Susie Wolff's Dare to be Different Initiative #D2BD
Discussion
I don't expect there to be a huge tsunami either but any increase would be good.
Back when I was at school, girls football was rare, I think we only got to play it in my final year. I don't know how many initiatives there have been in womens football but I'd hedge my bets there have been some. It's still seen as a boys game but less so than it used to be, certainly I'm aware of far more girls playing now than previously. Once you see more girls involved and more success, it gradually is perceived less as a male sport and more girls become involved.
Back when I was at school, girls football was rare, I think we only got to play it in my final year. I don't know how many initiatives there have been in womens football but I'd hedge my bets there have been some. It's still seen as a boys game but less so than it used to be, certainly I'm aware of far more girls playing now than previously. Once you see more girls involved and more success, it gradually is perceived less as a male sport and more girls become involved.
Why is getting more people into motorsport such a good thing?
It's not particularly healthy and it's certainly very wasteful.
If people want to do it, with their own time and money, then fine, no complaints.
But it's not exactly jogging, and it's not exactly helping in a soup kitchen either.
Where's the greater benefit?
It's not particularly healthy and it's certainly very wasteful.
If people want to do it, with their own time and money, then fine, no complaints.
But it's not exactly jogging, and it's not exactly helping in a soup kitchen either.
Where's the greater benefit?
SpeckledJim said:
Why is getting more people into motorsport such a good thing?
It's not particularly healthy and it's certainly very wasteful.
If people want to do it, with their own time and money, then fine, no complaints.
But it's not exactly jogging, and it's not exactly helping in a soup kitchen either.
Where's the greater benefit?
Sounds like you've just popped over from mumsnet!.It's not particularly healthy and it's certainly very wasteful.
If people want to do it, with their own time and money, then fine, no complaints.
But it's not exactly jogging, and it's not exactly helping in a soup kitchen either.
Where's the greater benefit?
velocemitch said:
SpeckledJim said:
Why is getting more people into motorsport such a good thing?
It's not particularly healthy and it's certainly very wasteful.
If people want to do it, with their own time and money, then fine, no complaints.
But it's not exactly jogging, and it's not exactly helping in a soup kitchen either.
Where's the greater benefit?
Sounds like you've just popped over from mumsnet!.It's not particularly healthy and it's certainly very wasteful.
If people want to do it, with their own time and money, then fine, no complaints.
But it's not exactly jogging, and it's not exactly helping in a soup kitchen either.
Where's the greater benefit?
velocemitch said:
SpeckledJim said:
Why is getting more people into motorsport such a good thing?
It's not particularly healthy and it's certainly very wasteful.
If people want to do it, with their own time and money, then fine, no complaints.
But it's not exactly jogging, and it's not exactly helping in a soup kitchen either.
Where's the greater benefit?
Sounds like you've just popped over from mumsnet!.It's not particularly healthy and it's certainly very wasteful.
If people want to do it, with their own time and money, then fine, no complaints.
But it's not exactly jogging, and it's not exactly helping in a soup kitchen either.
Where's the greater benefit?
It's a thing, sure, but not good or bad. Go racing, or don't go racing. Nothing of any import changes either way.
[quoted=Centurion07]Really?
Even I can see the benefits in encouraging more people to get involved with it.
[/quote]
In all honesty, what are they?
Having spent many more £1000s on racing over the past 20 years than I care to remember, I can't see any general benefits other than to the organising bodies.
Don't get me wrong, I have no (well, few
) regrets; it's what we wanted, maybe needed to do. But, IMO, it's wrong to persuade anyone who is ambivalent, towards Motorsport, rather than other much more attainable pursuits.
Even I can see the benefits in encouraging more people to get involved with it.
[/quote]
In all honesty, what are they?
Having spent many more £1000s on racing over the past 20 years than I care to remember, I can't see any general benefits other than to the organising bodies.
