Ladies autocross classes

One question - why?

I've always wondered that too.

Maybe to attract more ladies to a grossly male-dominated over-testosteronized sport? (is that a word???)

Maybe so the guys won't get their feelings hurt?

A couple of our faster women run in the normal classes. But it does seem silly that in 2014 the ladies need their own class.

Maybe because some idiot (man) who wrote the rules thinks they are gonna break down in the middle of a run, get out of the car crying, and yell, "Time, my period!"?

Cone_Junkie wrote: A couple of our faster women run in the normal classes. But it does seem silly that in 2014 the ladies need their own class.

THIS. It isn't 1940's anymore, women can vote and go out in public unaccompanied, and there was a lady in a newer Mercedes Sunday that was kicking ass in the regular Street class (F I believe).

Jerry wrote: It isn't 1940's anymore, women can vote and go out in public unaccompanied.

Just because it's allowed doesn't mean that it's right.

Is there really a PAX multiplier for having a vagina?

I don't offer Ladies subclasses or a Novice group at BMC's autocrosses. When I autocross with DD#1 at SCCA events, I always enter her in the Open classes, even though Ladies are available. I think it sends a poor message to her and other new female drivers if they are ghettoized / Affirmative Actioned into their own subclasses.

Because entry fees. Duh.

Zomby Woof wrote:

Jerry wrote: It isn't 1940's anymore, women can vote and go out in public unaccompanied.

Just because it's allowed doesn't mean that it's right.

I LOL'd, but don't tell Mrs. BDT - the doghouse is kinda hot this time of year.

On topic: I am constantly amazed that the womens are not completely enraged by the notion of "Ladies Class" but to my utter surprise, many of them seem to like it. Chalk it up to another example of my failure to understand women.

On the plus side, it does open the door to some fairly risque double entendre opportunities when announcing their heat.

I've also thought it was a particularly useless class in today's world.

Duke wrote: I think it sends a poor message to her and other new female drivers if they are ghettoized / Affirmative Actioned into their own subclasses.

^Not if they are better.^

It's kind of a herd thing...

...they follow each other into the bathroom too.

Note that women DO NOT follow MEN into the bathroom.

Yeah, it's a bit silly in this day and age. Would a quasi sub-class within the main class make sense? That way everyone is racing together but perhaps women who want to can get a small addition to their winning trophy. An under 18 or over 65 sub-class might be interesting as well. Would a LGBT sub-class be desired as well? Could get complicated pretty quick.

Ultimately, If it were my vote, then everyone would compete together in the classes, period. Classing is complicated enough to add another layer/class structure to track and monitor.

One advantage to having Ladies classes is that it allows a married couple to run the same car in different run groups. Running a 2-driver car at National-level events can get a bit hectic, and this is simpler. It also means that you can have 3 or 4 people drive the car at those events if 1 or 2 of them can be in the Ladies class.

codrus wrote: One advantage to having Ladies classes is that it allows a married couple to run the same car in different run groups. Running a 2-driver car at National-level events can get a bit hectic, and this is simpler. It also means that you can have 3 or 4 people drive the car at those events if 1 or 2 of them can be in the Ladies class.

At least in the states where gay marriage is illegal, right??

Sorry...carry on.

We did it for one year because the wimminz demanded it. They have since moved on to better things to do than stand around in a parking lot so we no longer have a Ladies class.

Will wrote: Because entry fees. Duh.

??? X number of entrants = Y amount in entry fees. What does it matter what gender / class they are?

Because Ladies + open would allow a potential of 4 drivers in a car vs only two if the car is only run in open.

I have a feeling that much of it was initially rooted in making it so the women didnt need a separate car. Does the 2 driver allowance in a heat for autocross predate ladies class? (Scca does have a reputation of sticking with some older things like that)

We have ladies classes in our bike club, and Quebec has their own Ladies class of which approve.

1: At the local level, I think it is good to get women interested in it. I know that locally, we have a strong group of women who all started in the Ladies classes, and they competed against each other. It really helped build camaraderie among them, and introduced them to the sport in a less intimidating fashion.
2: It is a fact that in general, women are smaller and lighter than men. On average, women are 5.5 inches shorter and 30 pounds lighter than men. So on average, they have a lower center of gravity and less weight as well. That 30 pounds could be the difference at the National championship.

Obviously that last point is silly because the L classes rarely are faster than the open classes, but just throwing it out there.

Will wrote: Because entry fees. Duh.

at least at the national level, it's more about the contingencies … with ladies classes a top car can have as many as 4 drivers … potential winning more tires