Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
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Pat Russell
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 131
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 Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject: Lady drivers of vintage cars |
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I have written about this before but I would like to find out why,today, there are only a few lady drivers of vintage cars.
After all women were designing and building cars and ran their own garages in the 1920's .They were driving them from the day cars were invented.Is it as a result of the men not wanting to share them?
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Phil - Nottingham
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Posts: 1252
Location: Nottingham
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| Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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Most likely Penelope Keiths recent program also bears this out unfortunately. There is a keen Rover 8 Lady owner in Scotland who used get everywhere in it (although sometimes on a trailer but I do not hold that against her or the car  )
Probably they like many male are not internet users?
I wish there were more femail enthusiasts but not exlusively vintage cars though.
At steam rally in September we met a "retired" lady owner with a pre-war Singer 2 door converible with dicky which was her pride and and she did all the work on it heself and knew about the mechanical bits too but not computer literate. She also had a 1960's Singer Gazelle but had been everywhere including Europe in this car which was in a good used condition in worn but not rusty Blue/black
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Pat Russell
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 131
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| Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Phil - Nottingham wrote: | Most likely Penelope Keiths recent program also bears this out unfortunately. There is a keen Rover 8 Lady owner in Scotland who used get everywhere in it (although sometimes on a trailer but I do not hold that against her or the car )
Probably they like many male are not internet users?
I wish there were more femail enthusiasts but not exlusively vintage cars though.
At steam rally in September we met a "retired" lady owner with a pre-war Singer 2 door converible with dicky which was her pride and and she did all the work on it heself and knew about the mechanical bits too but not computer literate. She also had a 1960's Singer Gazelle but had been everywhere including Europe in this car which was in a good used condition in worn but not rusty Blue/black |
Thanks for answering so promptly.I did not see Penelope Keith's programme unfortunately.I am interested in the computer literate reference.I have met a lot of souls who are very clever in other aspects but say they cannot (or do not want to) use a computer.
However although I can do basic car maintenance how ever hard I try I still cannot understand how an engine works yet all the men in our family understand with just a three D drawing.There again the computer holds no problems for me but do not ask me how it works!!
This is my favourite 1910 picture so folks what is the car?
[img] [/img] |
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Peter_L
Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 2680
Location: New Brunswick. Canada.
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| Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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Miss Roome doesn't mention it in the Lyrics, perhaps Hearst publication could help.
But I think it is an Artist's Impression for that piece of sheet music. |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4880
Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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| Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:55 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Pat
[quote="Pat Russell"] | Phil - Nottingham wrote: |
However although I can do basic car maintenance how ever hard I try I still cannot understand how an engine works yet all the men in our family understand with just a three D drawing. |
Very simple principle for a four stroke engine:
Suck/squeeze/bang/blow.   
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buzzy bee
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 3382
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:25 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
Most Internal Explosion Engines are easy; http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine1.htm
Other way is to get an engine and ask some engineering firm to cut it down the middle, section it, then you will grasp it, if you are down our way, I have one at work I can turn over and show you! hehe
Sorry I haven't sent you the bits I promised, not forgotten, just not had chance yet, and am looking busy for a while.
I wish there were more girls around interested in vintage motorcars, tractors and steam engines, as I am having no luck in finding mrs riley! hehe
Cheers
Dave |
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Phil - Nottingham
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Posts: 1252
Location: Nottingham
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| Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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Those that cannot and will not use a computer really are losing out on a wealth of knowlege on all sorts of topics and plentiful access to spares.
Knowing how a computer works like driving a car is not necessary to be able to use it.
Sadly there are a lot of owners of both sexes with this attitude
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Pat Russell
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 131
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| Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:58 am Post subject: Women and engines |
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| buzzy bee wrote: | Hi
Most Internal Explosion Engines are easy; http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine1.htm
Other way is to get an engine and ask some engineering firm to cut it down the middle, section it, then you will grasp it, if you are down our way, I have one at work I can turn over and show you! hehe
Sorry I haven't sent you the bits I promised, not forgotten, just not had chance yet, and am looking busy for a while.
