In reply to dculberson :
Well, like I said earlier, I'm very Conservative. I was a personal trainer running a private business for 15+ years and a good 50% of my clients were gay or lesbian. I must be unique to this whole thing then. because no, I've never seen it even with my eyes wide open.
Im going to politely excuse myself from this conversation because I'll never not firmly believe that the only way to be accepted is to not act like you're part of a different group.
I'll end this by saying I'm glad these individuals are feeling accepted in the car community. That's never a bad thing.
But I do have some rad buttons on my backpack. 
ebonyandivory said:
In reply to dculberson :
Well, like I said earlier, I'm very Conservative. I was a personal trainer running a private business for 15+ years and a good 50% of my clients were gay or lesbian. I must be unique to this whole thing then. because no, I've never seen it even with my eyes wide open.
Im going to politely excuse myself from this conversation because I'll never not firmly believe that the only way to be accepted is to not act like you're part of a different group.
I'll end this by saying I'm glad these individuals are feeling accepted in the car community. That's never a bad thing.
Really appreciate the perspective.
Does "don't act like you're part of a different group" apply when I show up to VIR in a few weeks with my boyfriend and introduce him as such? What about my friends who have higher-pitched voices and are naturally more effeminate but still want to show up in the car world? Humans naturally love to put labels on things (and people) and even if we show up "just as ourselves" and not explicitly labeled as gay, queer, lesbian, trans, whatever... we do get talked about behind our backs and not always in a positive manner.
But yes, we do generally feel accepted and hope to inspire others to come as their whole selves to events in this community. Just important to acknowledge thaat stereotypes exist for a reason, whether they're often seen or not.
David S. Wallens said:
And that car showed up in my FB feed this morning.
Great article, and there's a lot of win in this photo!
slowbird said:
I'm happy that this is a thing, and thanks to GRM for giving it coverage.
I'm considering painting my challenge car in trans flag colors this year.
Uh - Manual or automatic?
Forrest in Atlanta
David S. Wallens said:
In reply to Brake_L8 :
Kevin rules. And, ironically, I have him on the other line right now discussing that Merkur seen in the bottom of the photo....
Awesome story. And love that GRM is promoting this! Given how cool the mag is, it is not at all surprising.
As for the Merkur, is it the same carbon fiber one that popped up recently in a for sale thread somewhere??
In reply to dyintorace :
It might be as Kevin recently purchased it. He shared some photos earlier today. Yeah, it's totally mental and magazine material.
dyintorace said:
David S. Wallens said:
In reply to Brake_L8 :
Kevin rules. And, ironically, I have him on the other line right now discussing that Merkur seen in the bottom of the photo....
Awesome story. And love that GRM is promoting this! Given how cool the mag is, it is not at all surprising.
As for the Merkur, is it the same carbon fiber one that popped up recently in a for sale thread somewhere??
It is from what he told me. It's super cool and weighs next to nothing.
Yup. So sneak peek here, sports fans.
Okay, can I sign up for a ride-along in that thing? 
slowbird said:
Okay, can I sign up for a ride-along in that thing?
Appointment only, it sounds like.
Brake_L8 said:
Fueled by Caffeine said:
I will only get mad at you, because you are faster than I am and therefore I am jealous.. 
More gas, less brake, with a dash of iced coffee and 2000s Britney Spears hits.
I can personally attest to the fact that "Fight For Your Right" by Beastie Boys is worth a second and a half on a 60 second autocross course.
Brake_L8 said:
dyintorace said:
David S. Wallens said:
In reply to Brake_L8 :
Kevin rules. And, ironically, I have him on the other line right now discussing that Merkur seen in the bottom of the photo....
Awesome story. And love that GRM is promoting this! Given how cool the mag is, it is not at all surprising.
As for the Merkur, is it the same carbon fiber one that popped up recently in a for sale thread somewhere??
It is from what he told me. It's super cool and weighs next to nothing.
Is that a drift car? It seems to have a *lot* of steering angle (not that that's a bad thing).
ShawnG
UltimaDork
3/12/20 5:21 p.m.
David S. Wallens said:
I have like zero gaydar.
I have gaynar.
It's like sonar, I can hear it.
If someone says "I'm gay" then I know, otherwise I'm completely oblivious.
I can't be the only ones who clicked, expecting a spec Miata class? 
Put me in the, doesn't understand why this needs to be a thing, doesn't really care that it exists, but sad some shiny happy people make others feel they need their own special label, category. Now shut up and race!
In reply to bigdaddylee82 :
It's only a "thing" because some people would prefer for it to not exist. If everyone was accepting, then we could just go about our business and not call attention to it. But when some people are prejudiced against us, there has to be pushback with positive representation of it. In other words, so that the next teenager struggling with their identity can see people like them on the track, and they won't feel as scared about being judged or discriminated against for who they are.
In reply to bigdaddylee82 :
I feel like the goal is to try to show people in that community that they are also welcome in ours. It's more for them than us.
In reply to slowbird :
Exactly. And I don't think this is an LBGT+ "thing," either. If you've been marginalized, you tend to seek outlets that are, let's say, more welcoming: My wife regularly participates in all-women bike rides, we support Orlando Girls Rock, I'm a member of the Jewish Auto Writers Association, the $2000 Challenge regularly welcomes the CARib Motoring Club.
Mr_Asa
HalfDork
3/12/20 6:05 p.m.
In reply to jj :
I've yet to meet anyone that disagrees with a "lifestyle" to the point that I know that they disagree with it that hasn't been motivated by hatred at some level.
If I don't know that they disagree, if they keep it quiet and inside then its no business of mine. If its obvious enough for me to know, its never been because of some neutral reason. At that point it needs to be confronted.
I'll never stand by and watch some innocent person be dismissed because of someone else's hangups.
FWIW, its not a lifestyle. Its a life.
slowbird said:
I'm happy that this is a thing, and thanks to GRM for giving it coverage.
I'm considering painting my challenge car in trans flag colors this year.
You know I understand painting trans colors but shouldn't you do it on something more likely to finish high instead of a Ford?
David S. Wallens said:
I have like zero gaydar.
My Uncle had been gay most his life. Being a fairly closed off person most had no idea he was. hell the family didn't even know he married his husband until about 2 years before he passed away.
Some people its obvious straight away and some you would never know
