Gender-specific records? Not a good idea, in my opinion

[tallguy]

It doesn't make any sense to me for anyone to concern themselves
with a "women's" record, specifically.  How many of us -- especially
those who can't afford "sexual reassignment surgery" -- have much
control regarding whether we are male or female? 

If people lose sleep over land speed records specified by gender, where
will it end?  How about a "blonde" record, or a "tall, wearing
glasses -- but it has to be bifocal on the left side, and farsighted only on
the right side" record?

Having different classes based on type of vehicle, and/or type of fuel
makes sense to me.  I suggest we all ignore gender regarding land
speed records.  And please, don't get me started regarding sexual
preference, religion, or quantity of freckles!

Tallguy, a person of (some) color.  I'm not totally transparent!

[RichFox]

What started this?

[Milwaukee Midget]

What started this?

Tallguy.

[Freud]

If he is in Lakester class he probably doesn't want to run against

Tanis Hammon or Dr. Jeannie Pflum.

FREUD

[tauruck]

May be that some chick broke one of his records?.

Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress comes to mind.

[salt27]

If a lady was to ride a motorcycle wearing the same suit Dr. Freud has used in the past, record or not she would probably get more attention.

Not that we would want to put it to the test.   

Sorry Doc. 

All kidding aside I'm not aware of "gender-specific records" but the SCTA rule book is the only one I'm somewhat familiar with.

  Don

[Peter Jack]

Sounds like he's worried about Guinness records and they're only records because Guinness calls them that. The legitimate organizations that recognize landspeed records don't worry about gender and yet there are a fair number of legitimate records held by women. More power to them!

Pete

[ski123]

I thought the NAE folks covered this topic last fall.
I believe it was a solid kind of yes/no thingy.
Or was is a no/yes..........Go Fast USA!

[Glen]

Seems like tall guy is lacking oxygen, what brings this up anyway. SCTA is proud of it's women drivers and riders. we have a bunch in our clubs as well. If you did some research you would see that they go back to the 1940s. 

[tallguy]

Hey, everyone . . . it appears there's some misunderstanding of my
intended message (the beginning of this thread).  I have a great
respect for all landspeed racers, and I have no problem with women
breaking the records.  More power to ALL racers. 

My issue is with people making a big deal about the racer's sex.  I
don't think it should be made into a big deal, because it's demeaning
to do that.

For example, if I were to mention that that the quickest E.T. for the
standing-start quarter mile is held by Kitty O'neil, I don't dwell on
details of her gender, any more than I would mention her height or
other genetic items such as her skin color.

I hope this helps clear up any misunderstand about my intended
point.

Tallguy

[tortoise]

The run he's talking about was at Elmo on 7/6/77. Claimed ET is 3.225 seconds. The timing is said to have been done by the SCTA team.  This looks like a pretty plausible claim as the fastest quarter mile ET ever, though it doesn't meet any recognized sanctioning organization's requirements. A hell of a run, though.

Does anyone have any memories of this event?

Oddly enough, Kitty O'Neil, for a different run, was ballyhooed for one of those gender-specific records tallguy  quite rightly complains about.

[racefanwfo]

From wiki

In 1977 in the Mojave Desert, she piloted a hydrogen peroxide powered rocket dragster built by Ky Michaelson to the quickest quarter mile elapsed time in auto history, with a timed run of 3.22 seconds at 396 mph (637 km/h) with an average speed of 279.5 mph (449.8 km/h). During the same time, she also made a quarter mile run with a top speed of 412 mph (663 km/h)

[TrickyDicky]

The run he's talking about was at Elmo on 7/6/77. Claimed ET is 3.225 seconds. The timing is said to have been done by the SCTA team.  This looks like a pretty plausible claim as the fastest quarter mile ET ever, though it doesn't meet any recognized sanctioning organization's requirements. A hell of a run, though.

The FIA has Kitty O'Neill as the current holder of the 1/2km standing start record (average speed of 207.739mph).  Also with the Ky Michaelson Rocket Car, but one day later (7/7/77) and at Bonneville.

[Malcolm UK]

Also with the Ky Michaelson Rocket Car, but one day later (7/7/77) and at Bonneville.

European dating might have meant a month apart.  Who timed at Bonneville - would it have been Mr Petrali Snr?

[dw230]

 I think it may have been the late Jack Dolan.

DW