady racer that doesn't play the girlie card is Anita Buxton, taking part in most of the real road racing events, turning up at the TT, Dunrod, North West with her own bikes a ZXR400 and a GSXR1000 tuned by her other half, no flash Merc Veto with personalised plate for her
She was 6th at the NW200 in the 400 class and won the 400 race at the Ulster GP.
Last year at Silverstone when a few of us went along to Silverstone to watch WJB on Montys TZ we saw Lisa Thorne win the 125 race with a very impressive ride.
A few years back I helped get Suzanne Machen into racing and at her 1st meeting with North Glos she finished 5th in the Novice race, since then she has won a couple of KRC endurance 400 championships onboard the Dynotech ZXR400 and has raced in MRO.

Women in racing --- They are already there

[KeefyB]

Kev,you are right,Sandra was one quick gal.She and her husband Pete were also very good at the publicity thing.Pete always made sure she was first or second away for TT practice.You get your name mentioned every time on the radio and newspaper reports.

[Rocker]

I can personally remember Beryl Swain having quite a bit of success on her 50cc Itom way back in the early 60s. I certainly feel that women should be encouraged to race but on an equal footing with men. Of course there is nothing wrong with them using yjeir feminity to help with sponsorship just as a male rider could use his personality to charm a female prospective sponsor.
My wife Sue has ridden ever since the 60s and allways makes the point that she is not a female who rides but a rider who happens to be female. I have to admit that she is faster (madder?) me. at one time she belonged to W.I.M.A but left due their hypocrisy in running female only track days and rallies where guys could only go as guest whilst being the first to shout foul(or something ruder) if anyone were to suggest male only equivalants

[Lily]

Originally posted by kwikbitch
I wanted desperately to join in at Silverstone. I asked if anyone would ride with me...no-one offered to meet up with me, I asked for assistance when my bike capputted on me...no-one offered.
The people who did offer were my mates off this board WHO all happen to be men...
I know it isn't a good thing to judge things just on one meet, I did go and meet everyone and they all seemed very friendly but I would have thought that when people are travelling in the same direction more people would meet up if only for safetys sake.

I would have ridden with you Lisa

We will have to sort out and meet up for a track day early next year

[baylissboy]

Having met Maria Costello,i found her to be very much "i'm a girl doing what men usually do,so i'm going to use the girly card to get me the best possible advantage",never really rated her really! She wouldn't have got the help or machinery she did have if it was based on her ability or laptimes alone!
On the other hand,Kate Parkinson,she was a very fast lady who just raced because she loved it! She even prepared her own bikes,dirty finger nails & everything!She never used her sex to get on(good looking girl too)!
I think if you want to do it,do it,but if you want respect you have to earn it! Don't rely on the fact that you have breasts!