Why is car racing called a sport? It's just an activity, aint it?

Question

If driving a car is a sport, then I'm a world class athlete.

Answer 1

Good for you.

Answer 2

I was going to give you a round of the kitchen- instead I will educate you.

You're traveling down a straight at 330km/h+...

Think about that for a moment. The violence of that, the forces on the body. The bumps, the crests, the fact you can barely see owing to the fact your eyes are slowly getting pushed back into their sockets.

There is a turn up ahead. Easily flat throttle, but a corner non the less. So you turn. Feel the force of gravity (yes, gravity) MULTIPLY by at much as a factor of 4 (!!!), sideways as your car powers through the turn.

Again, think about that for a moment.

Four times the force of gravity pulling your body sideways!

Your neck muscles hurt, your arms ache, your knees are banging against the sides of the cockpit but still you keep your right foot burried in the throttle.

Now, mid corner, just as you're thinking about fuel loads, the other guys fuel loads, tyre wear, when you have to pit next, the guy in front and how you're going to pass him in 3 seconds time...

--all of these things at precisely the same time--

The team get on the radio and voice in your ear tells you that you're going well but there is a slight mis-fire in the 3rd cylinder!

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Michael Schumacher used to train 3hrs a day, often far more to stay in shape!

They are the fittest men and women on the planet save for a few other athletes. But they have the edge because their minds are forced (often from a very early age), to adapt to a new environment, car, car characteristics, team, race situation, etc.- as I say often all at once.

You are not a world class athlete simply because you drive a car and nor am I. We would be if we did the same thing against 20 or so other guys all fighting to be first at 300km/h+!

And remember, two physical objects cannot occupy the same position in time and space.

Its a sport, a physically, mentally and physcologically demanding and draining sport.

It would be an activity if you did it part time for fun.

The Iceman.

Answer 3

Well welcome to the world of athletics.
Sports can be defined as a competition> Np where does it say what type competition.For the purest the only sports are the events of the Olympics.For others it is stick and ball sports and for others it could be poker,dancing,horse shoes bass fishing etc.So to say auto racing is not a sport is to say football is not a sport or that rodeo or the marathon for that matter.
I see this same question every couple of weeks and the answer is the same and that is sports is an active competition.
By the way that 13 inch is your I.Q. right.

Answer 4

Ur digging ur own grave here mate. I race a Porsche GT3 and I tell you...if motorsport isnt a sport, then I dont know what is. 'Sport' is in its very name for gods sake. And a sportsman must be committed...right? Well I spend 5 days a week enduring physical training for my motorsport and have spent over a year now in a nutrition programme where I have drunk absolutely NOTHING but water - 7 litres a day at that - and NEVER in that time eaten takeaways, desserts etc and it's the most committment humanely possible. And Im only 16 for gods sake (youngest Porsche racer in the world by the way, down here in New Zealand). So I wouldn't consider myself a 'world class athlete' if i were you, unless of course you train in such a way as I do to prepare yourself for your drive to the dairy for milk and cookies.

Answer 5

Actually, the one I'm most familiar with, Formula One, it's a sport for the duration of a race, the rest of the time it's a business.
Some of the participants are among the fittest of athletes; check out Mark Webber's out-of-car activities.
By the way, `world class' is a bit of an over-used cliché; I'm never quite sure what it means.

Answer 6

Hahah. Although it may not seem like much, car racing actually requires a certain degree of skill, money, and talent. When you're in the proper car and racing, you have to exercise an extreme amount of force to maneuver around those bends and through the straightways. If you can get into it, that would be great XD

Answer 7

It involves doing physical activities skillfully.

Drivers are subjected to great stresses, high temperatures and strong g forces. Many pro drivers, particularly in faster cars like F1, have major physical fitness programs so they can do the physical activities under the stress.

An F1 driver can likely outrun you for a long distance, lift more weight than you can, and could arm wrestle you down in nothing flat. He probably could also play the violin better.

They're good at physical things because they have to be to win.

Answer 8

You try driving a car 195-230 mph and you'll get killed. These racers have the talent and skills to do that and not cause many wrecks or fatalities. That why it's a sport cause everybody is not good enough to do that and it's exciting to watch.

Answer 9

Knitting is an activity, so is asking questions. Racers train. They don't just filler up n' get er' done! They are athletes, they train in a gym, they eat healthy, they don't take drugs. They are the super elite. They know that every minute they are not in the gym, not training, or working that their opponent could be. It is their job to be the best, that is why they are hired, that is why they are sponsored, and that is why we admire, and watch them.

Answer 10

why is basketball called a sport...its just an activity....why is baseball called a sport...its just an activity....why is soccer called a sport...its just an activity....why is golf called a sport...its just an activity....

get my point???
because it has the same logic behind basketball and other sports. teams (drivers) trying to win games (races) and getting points (win loss record) to try to get a chance to get in thechampionships (The Chase for the cup) and then win the title (Nextel Championship) (AKA superbowl...AKA World Series, AKA Stanley Cup)


get my point????

Answer 11

How do most people define 'sport'? Let's see-team, rules, strategy, a goal, an arena, fans rooting their favorite; sounds like a sport to me.