| g has taken a number of different forms, including | | | | Automobile racing began in 1894 and has |
| foot, dog, horse, airplane, boat, car, motorcycle | | | | continued in various forms until the present. The |
| and bicycle. The object in any form of racing is to | | | | races usually depend on the distance travelled in |
| win. Being the fastest is what makes a champion. | | | | particular types of cars. There is stock car, drag, |
| Coming in second rarely counts. | | | | rally, off road, sports car racing, Formula One |
| We know from painted pottery that the foot | | | | (NASCAR) and other forms of racing. While |
| race was a popular event with the ancient | | | | distance is a factor in racing, speed is usually still |
| Greeks. Today there are both indoor and outdoor | | | | the most important factor. The fastest speed |
| forms of foot racing. The most common forms | | | | recorded at the Indianapolis 500 was achieved by |
| of racing are sprints, hurdles and relays. Distances | | | | Eddie Cheever in 1996 when his race car reached |
| of the races vary. The first marathon race in | | | | 236.103 miles per hour. |
| modern times was organized in 1896. It was | | | | Motorcycle racing is an enormously popular sport, |
| approximately 22 miles in distance. Today, the | | | | and, like automobile racing, it comes in a variety |
| marathon is around 24 miles. The first Olympic | | | | of forms, including drag, sidecar, and supercross. |
| marathon for women was held in 1928. Today, | | | | There is also motocross racing, an amateur level |
| there are many different marathons, usually | | | | sport. WERA is the national organization for the |
| organized by a specific charity, such as breast | | | | advancement, operation and sanctioning of |
| cancer, within a city. | | | | motorcycle road racing. WERA sponsors sprint |
| Horse racing has also been around for centuries. | | | | and distance races. |
| The ancient Romans and Egyptians had a | | | | The first aircraft race was held in 1909, six years |
| fascination for chariot racing. It continues to this | | | | after the Wright Brothers flew the first airplane. It |
| day, although it is referred to as horse and buggy | | | | was held in Reims, France, and covered the |
| racing. There is also thoroughbred racing, with a | | | | distance from France to England. A race from |
| trained rider (jockey) on a saddle on the | | | | England to Australia was instituted later, with most |
| horse’s back. One of the most popular | | | | of the entrants being commercial airliners. It was |
| forms of horse racing in the United States is the | | | | discontinued after the outbreak of World War |
| Triple Crown, made up of three separate races in | | | | Two. In the United States, the National and |
| different locations: The Kentucky Derby, | | | | Cleveland Air Races were initiated in the 1920s. In |
| Preakness and Belmont Stakes. There are also | | | | 1929, the Women’s Air Derby was |
| races in which the horse must jump over | | | | created as part of the National Air Races. Today |
| obstacles set up on a measured track. | | | | the Red Bull Air Race World Series is held annually. |
| Bicycle racing is an Olympic sport today. The first | | | | It features 11 pilots who compete against time on |
| known race was held in Paris in 1865. There are | | | | two passes over the designated course. |
| many forms of bicycle racing today, including on | | | | Ships and boats have long been used as racing |
| and off road, mountain bike, track, BMX and cycle | | | | vehicles. There have been some unusual races as |
| speedway. One of the best known races is the | | | | well. Even bathtubs have been used in racing |
| Tour de France. American cyclist Lance | | | | events. Depending on the type of propulsion used, |
| Armstrong has won this event seven times. | | | | aquatic races vary in time and speed. |