| It appears that a desire to race is an integral part | | | | and promptly prohibited further races over open |
| of human genetic make-up, although there is no | | | | roads. |
| scientific evidence to support this. However, foot | | | | From then on, racing was conducted on closed |
| races date back to ancient times and are still | | | | circuit roads set up for the race. Finally, planned |
| popular today. As societies became more | | | | racing tracks were constructed. The first racing |
| sophisticated, different means of transportation | | | | track, designed for top speeds of 130 miles per |
| were developed. And races always followed the | | | | hour, was constructed at Brooklands, which is |
| inventions. | | | | close to London. Today, the most famous track |
| The ancient Romans held chariot races. Pioneer | | | | race is the Indianapolis 500 in the United States. |
| Americans had chuck wagon races. The Eskimos | | | | The French Grand Prix continues to be the world's |
| conducted dog sled races. All types of boats are | | | | most famous road race. |
| raced. So it is no surprise, that once the | | | | Races were popular with automobile |
| automobile was invented, the sport of racing | | | | manufacturers as they provided an opportunity to |
| would follow. | | | | test cars against their competitors and make |
| Early automobile races were held on open roads | | | | improvements. The races also promoted |
| used by regular traffic. The cars raced from one | | | | marketing since performing well in a competition |
| city to another and onlookers lined up along side | | | | would increase sales. |
| the roads to watch the competitions. | | | | The early racing cars were equipped with large |
| Roads were originally built for horses and horse | | | | engines and were heavy. The car with the largest |
| drawn coaches. They were dirt and full of | | | | engine had the best chance of winning the race. |
| potholes. In rainy weather, they became muddy. | | | | Racing officials recognized that this was an unfair |
| These road conditions certainly presented a | | | | advantage. As a result, they decided to group |
| challenge to early race drivers. Tires constantly | | | | racing cars into categories according the engine |
| had to be changed as drivers attempted to | | | | size. Each category or class is called a formula. |
| navigate the washboard surfaces. | | | | The formula rules specify the weight and size of |
| In the dawn of automotive racing speed was not | | | | the car that can be entered into a race. The |
| a factor. The goal was to get the car from point | | | | fastest racing cars are Formula 1 cars. Various |
| A to point B and arrive intact. The first | | | | countries throughout the world stage Grand Prix |
| automobile race winner had a speed of 17 | | | | races that are counted in the world championship. |
| kilometers per hour. | | | | Drivers compete and earn points for each race. |
| In the beginning France was dominant in the racing | | | | The driver with the most points is the world |
| field and it was here that the Grand Prix | | | | champion for the year. The first American driver |
| developed. | | | | to attain that honor was Phil Hill, in 1961. |
| France was also the locale of the tragic 1903 road | | | | Modern racing has also become highly specialized. |
| race in which many drivers and pedestrians were | | | | We have various categories such as drag racing, |
| killed or seriously injured. This event abruptly | | | | speed racing, off-road racing and even Kart racing. |
| ended open road racing as the French | | | | Historical racing is also popular although this is |
| government stopped the race after the first lap | | | | usually limited to wealthy car owners. |