BSB family outings - just WHY?
Discussion
I haven't been to BSB live for quite a while but the weather was good yesterday so I rode out to Thruxton and really enjoyed the racing.
But one of the things that caught my attention is the number of families that were there where it was pretty clear that only the man of the household had any interest in the ontrack activity.
Why do people do that?
To be fair I did see quite a few families where the wife and kids were really into it wearing the race team outfits and actually watching the racing. And plenty of kids were queuing up to get signatures of their favorite races which was nice to see.
But there were also lots of families where it was obvious that the wives/girlfriends and especially the kids really would have been much happier staying at home or going and doing something else instead.
Like I say they were everywhere around the circuit these unhappy families but I'll cite two examples that I recall.
In the first one it was three couples and about five kids that had obviously got their early and put loads of chairs in a really nice viewing spot by one of the fences near a good corner. The three blokes all stood up when a race started and watched the racing avidly. The three women pretty much stayed in their deck chairs largely playing on their phones and occasionally talking to each other but watching none of the racing at all and showing no interest. The five kids spent their entire time ignoring the racing completely and not even playing with or talking to each other but just lounging around and looking absolutely bored to death.
The second example was a family that had obviously got their mega early because they had their SUV parked on the grass banking next to the circuit in a really good spot and had also set some chairs up in front of their car close to the fence. From what I saw the wife spent all her time sitting in the passenger seat of the car playing on her phone. One of the kids was in the car with her and also not watching any if the racing. The bloke was at the deck chair but from what I could see he didn't watch any of the racing either because he spent all his time trying to entertain a three-year-old that was with him who again had no interest in the racing. It was a great race and we were in a good spot but he wasn't watching it at all.
I'm baffled and can't understand why these blokes that like motorbike racing don't just go to the races on their own and let their wives and kids go and do something which would be more fun for them.
But one of the things that caught my attention is the number of families that were there where it was pretty clear that only the man of the household had any interest in the ontrack activity.
Why do people do that?
To be fair I did see quite a few families where the wife and kids were really into it wearing the race team outfits and actually watching the racing. And plenty of kids were queuing up to get signatures of their favorite races which was nice to see.
But there were also lots of families where it was obvious that the wives/girlfriends and especially the kids really would have been much happier staying at home or going and doing something else instead.
Like I say they were everywhere around the circuit these unhappy families but I'll cite two examples that I recall.
In the first one it was three couples and about five kids that had obviously got their early and put loads of chairs in a really nice viewing spot by one of the fences near a good corner. The three blokes all stood up when a race started and watched the racing avidly. The three women pretty much stayed in their deck chairs largely playing on their phones and occasionally talking to each other but watching none of the racing at all and showing no interest. The five kids spent their entire time ignoring the racing completely and not even playing with or talking to each other but just lounging around and looking absolutely bored to death.
The second example was a family that had obviously got their mega early because they had their SUV parked on the grass banking next to the circuit in a really good spot and had also set some chairs up in front of their car close to the fence. From what I saw the wife spent all her time sitting in the passenger seat of the car playing on her phone. One of the kids was in the car with her and also not watching any if the racing. The bloke was at the deck chair but from what I could see he didn't watch any of the racing either because he spent all his time trying to entertain a three-year-old that was with him who again had no interest in the racing. It was a great race and we were in a good spot but he wasn't watching it at all.
I'm baffled and can't understand why these blokes that like motorbike racing don't just go to the races on their own and let their wives and kids go and do something which would be more fun for them.
ChocolateFrog said:
Probably a dad trying share his interests and hobbies with the kids while getting them out the house and of their mobile devices.
This. I've taken my boys to quite a few events - they enjoy the day out but get bored pretty quickly. I'd still rather them be there absorbed in bikes than sat in their bedrooms playing Fortnite.My kids were relatively enthusiastic from as early as three or so, but inevitably they dont have the attention span that some adults do. But 10 years on, and they're very keen, my eldest (daughter) is utterly OBSESSED with bike racing, to the extent that we have had to talk to her about the amount of time she spends online all connected to it. Moto GP paddock particularly, she knows it all, all the riders, by sight, but not only that, from online, she knows their families, manegers, girlfriends, friends, team members, truckies, everything! My son, is keen and loves the events we go to, but she is a completely different level of "geek". She rides a scooter now she is 16, and they both had mini bikes as kids, but she's been to the TT with me 5 times on bike, we've done last minute trips to Assen, Le Mans Red Bull Ring, Mugello, literally just decided to go "next day" and she's always first to be packed and mega excited.