I wish there were more girls around interested in vintage motorcars, tractors and steam engines, as I am having no luck in finding mrs riley! hehe
Cheers
Dave |
I am sure I am still interested in machinery as I had an amazing father who designed and made machinery to make items so we were brought up listening to engineering and also motoring talk.My delight was watching a machine that could produce thousands of plumbing fittings in say 30 minutes and I was then shown how the production could be improved.He also taught me basic skills when we were very hard up so I took it for granted that women could do these things. Both our grown up children a boy and a girl are very practical and engineeering minded.
Our son now has two little daughters and he said they are already showing an interest in mechanical things as one of them asked if the lawn mower ran on petrol or deisel!!
Thanks for all the replies I must now take the dogs out.
Pat |
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poodge
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 687
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| Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:01 am Post subject: |
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I doubt it's men not wanting share their "toys".Perhaps more that most women can't be bothered with the challenge of driving that some of the vintage cars require.I'm sure there are exceptions,as always,but with the newer classics,say,60's onwards,it's not such a hardship.
Having said that,only this morning I saw a lady driving a well worn Austin 10.Of course,it could be hubby's hobby car,but full marks to her for spurning the modern tat. |
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Pat Russell
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 131
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| Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:25 am Post subject: Thank you |
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| poodge wrote: | I doubt it's men not wanting share their "toys".Perhaps more that most women can't be bothered with the challenge of driving that some of the vintage cars require.I'm sure there are exceptions,as always,but with the newer classics,say,60's onwards,it's not such a hardship.
Having said that,only this morning I saw a lady driving a well worn Austin 10.Of course,it could be hubby's hobby car,but full marks to her for spurning the modern tat. |
Thanks for the reply..I honestly do not think the majority of women are interested in mechanical things. But then I have no interest whatosever in watching any sport on tv.BUT I loved playing tennis and hockey .Rode horses regularly until four years ago and drove horses until a couple of years ago.However I would never watch any of these sports on television.So 2012 Olympics is a NO NO...
My goodness it is only 08.21 so must clear the breakfast things ..so difficult without a housekeeper!!!
Sense of humour absolutely vital Pat |
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Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22816
Location: UK
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Keith D
Joined: 16 Oct 2008
Posts: 1168
Location: Upper Swan, Western Australia
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| Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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Pat,
I wish my wife would drive our vintage cars! Perhaps the reason she does not like driving them is that, to use a modern expression, they are very definitely user unfriendly!!
My Chrysler, that was looked upon as a "classy" car back in 1926, requires pretty hefty muscles to drive it any distance in traffic. The clutch is very heavy as are the brakes. Which, incidently, are hydraulic but they still require an awful lot of pressure to stop over two tons of car! Even with my muscle, the car does not stop or respond as well as any modern vehicle. Steering through modern traffic is very hard work and guaranteed to strenthen the arms!
My Morris Cowley has even heavier steering and brakes than the Chrysler, although having far less power and weight.
Even my Austin Seven requires horrendous pressure on the brake pedal to stop. The clutch has about 1/2 inch travel from fully disengaged to fully engaged. This is normal for the baby Austins. The Austin has a vacuum wiper which just about stops when giving the car any throttle, which is just about all the time!
Both the Morris and Chrysler are tourers with vinyl hoods and side screens. I have yet to find any vintage tourer which does not leak copious quantities of water upon the driver whenever it rains. It's bad enough in our climate. In the UK it would be even worse.
Vintage cars do not have ABS power assisted disc brakes, air conditioning, climate control, radial tuned suspension, cruise control or any of the little things that make driving so effortless for ladies.
Sorry Pat, but I find it surprising that any woman wants to drive a vintage car! Woman have far more sense than us men. We must all be completely silly!
