Motor Racing as An Olympic Sport - How?

[cgg]

I'm not big, I never will be, I'm not very tall and just naturally skinny.

 

[Ardius]

Rallying takes skill, but if you practise a lot, you will be good.

I'm pretty sure Latvala, Hirvonen and Solberg practice and train a hell of a lot but Loeb frequently dishes the punishment.
Heck, if you want a straight example of why you can't just "practice a lot"..look no further than Ken Block.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

I'm pretty sure Latvala, Hirvonen and Solberg practice and train a hell of a lot but Loeb frequently dishes the punishment.
Heck, if you want a straight example of why you can't just "practice a lot"..look no further than Ken Block.

That ends that discussion well. 👍

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I'm not big, I never will be, I'm not very tall and just naturally skinny.

There's a fix to being naturally skinny: eat more. I'm sure you could become as good at rowing as you would be at rallying.

I'm pretty sure Latvala, Hirvonen and Solberg practice and train a hell of a lot but Loeb frequently dishes the punishment.
Heck, if you want a straight example of why you can't just "practice a lot"..look no further than Ken Block.

Plus pretty much any sport requires skill. The more competitive it gets the more skill you need at the particular sport.

 

[lbsf1]

You need skill for either.

Instead of rowing I will use running as an example. However much you train at running you would never be able to run as fast as Usain Bolt, he is skilled at running. You may be fast however not as fast as those with a natural talent who train also. This is also true in motorsport, however much practice you do I very much doubt you would ever be able to drive like Ayrton Senna did at Monaco, or Loeb does at rallying.

People outside of motorsport don't "get" motorsport, most of my mates see it as just sitting down. Those within the sport however see it differently, I know how difficult it is to drive consistently at the limit. If you could convince the Olympic committee about that part of motorsport, then maybe it could be added and the rule changed, however it is very difficult to change someones view on motorsport.

We need to infiltrate the olympic committee.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

There's a fix to being naturally skinny: eat more. I'm sure you could become as good at rowing as you would be at rallying.

I eat a lot and exercise only occasionally, and yet am very thin. I can keep myself "strong" easily. What's your point?


As for the Olympic Committee thing, we need to close down the Nürburgring for a day, and just give the Olympic organizers a free day, to try to get a target lap time. If there's no talent, then they can beat Sabine Schmitz's lap time. If not, it's an Olympic sport. Done.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I eat a lot and exercise only occasionally, and yet am very thin. I can keep myself "strong" easily. What's your point?

That eating more will get you bigger and stronger easier than eating less. Strength is relative. If you exercise occasionally unless you're a lumberjack, I doubt that you can be "strong" easily.

Getting stronger and doing some rowing practice would get someone decently fast at rowing, just like practicing rallying will get someone decently fast at rallying. The rest will depend on "natural talent" and skill. Both rowing and rallying have something preventing someone from becoming great at them.

 

[Roger the Horse]

I don't think people are understanding what a charter is here. Maybe if I said "The IOC can't put motorsport in no matter how much they may want to because IT'S AGAINST THE OLYMPIC CONSTITUTION" people would understand why motorsport will never make the olympics better...


Unless people don't know what a constitution is, as people seem to lack understanding of what a charter is.

 

[cgg]

I just don't think, that motor racing should be an Olympic sport. I love motor racing, I've been brought up around it, but there is a time and place for it, and the Olympics is not that place. If motor racing was brought in, then freestyle motocross would have to be N Olympic sport, then followed by freestyle bmx soon before skateboarding, then surfing, then jet-ski racing, followed by on and off shaw power boating etc. The list goes on and on. Why add new sports? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

They move however without effort from the participants.

What?

Skis cannot move without someone to push them along. Sure, the skiier can assume a position where they glide down a slope, but they are in direct control over them. Likewise a bobsleigh - the team has to push the sleigh and guide it down the track. Sure, a driver has direct control over a car. But there are dozens of processes at work between the driver putting in a control and the car moving in turn.

One of the major reasons why motorsport will not be included in the Olympics is because a car can break down and ruin someone's chances. Bobsleighs and skis cannot break down. The best person or team is supposed to win, with their skill being the deciding factor. So if we're both racing in the Olympic final and I win because your engine won't turn over and you cannot start the race when you are considered to be a better driver, how is that at all fair?

