Auto racing

[Phait]

Who's into it, likes to watch on TV or attends events?

Unfortunately the only auto racing I'm into doesn't quite exist here in America: FIA GT series and WRC Rally racing:

http://www.fiagt.com
http://www.wrc.com

My fav. rally team & car, Subaru: http://www.swrt.com

Speedvision channel used to show WRC events but not anymore as far as I know. Now it's just tuning crap or NASCAR :rolleyes: It's sad neither FIA GT or WRC are real big here. There are some smaller versions of both but nothing really in the spotlight.

I'd love to one day drive a Porsche along Spa Francorchamps in Belgium:
http://www.spa-francorchamps.be/en05/home/index.php

[Joe Siegler]

I'm sorry, the only reason to watch auto racing is to see the wrecks. Driving 500 miles in a circle isn't that impressive to me.

[Phait]

Your description fits NASCAR, but not FIA GT, Le Mans or WRC rally.

[Inanimate Carbon Rod]

I'm sorry, the only reason to watch auto racing is to see the wrecks. Driving 500 miles in a circle isn't that impressive to me.

Cars? (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317219/) :)

[DavoX]

Once i bought nascar racing 2000 or something...man it was INCREDIBLY BORING, what was i thinking? :D.

[XRay]

Next in the WRC is Rally Finland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rally_Finland). Ouninpohja is sweet :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHmaWvbR2D4

[Altered Reality]

I'm sorry, the only reason to watch auto racing is to see the wrecks. Driving 500 miles in a circle isn't that impressive to me.
QFT. :D

[Llama Gibbz]

I used to watch nascar,but lost interest.
It just simply reminds me of professional wrestling for some reason.
I also suspect its fixed too.

F1,rally,enduro and NHRA,i usually watch if i catch it while flipping channels
Sprint racing and motorcross is popular around here.

Thumbnail is a sprint car.

[peoplessi]

DTM is fun, but we have numerous local series here in Finland, Legends being one that my uncle is into nowdays. He has been a WRC mechanic back in the day, my father was too into cars, racing.

Formula 1 is also one that I follow, maybe not a often as I could, but since we have finnish drivers there I tend to follow. Some have really harsh critique on the series, but it is the king class of autosport. I like to follow also on different Formula series, since there are plenty.

LeMans 24hour races are also fun to follow.

NASCAR is big in the US, that much I know, and I know who Dale Earnhardt Sr. is and his son.

[sawn_off]

NASCAR just became a victim of the times, like the NHRA and everything else. Before they want insane with safety and mandated small blocks, some drivers would win 40 laps ahead of whoever was in 2nd. And of course, the world famous fight on the first televised race.....

[Destroyer]

I'm sorry, the only reason to watch auto racing is to see the wrecks. Driving 500 miles in a circle isn't that impressive to me.

sad but true, i dont like to admit i like seeing the wercks because of potential injuries invovled, but seriosuly i see no point in watching cars drive around in circles for a few hrs.

[Phait]

Again, circles. There is more than NASCAR guys.

[Destroyer]

well not on TV there isnt, theres indy but that fairly similar, and even if its not a circle, i still dont care to watch cars drive around in an 8 shaped track. no destruction derby thats diff but you hardly see that one TV.


offtopic: whats your avtar from?

[Phait]

I had no idea F1 raced on figure 8 tracks :rolleyes: :p

Avatar is Eric Draven from 'The Crow' graphic novel (although that particular shot isn't in the graphic novel, at least not the compilation I have).

[Destroyer]

oh haha the 8 was just an example. the point is cars driving around on a repeating course just doesnt seem all that intresting to me. perhalps they should have dynamic obstacles in the course, then it would be intresting. like all of a sudden spikes pop up in random areas of the track, then a gian steel ball rolls across the track. It would really keep the drivers on their feet and it would be inetresting to watch. :D

[Phait]

Well I admit I probably wouldn't watch most circuit racing, at least not for a long time. But if you even have played simulations you can develop an admiration for the skill involved, which may make watching more interesting.

The rally stuff is fun to watch though, there's so many variables in the stage and crashes are bound to happen.