I am not suggesting that woman should not drive vintage cars, nor that they could not drive vintage cars. What I am suggesting is why very few choose to drive vintage vehicles!
Keith |
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buzzy bee
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 3382
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
Quite alot do like playing steam engines, and they are pretty heavy, and about the dirtiest form of transport I can think of. hehe Getting a traction engine or a roller to turn the front wheels/rolls at a standstill is very hard indeed! It is easier when on the move, just you need to be able to turn the wheel with a bit of pace.
There are plenty of people out there, just sadly, not as many as the male population, lets hope this number will grow!
Cheers
Dave |
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Pat Russell
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 131
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| Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:31 pm Post subject: Thank you. |
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| Keith D wrote: | Pat,
I wish my wife would drive our vintage cars! Perhaps the reason she does not like driving them is that, to use a modern expression, they are very definitely user unfriendly!!
My Chrysler, that was looked upon as a "classy" car back in 1926, requires pretty hefty muscles to drive it any distance in traffic. The clutch is very heavy as are the brakes. Which, incidently, are hydraulic but they still require an awful lot of pressure to stop over two tons of car! Even with my muscle, the car does not stop or respond as well as any modern vehicle. Steering through modern traffic is very hard work and guaranteed to strenthen the arms!
My Morris Cowley has even heavier steering and brakes than the Chrysler, although having far less power and weight.
Even my Austin Seven requires horrendous pressure on the brake pedal to stop. The clutch has about 1/2 inch travel from fully disengaged to fully engaged. This is normal for the baby Austins. The Austin has a vacuum wiper which just about stops when giving the car any throttle, which is just about all the time!
Both the Morris and Chrysler are tourers with vinyl hoods and side screens. I have yet to find any vintage tourer which does not leak copious quantities of water upon the driver whenever it rains. It's bad enough in our climate. In the UK it would be even worse.
Vintage cars do not have ABS power assisted disc brakes, air conditioning, climate control, radial tuned suspension, cruise control or any of the little things that make driving so effortless for ladies.
Sorry Pat, but I find it surprising that any woman wants to drive a vintage car! Woman have far more sense than us men. We must all be completely silly!
I am not suggesting that woman should not drive vintage cars, nor that they could not drive vintage cars. What I am suggesting is why very few choose to drive vintage vehicles!
Keith |
What an interesting answer.I have never found cars difficult to drive .I have owned my g reg Landrover now for thirteen years and the clutch was a bit tough at first but I learned to use it without difficulty in the end.
One of my labradors knocked me over last year when I was training her to return to the whistle.I was in long grass behing a hedge and she came back at a rate of knots and caught me on the side of my knee..Thank goodness for my mobile phone.Ambulance came,the dogs sat by me .The ambulance chaps said I had badly damaged the ligaments in my knee.
I just wanted to get home..not hospital .I made quick progress with pain killers ,crutches ,then a walking stick and much determination and was back driving within a month.I learned many months later via an x ray that I had actually cracked the bone in my leg and it had healed itself.I put it down to using that stiff old clutch!!! The chiropractor gave me some exercises to do to help the muscles get back to their original state it was him that suggested an x ray.
I would hate a modern car I like to be able to decide which gear to use.And as far as I am concerned I have plenty of air conditioning by opening a window.I'm looking forward to driving a vintage car it does not hold worries for me at all.My landrover has had to tow a large horse box with a large horse in it also a trailer with 50 bales of hay on it.
However thanks for your views.I know certainly neighbours think I am quirky.Pat |
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Giggles
Joined: 25 Nov 2007
Posts: 302
Location: Tucked up under a patchwork quilt somwhere in Suffolk
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| Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:18 am Post subject: |
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I know several ladies that drive 1920's & 1930's Hot Rods. One friend often uses her flathead Model T pickup to do the school run and go to work. Her & her husband are doing another 1920's Rod up.
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