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

One of the major reasons why motorsport will not be included in the Olympics is because a car can break down and ruin someone's chances. Bobsleighs and skis cannot break down.

I fully agree with this, but, have you ever seen someone who lands slightly wrong when ski-jumping? The skis can snap, and it's still broken.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

But that breakage is a result of someone not landing properly. The competitor always has direct control over the outcome.

Motorsports will not be included in the Olympic programme because things can break without any influence or input from the competitor, which makes it unfair.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Bobsleighs and skis cannot break down.

????
Have you seen Cool Runnings?

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

But that breakage is a result of someone not landing properly. The competitor always has direct control over the outcome.

Motorsports will not be included in the Olympic programme because things can break without any influence or input from the competitor, which makes it unfair.

If the car breaks, why not give them another?


And, in cycling, if one guy falls, many times everyone falls afterward, behind. In swimming, if someone gets a false start, twice, everyone's disqualified. It doesn't seem fair.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

????
Have you seen Cool Runnings?

... That's your argument? When the Jamaican bobsleigh team crashed at Calgary, it was because they lost control of the sled. Not because parts of the sled came loose. Bobsleighs actually go through a pretty rigorous series of checks before every race to make sure the sled is safe.

And, in cycling, if one guy falls, many times everyone falls afterward, behind.

And the pack will slow down and wait for everyone who fell to catch up. Cycling is a tactical sport - if you're in the peloton, you need everyone you can get if you want to catch the leaders.

In swimming, if someone gets a false start, twice, everyone's disqualified. It doesn't seem fair.

No, the person who jumps the start gets disqualified. Not everyone.

 

[Adamgp]

Motorsports will not be included in the Olympic programme because things can break without any influence or input from the competitor, which makes it unfair.

Yet the cycling road race is allowed. Many riders were knocked out of contention by flat tires or brake malfunctions, etc. Even though the flat tires were changed and repairs were made quickly, it still virtually killed any chance of a podium finish for the rider.

Personally I think motor sports will never be part of the olypics because it is already a fully international sport. You got drivers from one country racing cars from another country, at tracks in yet another country, and vice versa.

 

[AOS-]

If any motorsports were to get into olympics that I think is most plausible (not that I support motorsports being in Olympics), it'd be Autocross; race against time, get penalties for hitting stuff, everyone drives the same vehicles with very limited options of tuning for preference.

 

[vetteman24]

like i said earlier i propsed a endurance race at say for london silverstone or brands hatch it could be 6 to 12 hours where say if something breaks down the crew and mechanics could easily fix the car but you guys are forgetting pole vaulting those things easily snap and could ruin your medal chances

 

[hawkeye122]

And the pack will slow down and wait for everyone who fell to catch up. Cycling is a tactical sport - if you're in the peloton, you need everyone you can get if you want to catch the leaders.

Did you watch the Time Trial? The Spanish Rider (Sanchez?) had a snapped chain and a flat. Not so tactical anymore.. The chain snapped at the start (Probably not his fault).

Still an Olympic sport.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

That is a single moving part that the rider can directly influence. Sure, it hurt the rider's chances, but they don't ride flat out across the stage.

The difference is that any form of motorsport would have hundreds - if not thousands - of moving parts, all of which could break in some way, shape or form. It would be impossible for a competitor to get back into contention if one broke.

You simply cannot compare motorsports to cycling, the bobsleigh, skiing or shooting simply because those sports use simple mechanical devices which the competitors have complete and direct control over since motorsport uses equipent that have thousands of moving parts that the competitor has no direct or complete control over.

 

[Earth]

Yet the cycling road race is allowed. Many riders were knocked out of contention by flat tires or brake malfunctions, etc. Even though the flat tires were changed and repairs were made quickly, it still virtually killed any chance of a podium finish for the rider.

Personally I think motor sports will never be part of the olypics because it is already a fully international sport. You got drivers from one country racing cars from another country, at tracks in yet another country, and vice versa.

Not good enough of an excuse

Didnt they just have the world championship for pretty much every single summer olympic sport about a year ago? Most of these people have already faced eachother in their sports, they're just doing it again for medals and their country

You simply cannot compare motorsports to cycling, the bobsleigh, skiing or shooting simply because those sports use simple mechanical devices which the competitors have complete and direct control over since motorsport uses equipent that have thousands of moving parts that the competitor has no direct or complete control over.