But when they are very young, they may not appear to be as interested as others, doesn't mean they wont be!
But when they are very young, they may not appear to be as interested as others, doesn't mean they wont be!
Probably the same sad couples where the "wife" wants to "indulge in retail therapy" (oh, come on... you mean shopping!), so the poor other half has to follow along obediently. If he has to put up with coffee shops and clothes stores, he gets his own back by dragging the family to some roundy round race meeting... She just needs to think herself lucky - he could have been a cricket fan!
A993LAD said:
I'm baffled and can't understand why these blokes that like motorbike racing don't just go to the races on their own and let their wives and kids go and do something which would be more fun for them.
Because people want to do things as a family, even if it's primarily something that only one of them enjoys.Dad wants to go and watch the bike racing. It's not Mum's thing, but she'll go along and take the kids so they're not in their rooms on tablets all day.
Weather is OK (I assume) let's take some food, etc.
Another weekend, they might do something Mum enjoys. Another weekend, something that the kids choose.
I see nothing wrong with that. If everyone did everything seperately, that's not much of a family life if you've spent all week working and want to spend some time with the kids and wife.
I'm the same as Muzzer, the family that plays together...
To be fair, most venues and events recognise this-how many bouncy castles and fairground rides do you now see at car shows and the like?
I could easily have more "me" fun time at a car show or race but I'm quite happy toning it down if it means the family can come along. I remember being taken along to Oulton as a kid and past the first couple of laps I don't recall watching much racing.
It's the same at the footy, 90 mins is totally beyond most young supporters but folk do things as a family and thank god, otherwise where would the next demographic of fans come from?
At least I haven't dragged them along to the Nürburgring yet...
To be fair, most venues and events recognise this-how many bouncy castles and fairground rides do you now see at car shows and the like?
I could easily have more "me" fun time at a car show or race but I'm quite happy toning it down if it means the family can come along. I remember being taken along to Oulton as a kid and past the first couple of laps I don't recall watching much racing.
It's the same at the footy, 90 mins is totally beyond most young supporters but folk do things as a family and thank god, otherwise where would the next demographic of fans come from?
At least I haven't dragged them along to the Nürburgring yet...
Isn’t there an element of this to most family outings? It’s called spending time together. At least there’s usually a bit of something for everyone at these sort of events I.e stalls to visit that sell tat but young kids tend to have short attention spans whatever you do, echo that for the mums who aren’t really into it but you’re all there together and that’s what matters. If the Mums can have a natter with the pals and the kids can run around and play together it sounds like a decent day out tbh.
As someone who does Trackdays I find it much more weird when blokes drag their girlfriend along who clearly doesn’t want to be there. In that case there’s literally nothing for them to do than sit there looking bored
As someone who does Trackdays I find it much more weird when blokes drag their girlfriend along who clearly doesn’t want to be there. In that case there’s literally nothing for them to do than sit there looking bored
A993LAD said:
I haven't been to BSB live for quite a while but the weather was good yesterday so I rode out to Thruxton and really enjoyed the racing.
But one of the things that caught my attention is the number of families that were there where it was pretty clear that only the man of the household had any interest in the ontrack activity.
Why do people do that?
To be fair I did see quite a few families where the wife and kids were really into it wearing the race team outfits and actually watching the racing. And plenty of kids were queuing up to get signatures of their favorite races which was nice to see.
But there were also lots of families where it was obvious that the wives/girlfriends and especially the kids really would have been much happier staying at home or going and doing something else instead.
Like I say they were everywhere around the circuit these unhappy families but I'll cite two examples that I recall.
In the first one it was three couples and about five kids that had obviously got their early and put loads of chairs in a really nice viewing spot by one of the fences near a good corner. The three blokes all stood up when a race started and watched the racing avidly. The three women pretty much stayed in their deck chairs largely playing on their phones and occasionally talking to each other but watching none of the racing at all and showing no interest. The five kids spent their entire time ignoring the racing completely and not even playing with or talking to each other but just lounging around and looking absolutely bored to death.
The second example was a family that had obviously got their mega early because they had their SUV parked on the grass banking next to the circuit in a really good spot and had also set some chairs up in front of their car close to the fence. From what I saw the wife spent all her time sitting in the passenger seat of the car playing on her phone. One of the kids was in the car with her and also not watching any if the racing. The bloke was at the deck chair but from what I could see he didn't watch any of the racing either because he spent all his time trying to entertain a three-year-old that was with him who again had no interest in the racing. It was a great race and we were in a good spot but he wasn't watching it at all.