[Destroyer]

oh im not questioning the skill involved to be a racecar driver by any means, i know its tough and i probably couldn't do it very well. I just dont think its a great spectator sport. Its great if you wanna get into literally like actually get a car and start racing and stuff, just not too fun to watch. IMO.

[sawn_off]

If you have SPEED channel you can see all sorts of off the wall racing, thanks to LucasOIL on the Edge. They've shown tow racing, where three cars are chained together and run in a figure 8, and the rear has to do the steering (I think, saw it a while ago), and there were some good collisions. They covered a motocross hillclimb event, where you could run any year or type of motorcycle you wanted, and while the crashes weren't big the jumps certainly were. A lot of entertaining, short and sweet motorsports get good face time on SPEED.

[Phait]

Here's some video and images of WRC rally racing:

Onboard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-_6kjiVHlQ
Greece highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3oL8btum3E
Impreza car engineering: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL-E__lOAjk

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/348/2006340792762567221rs49pl5.th.jpg (http://img337.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2006340792762567221rs49pl5.jpg) http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6618/solbergsprung49fefc4us0.th.jpg (http://img300.imageshack.us/my.php?image=solbergsprung49fefc4us0.jpg) http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/2898/4556927484a614d3tb4.th.jpg (http://img520.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4556927484a614d3tb4.jpg) http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/4269/1913308714a65ba0na7.th.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1913308714a65ba0na7.jpg)

[peoplessi]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mlusYUmWzmo

Not boring at all. Räikkönen was 3rd and about to pass Alonso but car malfunctions came in the way.

[gt1750]

I watch F1 quite regularly. I'm a fan of McLaren and Red Bull :D

As a spectator, I go to local rally events from time to time, especially the oldtimer/youngtimer ones.

[Phait]

http://www.imprezashakedown.com/

Some nice video clips/insight into the Impreza rallying here in America. It actually exists here :o

[Decker]

Used to follow The Formula 1 series quite closely. Gave it up after they started changing the rules ridiculously even mid-season. Now it's like a different sport every year, and I'm tired of learning the new crap all the time. Given the chance, I go and see smaller rally/track series like the F-cup, Super Touring, GT and the likes. Been building a few f-cup stages too, it's quite fun.

A couple photos (pardon the quality, I just took a few random shots and resized them without further thinking).

Sport 2000 / Super Touring:
http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/4845/ressport200508130019ft2.th.jpg (http://img472.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ressport200508130019ft2.jpg) http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/7773/ressport200508130016vg8.th.jpg (http://img477.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ressport200508130016vg8.jpg)

Legends:
http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/2781/reslegends0298qp0.th.jpg (http://img472.imageshack.us/my.php?image=reslegends0298qp0.jpg)

F-cup (some real bangers, but with an excellent HP/ton ratio):
http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/7120/resf20060916img0057lu7.th.jpg (http://img373.imageshack.us/my.php?image=resf20060916img0057lu7.jpg) http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/6512/resf20060916img0123bm5.th.jpg (http://img373.imageshack.us/my.php?image=resf20060916img0123bm5.jpg)

[Phait]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjWFBas3PTc
Here's a very nice video of an Escudo at Pikes Peak hill climb

[TerminX]

I'm sorry, the only reason to watch auto racing is to see the wrecks. Driving 500 miles in a circle isn't that impressive to me.
I agree. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=-VJa2pUlOcM)

[Phait]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLY6t2L7UFU

Remote-control rally racing :D Things are fast!

[Ellolo17]

I agree with FIA GT series and WRC Rally racing.

I would add the RACE car trophy (Trofeo RACE de turismos) In Jarama's circuit, Madrid. and the truck races (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truck_racing).

I dont like bikes racing, F1 or Nascar. But rallys, motocross, amateur racing (i mean, using their own cars, like the seat leon, ford focus, volkswagen golf...[the RACE trophy]), truck races...

[peoplessi]

Title was autoracing, so it is obvious that bikes aren't discussed here. Even though I follow MotoGP very close. Truck racing is bit stretching it.

[Phait]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvyVF_ccI2E

Guy gets a ride with Petter Solberg, awesome :D

[XRay]

Guy gets a ride with Petter Solberg, awesome :D

Kinda reminds me of this:

Top Gear-Winter Olympics Rally Car vs. Bobsled
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2TjsAm5H6U

:D

[Phait]

That was cool :D

[Decker]

Top Gear-Winter Olympics Rally Car vs. Bobsled
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2TjsAm5H6U



They've been making the new format of Top Gear for 9 seasons now, all of them brilliant through and through. Incredibly entertaining and cool, even if you don't know sh1t about cars.