Don't get me wrong, I have no (well, few
) regrets; it's what we wanted, maybe needed to do. But, IMO, it's wrong to persuade anyone who is ambivalent, towards Motorsport, rather than other much more attainable pursuits. In a time when there are more and more restrictions being imposed on circuits regarding noise, times etc etc; with some circuits continually having to fight off legal challenges from grumpy neighbours, the more people that support motorsport, the better.
As for the actual sport itself, more people mean bigger grids, more marshals etc etc.
As for the actual sport itself, more people mean bigger grids, more marshals etc etc.
If it means more high quality people are drawn into motorsport via the engineering end of things - it is potentially a good thing for the country's motorsports industry to have the enlarged talent pool of engineers. I guess this is why I am a tad non-plussed though: encouraging people to burn money dreaming of being a mid-order racing driver is not really that great a thing. However, using motorsport to encourage more people into scientific and engineering careers would be a very tangible positive. Which brings us back to the question as to whether someone who is first and foremost a media personality is really the optimal figurehead...?
DiscoColin said:
If it means more high quality people are drawn into motorsport via the engineering end of things - it is potentially a good thing for the country's motorsports industry to have the enlarged talent pool of engineers. I guess this is why I am a tad non-plussed though: encouraging people to burn money dreaming of being a mid-order racing driver is not really that great a thing. However, using motorsport to encourage more people into scientific and engineering careers would be a very tangible positive. Which brings us back to the question as to whether someone who is first and foremost a media personality is really the optimal figurehead...?
Nail on the head right there.Stig said:
In my experience, women have as much opportunity to get into motorsport as any man. You just need to get up and go and do it. It's certainly not a case of discrimination.
Once you're inside the bubble you realise this (if you started outside it in the first place), but it's the perception outside the bubble that needs to change.If Susie's scheme helps that happen then it's good for the industry, even if she's got the least inspirational story of the 9 #D2BD ambassadors.
So many fantastic comments and good points all round, thanks guys 
There'll always be people who do and don't agree with this movement. Everyone has their own different experiences/background/resources/observations etc. The beauty of it is... only the ones who agree with it have to contribute.
Clearly I can only speak for myself and not Susie, but I see that people, mainly females, would constantly say how she inspired them. She was really honoured by that and decided to give something back by starting D2BD. Every day, more and more are joining in.
As I'm clearly very much pro the idea I put my money where my mouth is and in the very near future, I hope to be able to help out in more practical ways too. Why not.
Once you discover your passion for motorsport, in whatever way - it's a lifelong joy and potentially an amazing career too. I think we can all agree on that.
Cheers.
There'll always be people who do and don't agree with this movement. Everyone has their own different experiences/background/resources/observations etc. The beauty of it is... only the ones who agree with it have to contribute.
Clearly I can only speak for myself and not Susie, but I see that people, mainly females, would constantly say how she inspired them. She was really honoured by that and decided to give something back by starting D2BD. Every day, more and more are joining in.
As I'm clearly very much pro the idea
I put my money where my mouth is and in the very near future, I hope to be able to help out in more practical ways too. Why not. Once you discover your passion for motorsport, in whatever way - it's a lifelong joy and potentially an amazing career too. I think we can all agree on that.
Cheers.
Why is this not linked with the FIA's "Women in motorsport" initiative?
No offence to Suzi but I have alot more respect for a council led by Michele Mouton; no fancy photoshoots, no dodgy shareholder deals to get a drive, just pure talent.
Another thought on Michele: she, and a team of two other ladies won their class at le mans in 1975. Maybe women going out and competing successfully will inspire the future generations, rather than photoshoots and shiny websites...
Inspiring more women into motorsport is important though, of the 260 people doing engineering in my year, only 6 are girls.
No offence to Suzi but I have alot more respect for a council led by Michele Mouton; no fancy photoshoots, no dodgy shareholder deals to get a drive, just pure talent.
Another thought on Michele: she, and a team of two other ladies won their class at le mans in 1975. Maybe women going out and competing successfully will inspire the future generations, rather than photoshoots and shiny websites...
Inspiring more women into motorsport is important though, of the 260 people doing engineering in my year, only 6 are girls.
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