I'm baffled and can't understand why these blokes that like motorbike racing don't just go to the races on their own and let their wives and kids go and do something which would be more fun for them.
It’s simpler than you thing, it’s all for the gram (instagram) what’s cooler than being at a bike race to show off to all your friend and family. But one of the things that caught my attention is the number of families that were there where it was pretty clear that only the man of the household had any interest in the ontrack activity.
Why do people do that?
To be fair I did see quite a few families where the wife and kids were really into it wearing the race team outfits and actually watching the racing. And plenty of kids were queuing up to get signatures of their favorite races which was nice to see.
But there were also lots of families where it was obvious that the wives/girlfriends and especially the kids really would have been much happier staying at home or going and doing something else instead.
Like I say they were everywhere around the circuit these unhappy families but I'll cite two examples that I recall.
In the first one it was three couples and about five kids that had obviously got their early and put loads of chairs in a really nice viewing spot by one of the fences near a good corner. The three blokes all stood up when a race started and watched the racing avidly. The three women pretty much stayed in their deck chairs largely playing on their phones and occasionally talking to each other but watching none of the racing at all and showing no interest. The five kids spent their entire time ignoring the racing completely and not even playing with or talking to each other but just lounging around and looking absolutely bored to death.
The second example was a family that had obviously got their mega early because they had their SUV parked on the grass banking next to the circuit in a really good spot and had also set some chairs up in front of their car close to the fence. From what I saw the wife spent all her time sitting in the passenger seat of the car playing on her phone. One of the kids was in the car with her and also not watching any if the racing. The bloke was at the deck chair but from what I could see he didn't watch any of the racing either because he spent all his time trying to entertain a three-year-old that was with him who again had no interest in the racing. It was a great race and we were in a good spot but he wasn't watching it at all.
I'm baffled and can't understand why these blokes that like motorbike racing don't just go to the races on their own and let their wives and kids go and do something which would be more fun for them.
At a recent trial, one of the competitors entire family was traipsing around the woods watching his every move.
All well and fine but it was p3ssing down, the place resembled a bad Monday morning at the Somme with the mud and fog and none of the assembled familia looked like they were enjoying it one little bit......WTF??
All well and fine but it was p3ssing down, the place resembled a bad Monday morning at the Somme with the mud and fog and none of the assembled familia looked like they were enjoying it one little bit......WTF??
I used to drag my lot to air shows. Some of it they liked. Having a go on Segways and handling the rifles if the army were there, were favourites.
Mid teens onwards and I was on my own
Only racing I took them to was American Speedfest at Brands. They seemed to like that as long as they got goes on rides and were given burgers.
They enjoyed Brooklands and Mercedes World as well.
Mid teens onwards and I was on my own
Only racing I took them to was American Speedfest at Brands. They seemed to like that as long as they got goes on rides and were given burgers.
They enjoyed Brooklands and Mercedes World as well.
Leptons said:
Isn’t there an element of this to most family outings? It’s called spending time together. At least there’s usually a bit of something for everyone at these sort of events I.e stalls to visit that sell tat but young kids tend to have short attention spans whatever you do, echo that for the mums who aren’t really into it but you’re all there together and that’s what matters. If the Mums can have a natter with the pals and the kids can run around and play together it sounds like a decent day out tbh.
As someone who does Trackdays I find it much more weird when blokes drag their girlfriend along who clearly doesn’t want to be there. In that case there’s literally nothing for them to do than sit there looking bored
surely they are there to load and drive the van back when you spanner yourself into the scenery and get to enjoy some NHS food?As someone who does Trackdays I find it much more weird when blokes drag their girlfriend along who clearly doesn’t want to be there. In that case there’s literally nothing for them to do than sit there looking bored
trickywoo said:
Thruxton could be an epic track to spectate at if they could get viewing at the back fast part of the circuit.
Good point. A bit O/T but as a Thruxton newbie it was a bit of a surprise that I could barely see the bits of the track I've grown used to from TV footage.I'm a regular at Cadwell and Snetterton where you can get near almost all of the track.
A993LAD said:
trickywoo said:
Thruxton could be an epic track to spectate at if they could get viewing at the back fast part of the circuit.
Good point. A bit O/T but as a Thruxton newbie it was a bit of a surprise that I could barely see the bits of the track I've grown used to from TV footage.I'm a regular at Cadwell and Snetterton where you can get near almost all of the track.
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