[Phait]

^ They used a remixed NIN song from "Further Down The Spiral" when introducing the Evo.

[Decker]

They use the heck out of licensed music to a good effect.
Enough to warrant a dedicated TG What's that song forum (http://forums.finalgear.com/forumdisplay.php?f=32). :)

(Sorry for all the OT TG talk)

[Phait]

I don't care, Top Gear is good :D

[peoplessi]

Yeah, but it is more entertaining than off-dead serious review of cars, which is good. Since there are other shows that do that section well.

[gt1750]

Thanks guys for mentioning Top Gear. I just wasted 3 hours watching the bits on youtube. I also think of watching the DVD that came together with one issue of the TG magazine :)

[Phait]

From NASIOC.com forums

Hi there! Rally America needs to know who you are and why you like rally racing! The following link is a 10 minute survey to find out who our rally fans are and what motivates rally fans. It is an important survey to help Rally America and its teams to communicate with fans and sponsors.

Please take a moment to complete this quick survey and help the sport of rally.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=lI_2bVdbBBkCdTDv3ks1FoAA_3d_3d

Thank you for taking the survey! Let me know if you have any questions...
Ananda

[gt1750]

Damn, I just read today's headlines - Colin McRae died yesterday when flying his helipcoter. His 5 year old son, Colin's friend and his friend's son were dead as well.

News link (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article2461339.ece)

R.I.P., Colin :(

[ZuljinRaynor]

I hate NASCAR.

But I love F1. My uncle is a huge fan of F1 so he got me into it. Sucks that here in America most GP are televised not live. I'm a fan of BMW Sauber cause Robert Kibuca is Polish. :D

[XRay]

Nice competition between Kubica (9th) and Kovalainen (8th) today in Spa :D

[Phait]

What series/

[ZuljinRaynor]

F1 Gp.

[Phait]

Ah. Never got into open-wheel racing.

[peoplessi]

But Kimi Räikkönen won, 3 times in a row.

[Bludd]

Well done, Kimi! When he did that incredible lap in the second round of qualifying, you could almost feel that he was unstoppable. It was a whole second faster than the fastest Alonso could throw at him all weekend.

Stellar.

[peoplessi]

We will have a exciting GP at Interlagos, 3 drivers are going for the Drivers Championship: Kimi Räikkönen, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton. I am ofcourse hoping that Kimi wins.

I still can't really reason the happenings at European GP this year, when Hamilton was lifted back on the track - after that race the rule was changed :l

[biXen]

Kinda reminds me of this:

Top Gear-Winter Olympics Rally Car vs. Bobsled
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2TjsAm5H6U

:D

That's Petter Solbergs brother, Henning.

Top Gear rocks, especially the America episode, heheh.

I love WRC, GT and WTCC or BTCC myself. DTM is too boring because there's basically only BMW, Audi and Mercedes. Motors TV is handy to have, they show Lemans and lot of other stuff all the time. F1 is still boring like Nascar and that other crap but has been decent this season.

[Nessus]

I wish they had better racing on American TV. I would love to see some more F1 or rally racing broadcast in HD.

[Nessus]

Double post.

[ZuljinRaynor]

I wish they had better racing on American TV. I would love to see some more F1 or rally racing broadcast in HD.

I hate it that when there is F1, it's delayed so I just hop on the net and see where Kubica finished.

[peoplessi]

That takes the whole point away from following F1. This season has brought more entertaiment than we've seen in few years. F1 remains the topclass of car racing, and will remain so for undisclosed time. Next season the new changes make it even that more interesting. GP2 is also fun to follow. DTM is also pretty fun, as we have Mika Häkkinen there. FIA GT since we have Mika Salo there. WRC due Grönholm, Latvala, Hirvonen... LeMans due J.J Lehto. And all the local series we have here.

[peoplessi]

Tightest race EVER, FORZA FERRARI - KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN IS THE WORLD CHAMPION!

