My wife has been less than enthusiastic about my MGB-GT project lately. I can't put my finger on exactly what point she started to dislike the Pink Panther but today I asked her about it and she said "it smells like gas" and "you put autocrossing ahead of everything".
I think the gas statement goes back to the one and only time she drove it with the 5.0, it was running really rich and smoking black. It now has been tuned and runs great. The statement about me putting autocrossing ahead of everything probably stems from a cheap trip to Vegas she found on one of the discount vacation sites, all I asked was "is there autocrossing that weekend?". I think this is a valid question because it doesn't matter which weekend in June we go to Vegas but there are only one or two days of autocrossing (and testing the new race car is important).
How do I get her excited about racing this car again?
Check out my build blog http://ultimatemgbbuild.blogspot.com
rhut-ro shaggy 
looks like a bad moon a risen.
Lol-The brief time in my life when I was in sales we were taught to ignore every objection except the last one. "You put autocrossing in front of everything" This is about time away from her, not the car.
mtn
SuperDork
2/21/12 10:26 p.m.
loosecannon wrote:
The statement about me putting autocrossing ahead of everything probably stems from a cheap trip to Vegas she found on one of the discount vacation sites, all I asked was "is there autocrossing that weekend?". I think this is a valid question because it doesn't matter which weekend in June we go to Vegas but there are only one or two days of autocrossing (and testing the new race car is important).
That one is the problem. Weekend with her, or weekend with the car. You chose the car. Good luck!
orrrrr-It could be that the gas smell made her think she was going to burst into flames and my sales training was all about selling things instead of actually understanding what people want. 
loosecannon wrote:
(and testing the new race car is important).
Your car is really cool. I've been following your progress.
It's just a car though. Your wife is(or at least should be) important. The car will be there to get back to; I'd take a break from it and focus on what really matters.
EvanB
SuperDork
2/21/12 10:43 p.m.
mtn wrote:
loosecannon wrote:
The statement about me putting autocrossing ahead of everything probably stems from a cheap trip to Vegas she found on one of the discount vacation sites, all I asked was "is there autocrossing that weekend?". I think this is a valid question because it doesn't matter which weekend in June we go to Vegas but there are only one or two days of autocrossing (and testing the new race car is important).
That one is the problem. Weekend with her, or weekend with the car. You chose the car. Good luck!
But he didn't actually choose the car, just asked to plan the Vegas trip on a weekend without autocrossing.
my wife says to buy her lots of shoes.
hope that helps.
I don't work on the car on weekends and when I do, it's not time away from her because she's at work with me. She is my co-driver at local events and Nationals so I can't just ignore the problem.
What would she have you do? Has she offered a solution, or said what she would like?
mw
HalfDork
2/22/12 2:45 a.m.
I think a set of nose plugs would solve half your problem...
There were times when I did put autox ahead of everything else, she was not happy. It's moved down on the priority list and I now only do the really good events, she is much happier now.
Does she enjoy co-driving the car? How much? If she does, that should change how she feels about it this season. This has been a long and winding build. You appaear to be feeling quite satisfied with it. Spend more time with her for a while.
JoeyM
SuperDork
2/22/12 5:09 a.m.
loosecannon wrote:
I can't put my finger on exactly what point she started to dislike the Pink Panther but today I asked her about it and she said "it smells like gas" and "you put autocrossing ahead of everything".
Women are like a box of chocolates; They may look sweet, but if they sit in your project cars for any length of time, the results will be messy
Raze
SuperDork
2/22/12 6:29 a.m.
Intentionally miss a few events and instead plan a quick weekend get-a-way for a weekend that has an AutoX, and make sure she knows it was that weekend before you book the trip, as in get ready for the AutoX and then surprise her with a weekend get-a-way, she may just be burned out, or she may think your hobby is becoming all consuming, either way, doing this will recharge her and restore her faith that you know where your priorities are...
Oh and as to the 'gas smell' comment, I relate, yesterday I got the final piece of the interior for the Fiat, had the wife come over and take a look, first words out of her mouth (besides the frown) was "smells like old car"...
JoeyM wrote:
Women are like a box of chocolates; They may look sweet, but if they sit in your project cars for any length of time, the results will be messy
That is magazine quality right there...
fritzsch wrote:
What would she have you do? Has she offered a solution, or said what she would like?
Has any woman ever done that?
My wife says, "Get used to it sister"
Woody
SuperDork
2/22/12 7:16 a.m.
Perhaps you could offer to have more sex with her.
Woody wrote:
Perhaps you could offer to have more sex with her.
I would say sex IN the car.. but it is an MGBGT...I was in those back seats as a kid.. no room for dirty work
Buy her some kinky lingerie and tell her its for the Las Vegas weekend. Either way, you win.
MrJoshua wrote:
Lol-The brief time in my life when I was in sales we were taught to ignore every objection except the last one. "You put autocrossing in front of everything" This is about time away from her, not the car.
Bingo. This sounds to me like she's saying "You're not paying enough attention to me." You need to spend some time with her and let her know that she is still top priority.
In reply to loosecannon:
Sounds bigger than autocross, muchacho.
take her to a road racing event. ya know... just to be different
car39
HalfDork
2/22/12 7:39 a.m.
At a driving school I mentioned that I figured jewelry into my tire budget. The head instructor, who was on wife #3 said "Listen to that man, and you'll save a ton of money in the long run". :)
EvanB wrote:
mtn wrote:
loosecannon wrote:
The statement about me putting autocrossing ahead of everything probably stems from a cheap trip to Vegas she found on one of the discount vacation sites, all I asked was "is there autocrossing that weekend?". I think this is a valid question because it doesn't matter which weekend in June we go to Vegas but there are only one or two days of autocrossing (and testing the new race car is important).
That one is the problem. Weekend with her, or weekend with the car. You chose the car. Good luck!
But he didn't actually choose the car, just asked to plan the Vegas trip on a weekend without autocrossing.
Thats not the way she heard it.
someone already said it but, plan the vegas trip for a weekend with an autox. the next time you have the money saved up for whatever your next part is, blow it on whatever she would want.
