| Copyright (c) 2008 Mervyn Rees | | | | commercialized of all sporting events. |
| So, moving from one extreme to the other, let's | | | | Not only that, but there is now a literally dizzying |
| take a look at motor sports. Everything that can | | | | array of such contests to choose from. If you |
| move seems to be raced these days, from | | | | are a fan of the more conventional form of |
| Formula One cars to lawn mowers on steroids, | | | | motor car racing, you cab choose between F1, |
| and there's no doubt that such races are | | | | CART, NASCAR, Indy Car, Drag Racing, Hot |
| incredibly popular. | | | | Rods, Rally as well as Motorcycle contests and a |
| All over the world, racing motorised vehicles | | | | host of others. |
| draws millions of ardent fans each year to the | | | | For the more eclectic fans, there is Ice racing, |
| literally thousands of races and other events | | | | which consists in outfitting either cars or |
| which pull in billions in gate fees and merchandising. | | | | motorcycles with special studded tires to grip the |
| The cost of supporting one F1 vehiclewhich is | | | | ice, or may even involved the more suitable snow |
| only in theory, as all racing teams host a minimum | | | | mobile variety. One can also enjoy the exploits of |
| of two vehicles, a primary and secondary one, in | | | | Hill Climbing or Speed Climbing, which tests |
| case of a crash or system failureis literally tens | | | | individual drivers of either motor cars or |
| of millions of dollars per year. Sponsorships | | | | motorcycles, to compete against the clock to |
| account for the vast majority of operating fees, | | | | finish a course on an uphill incline. |
| but the ticket office and licensed merchandise | | | | Believe it or not, this is one of the oldest forms |
| they generate is still the financial mainstay of the | | | | of racing competition in the world, the first such |
| racing industry. NASCAR alone pulls in billions | | | | event having taken place as early as 1897, and |
| annually from such products. | | | | remains as popular today as ever. |
| What exactly is it that draws the crowds to | | | | A common event which serves as an introduction |
| motor racing: | | | | to racing for many enthusiasts is 'kart racing', |
| Is it the potential for an accident; the thrill of | | | | involving small, scaled down models of open or |
| speed? | | | | caged chassis motor vehicles commonly known |
| The mental powers involved in being able to | | | | as Go-Karts. |
| handle such a machine? | | | | Once considered merely a hobby, the appeal of |
| Perhaps each spectator has his or her own | | | | kart racing has grown to become a considerable |
| personal reason for enjoying the sport. | | | | sport in its own right, and has launched the career |
| One thing that's sure is that from the very | | | | of many a professional driver. |
| beginning of the automobile age, people have | | | | For the truly unique minded fan, there is the ever |
| succumbed to the pressing need to test the limits | | | | popular Demolition Derby. Amounting to the very |
| of their skills and vehicles by pitting themselves | | | | antithesis of safe driving, the object of this |
| against one another in a test of speed and | | | | frenetic 'sport' is to literally use your wreck of an |
| endurance. | | | | old vehicle to destroy those of all other |
| Not unlike horse racing, dubbed 'The sport of | | | | contestants, engaging the old adage of 'last car |
| Kings,' motor vehicle racing offers the senses the | | | | standing' to its ultimate degree. There's no denying |
| thrill of victory laps, and the agony of defeated | | | | that there's something undeniably exciting about |
| egos, and could quite easily be dubbed 'The sport | | | | watching someone else's vehicle getting |
| of the Proletariat.' | | | | sandwiched by a phalanx of drivers, and trying to |
| The very first sanctioned automobile race was in | | | | gauge which one will eventually limp out of the |
| 1894 in France, and was a test of the vehicle's | | | | arena, smoking and creaking like a battered and |
| durability. It wasn't long, however, before the | | | | bruised gladiator of old. |
| emphasis shifted to raw speed, and the appeal of | | | | Motor racing certainly has its place in our society |
| speed in motor soon spread. Many number of | | | | and there's little chance of it ever disappearing - |
| racing formats drawing enormous crowds sprang | | | | apart from lawn mower racing, that is. That just |
| up all over the world with the end result being | | | | seems such a waste when there are so many |
| that today; motor racing is among the most | | | | good plots of overgrown grass in desperate need |
| popular and certainly among the most | | | | of grooming. |