[XRay]

Unbelievable!
http://xs220.xs.to/xs220/07420/kimi_wins.jpg

:)

[Nessus]

Any of you guys ever try to race the F1 simulators? That kind of racing is so intense, those guys are amazing. It's probably on par with flying fighter jets.

[peoplessi]

I haven't tried a real F1 simulator, but I do enjoy driving F1 mods in rFactor.

[peoplessi]

http://www.fia.com/resources/documents/231572198__21_12_2005_F1_Regs_2008.pdf

Summary of changes for season 2008 in FIA Formula 1 -series. Very interestin if one is interested in cars.

[ZuljinRaynor]

http://www.fia.com/resources/documents/231572198__21_12_2005_F1_Regs_2008.pdf

Summary of changes for season 2008 in FIA Formula 1 -series. Very interestin if one is interested in cars.

Interesting find.

[Phait]

Some shots from WRC Rally Japan '07

It seems like Ford and Citroen always take the lead, either one of them. Subaru seems to stay in 3rd... seems like consistent standings over the years.

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/8797/597969472zb7.jpg

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/9536/874963957lw3.jpg

[XRay]

Race of Champions 2007 is over and Team Finland (damn :doh:) was powerless to stop Team Germany and Sweden's Mattias Ekstrom. Congratulations :cool:

Schumi was on fire with ROC-buggy :D

http://www.raceofchampions.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_of_champions

[peoplessi]

Grönholm wasn't as hot on wheels as I expected him to be. It was funny to see Schumacher stall his car ;)

Great stuff, WRC we got J-M Latvala for Ford WRC team along with Mikko Hirvonen. Also Kovalainen is confirmed for McLaren. All great :)

[Phait]

There's too many Ford teams, I can't believe the "balance".

[peoplessi]

What do you mean by that?

[Phait]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Rally_Championship#Manufacturers_and_teams

3 Ford teams vs 2 of Citroen vs just 1 Subaru

Well I guess the issues is moreso with the balance of manufacturers

[peoplessi]

You forgot Suzuki. They are in for 2008. I'd like, FIA would like, more teams, but it is a money issue.

[Phait]

Yeah I was speaking of 2007 season though. It's surprising not to see Mitsubishi in yet here in NA they still hawk their Lancer about it's rally heritage.

[XRay]

Interesting fact about Schumacher; if you want to race against him, choose saloon cars :D

“It has been truly quite a thrill! I’ve been here twice, and twice it has been a big pleasure. I wasn’t so good in the Solution F; there is something with me where I need to see my wheels! I’m no good if I don’t see them, I have been very bad in saloon cars in the past."

http://www.f1technical.net/news/7841

[evanazzo]

Worst rally corners ever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiIYEmpWaaQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY-UGnxAeMA

[Phait]

I've done that numerous times in Richard Burns Rally, mostly when theres a small bridge over a stream :tinyted:

PS: AYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!

[Nessus]

I do that in RBR too, did you notice that the dirt doesn't give like dirt but instead it's like the ditches are made from molded cement? this way instead of your tire gouging into it the car just rolls. I was just playing that game the other day, finally got 4:16 in the British Forest.

[evanazzo]

I've been looking for a good racing game for my ps2 Rally preferred. im tired of need for speed. i had Vrally for my ps1 and now i want another rally game.
any good ones for ps2

[Damien from omen]

I like our V8 Supercars better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_-YSwhr5x4

:D you don't see that in NASCAR!

[peoplessi]

Yep, but WRC, F1, FIA GT, GP2 are even better :)

I am glad that Champ Car and IRL managed to merge, that is only good for the sport. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65277

[Bludd]

Hey guys, I am gonna blog about the 2008 Formula 1 season and the first entry is up (http://forums.3drealms.com/vb/blog.php?b=61). I talk about the new rules and regulations and about some of the pre-season testing we've seen. I hope you'll check out my blog and maybe we can have discussions there after each qualifying and Grand Prix? :)

Only 2 weeks to go!

[evanazzo]

i read that 2 weeks ago.

[Bludd]

i read that 2 weeks ago.

I wrote it 5 days ago. :confused:

[evanazzo]

it was an exageration meaning i read it a while ago

[peoplessi]

Hey great, I will read it regularly now on :)