with all the news about carbon footprints & global warming - why is motor racing not banned?

Answer 1

So glad you posted this question! It's something that makes me incresingly more angry, especially when the news is telling us about climate change and doing every little thing we can to help, then straight after is coverage of yet another road race! There is NO Green substitute for the fuel used in racing cars. It's not just the track races that are the problem - the world over there's long distance road races, drag, and cross country, etc - LOADS of these pointless, polluting races all the bloody time! WHY? Only brainless jerks and 'joy riders' enjoy them, so the ONLY reason is because they make BIG money for a few select businessmen and motor companies - we need to stop holding these cars, races, and drivers up as 'heroes' and good role models. I live close to an airstrip used for racing and the BIGGEST problem are their support crew - people don't realise until they see it how many huge trucks and other vehicles are with every race car, and these are also polluters.

Answer 2

As much as it seems like it would be a good idea, it would be hard to create mandates for banning fuel usage for this. It would be like telling people that they could only use a certain amount of fuel. We are a free market and people are free to buy the fuel, there's so much money in motor racing and although I wouldn't be opposed to motor racing stopping for the environmental benefits, if it were banned, it would be a step in the wrong direction for personal freedoms in terms of justification for taking away personal freedoms.

Answer 3

So long as there is an audience it will continue. It likely won't be long before there are 100% electric car races, and people will start to accept them more. Racing creates a lot of the function AND fashion in motoring.

Answer 4

Because motor racing itself is very low polluting, simply because it is so rare compared to average people driving SUVs, or the colossal amount of pollution from coal-burning factories. Obviously, there is some pollution from motor racing, but its such a small part it is barely worth going after.

Also, when was the last time the government "banned" something? They still have to work on their popularity ratings.

Answer 5

The same reason all energy hogging entertainment isn't banned, such as live music concerts, sports events, movies and even business conventions and trade shows. Our country was founded for the purposing of enjoying freedom.

Just imagine banning the Olympics for starters. Imagine the wailing from cities who stand to make millions of dollars from hosting them.

Answer 6

It probably will be soon.
The Government is so full of sh#t and totally hypocritical about "global warming" (there is no evidence of global warming, it's a made up phrase). If they cared so much the oil and petrol industry would be shut down tomorow.
All they care about is MONEY and towing the line to big businesses (Oil Companies in particular.)
Ignore them and do what you want to do, they are scum.

Answer 7

most of the pollution from F1 comes from transporting the cars by plane. And when FIA put a limit on testing (to make it easier for smaller teams to compete on a level playing field financially) it had the added bonus of reducing the pollution. well slightly anyway. unfortunately almost every international sport relies heavily on air transport for competitors and fans, so we would have to ban them all

Answer 8

Because the government doesn't really give a damn about global warming. They are telling us to turn off our standby TV buttons and put our rubbish in the right bins! One jet flight grounded would probably save as mush. It's a farce and in my opinion. we do not have global warming.

Answer 9

Didn't the organiser Bernie Eccleston donate money to a political party. Also it makes a lot of money.

Answer 10

News does not equal government policy. The Bush administration hasn't taken any steps to address global warming. Heck, the Supreme Court had to tell the EPA to start regulating greenhouse gas emissions!

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/900867/supreme_court_reminds_epa_of_its_mission/index.html?source=r_science

Until we have a president who's willing to address global climate change, we're certainly not going to see a "sport" outlawed due to its greenhouse gas emissions.