I haven't told her yet but on Saturday my wife and I will be driving her car at a local autox event. She has no racing experience and mine is limited to drag strip and 1 autox event.Any tips to make sure she enjoys it? I plan on bringing chairs, sunscreen and perhaps even a tent.
Car is a 2005 Toyota Corolla 5 speed. Stock with trailer hitch.
Is she naturally competitive? If she is, she should have a good time. Our club is very welcoming to women.
Local "rule" we have: if the female half of a couple driving the same car has the fastest time, he must wear a skirt to the next following event. We find it "motivates" both parties. 
KyAllroad wrote: Is she naturally competitive? If she is, she should have a good time. Our club is very welcoming to women. Local "rule" we have: if the female half of a couple driving the same car has the fastest time, he must wear a skirt to the next following event. We find it "motivates" both parties.
Yes she is. I suspect she will like it.
Do you have to remove hubcaps? Hubcaps on these Corollas will pop off if you stare at them too long. I got tired of buying new ones when she loses them so the last go around I glued them all to the wheel. Think I will have to pry them off?
Bring some extra $$ so she can play the ponies if she doesn't like the competitive driving stuff.
In reply to Enyar: Definitely take the hubcaps off, it is a requirement.
I would assume there are veteran drivers there to volunteer as instructors? Definitely set her up with one of them. For the sake of our marriage I had someone else instruct my wife and I stayed out of the car while doing so. It should actually take some pressure off her if her car guy spouse isn't looking over her shoulder (literally).
I suggest finding out what your local club offers and allows in the way of helping novices get started. In my experience, typically there is a novice group walk-through led by an experienced driver just before the drivers meeting. If not, they can probably point you to someone who would be more than happy to walk the two of you through the course. Even if they don't officially offer 'instructors', they probably also allow experienced drivers to ride along and help provide basic instruction and can probably help find one for both of you as well. One of the quickest ways people can get discouraged and frustrated, is by trying to figure it all out alone.
KyAllroad wrote: Local "rule" we have: if the female half of a couple driving the same car has the fastest time, he must wear a skirt to the next following event. We find it "motivates" both parties.
I'm so sick of the idea of "skirting." A penis is not required to be a fast driver, nor is there any shame in losing to a woman.
/rant
(sorry to stink up your thread)
Get there early and walk the course, alot. Drinks, sunscreen, big hats, folding chairs, etc.
In reply to Gimp: I hope it isn't viewed as shaming. We have a good time and when it occurs the husband has been extraordinarily proud to don a skirt as a sign of respect of his wives prowess.
That is about the best group for a novice. Announce loudly from the beginning "new person" and they will fall over themselves to welcome her in.
I've been beat by a woman quite a few times. Of course she's a National Champion, but still no shame either way.
A few years ago a couple showed up in some exotics to try out our course. Hubby was in a Ferrari 360 Spyder and wifey was in a Gallardo. She smoked him by a few seconds.
I wonder why we even have "ladies" classes anymore. It's not like most sports were men typically have a physical advantage.
Gimp wrote:KyAllroad wrote: Local "rule" we have: if the female half of a couple driving the same car has the fastest time, he must wear a skirt to the next following event. We find it "motivates" both parties.I'm so sick of the idea of "skirting." A penis is not required to be a fast driver, nor is there any shame in losing to a woman. /rant (sorry to stink up your thread)
This. I don't have separate Ladies classes in our club - both genders run in the open classes.
To the OP, that's awesome! My wife likes to watch the events and she's my rock in the timing tent, but I can't get her to drive. Have fun and make sure you keep it low-key and enjoyable rather than high-pressure and stressful.
Enyar wrote: Yes she is. I suspect she will like it. Do you have to remove hubcaps? Hubcaps on these Corollas will pop off if you stare at them too long. I got tired of buying new ones when she loses them so the last go around I glued them all to the wheel. Think I will have to pry them off?
Yes, and the floor mats, and anything that is loose. The battery might need extra support and check the return spring in the throttle if it has one.
Make sure she gets the chance to walk the course. The first time I took my wife, she backed out when she saw the sea of orange cones. I took her on a course walk, she said "this doesn't look too bad, " and signed back up. She turned out to be naturally good at it, one of the fastest first timers that I've taken out.
FAST is also very good about passengers. Have her ride with someone else before her first run so she can see it at speed and get the idea that you won't die going fast. Then have someone in the car with her every single run. You for some and others for the rest. People are different about coaching. My SWMBO wanted me in the car exclusively until she gained confidence, and now prefers to split riders so that she gets different critiques. She'll need to figure out what works for her, gives her the most confidence, and helps her maximize the enjoyment of the day.
Thanks folks! I'll report back how it went.
The Hoff wrote: I wonder why we even have "ladies" classes anymore. It's not like most sports were men typically have a physical advantage.
I'm not the only one then.
Jerry wrote:The Hoff wrote: I wonder why we even have "ladies" classes anymore. It's not like most sports were men typically have a physical advantage.I'm not the only one then.
The horse is out of the barn on this one. My wife will run ladies class when it nets us an advantage in either competition, or getting people in the car. SCCA rules only allow a driver and codriver - add a ladies class to that and now you've doubled my chances at winning contingency and brought down operational costs per driver.
All of that said, I'm not a fan of the divide.
I also think skirting is stupid because the default is the "guy" is faster. It's an exception when a woman wins, making the win noteworthy because the person who was faster happened to have a vagina. Also, the very intent of a guy having to wear a skirt if he loses is meant to be humiliating. It's the playground "you got beat by a girl." That's just berkeleying stupid.
/rant for real
Gimp wrote:Jerry wrote:The horse is out of the barn on this one. My wife will run ladies class when it nets us an advantage in either competition, or getting people in the car. SCCA rules only allow a driver and codriver - add a ladies class to that and now you've doubled my chances at winning contingency and brought down operational costs per driver. All of that said, I'm not a fan of the divide.The Hoff wrote: I wonder why we even have "ladies" classes anymore. It's not like most sports were men typically have a physical advantage.I'm not the only one then.
I've always thought it was strange. But it doesn't help that I started watching Mad Men finally a few weeks ago (mid season 3 so far). This looks like right out of 1962.
Gimp wrote:Jerry wrote:The horse is out of the barn on this one. My wife will run ladies class when it nets us an advantage in either competition, or getting people in the car. SCCA rules only allow a driver and codriver - add a ladies class to that and now you've doubled my chances at winning contingency and brought down operational costs per driver. All of that said, I'm not a fan of the divide. I also think skirting is stupid because the default is the "guy" is faster. It's an exception when a woman wins, making the win noteworthy because the person who was faster happened to have a vagina. Also, the very intent of a guy having to wear a skirt if he loses is meant to be humiliating. It's the playground "you got beat by a girl." That's just berkeleying stupid. /rant for realThe Hoff wrote: I wonder why we even have "ladies" classes anymore. It's not like most sports were men typically have a physical advantage.I'm not the only one then.
Agree 100% on both.
Some people need to relax their sphincters and unwad their panties...O.M.G. relax people!
You damn well better not be the same individuals using the dreaded SWMBO acronym. Now THAT one gets my goat.
Had a great time! She was super nervous at first but I think she honestly liked it and we've agreed to go to future events at this location. Plus she didn't get last place!I placed 88th overall.
That is awesome!
You have a great spouse!
Mine tried autocross, but her depth perception is awful. Our daughters always prefer Daddy to drive when we go somewhere.
heh I was at that event too in my integra.
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