This is starting to sound like the racecar drivers aren't athletes argument. That all they do is press pedals and anyone could do it well

 

[Pagey279]

I highly doubt the teams would let their drivers race in the Olympics.
For example would Ferrari really let Alonso race? Where he could potentially crash and injure himself and be out of the formula 1 championship. I really don't think so.

Look at Robert Kubica, he took part in a rally, crashed and got his arm partially severed.
Motorsport is really safe these days,but I don't think he teams would let them race. The stakes are way too high for them to risk it. Not to mention the contracts they sign.

 

[Earth]

I highly doubt the teams would let their drivers race in the Olympics.
For example would Ferrari really let Alonso race? Where he could potentially crash and injure himself and be out of the formula 1 championship. I really don't think so.

Look at Robert Kubica, he took part in a rally, crashed and got his arm partially severed.
Motorsport is really safe these days,but I don't think he teams would let them race. The stakes are way too high for them to risk it. Not to mention the contracts they sign.

Not only that, but the Olympics take place in July-August, right in the heart of racing season. No way top drivers could just walk away from their sport for 2 weeks. Unless of course motorsport categories open up the schedule for them to do so, like how Champ Car use to leave most of May open so it's drivers could compete in the Indy 500

Anyway, I never expected the best of the best or high profile drivers to compete to begin with. The United States would probably send drivers like Tanner Foust, Ken Block or Robby Gordon, talented drivers who can drive anything who aren't tied down to any racing series

 

[lbsf1]

Not only that, but the Olympics take place in July-August, right in the heart of racing season. No way top drivers could just walk away from their sport for 2 weeks. Unless of course motorsport categories open up the schedule for them to do so, like how Champ Car use to leave most of May open so it's drivers could compete in the Indy 500

Anyway, I never expected the best of the best or high profile drivers to compete to begin with. The United States would probably send drivers like Tanner Foust, Ken Block or Robby Gordon, talented drivers who can drive anything who aren't tied down to any racing series

F1 has a 4 week break at the moment, so scheduling that during the olympics every 4 years wouldn't be impossible.

Teams do let their drivers do some racing commitments, there is the race of champions (all be it after the season end.), I have heard of some drivers doing karting during the season.

It all boils down to the fact that if someone was prepared to put their foot down and say we WILL do it and it WILL be a success then it would be, however a half arsed attempt wouldn't be a success.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Lets not forget it wouldn't necessarily be F1 drivers taking part, and most other motorsport disciplines aren't as fussy about what their drivers do in their spare time as F1 is.

 

[Ardius]

That is a single moving part that the rider can directly influence. Sure, it hurt the rider's chances, but they don't ride flat out across the stage.

The difference is that any form of motorsport would have hundreds - if not thousands - of moving parts, all of which could break in some way, shape or form. It would be impossible for a competitor to get back into contention if one broke.

You simply cannot compare motorsports to cycling, the bobsleigh, skiing or shooting simply because those sports use simple mechanical devices which the competitors have complete and direct control over since motorsport uses equipent that have thousands of moving parts that the competitor has no direct or complete control over.

But if we're going to throw out motorsports because of reliability, wouldn't it be fair to be consistent?

I don't really see why reliability is even an issue, motorsports today have some of the best reliability ever. Mechanical DNFs these days are pretty low and even if there were mechanical troubles, they could always restart the race with back-ups.
In Fencing for example the swords frequently become bent or the electronics can sometimes fail, so they can and do swap for new swords.

While sure there would be the odd moment where a race is decided by reliability...how many F1 races these days are decided by reliability? Is it really that hard to put together some decent karts or something that run reliably? Especially when you've got Olympic funding?

Also there's another argument which is missed. Motorsports is by and large actually something of a team sport. The mechanics, engineers, designers, etc are part of a team which win races..not just the drivers. But the Olympics allow sports like football and basketball which also rely on teams rather than individuals.
So how is that so different from motorsport where the result of race might not be down to the individual but how well his car was put together or how good his race strategy? So what was that again about the Olympics being down to individual training ability? Oh right, yeah they also happen to have sports which can be lost due to poor strategies and team work.

I think really, the problem here isn't the arguments. I think we all accept that there can be reasonable arguments why motorsports shouldn't be in the Olympics. The problem is the principles which people claim the Olympics is about. These principles aren't very consistent and most of the time motorsports can be argued to comply to them..or some Olympic sports don't actually comply to them.

 

[peter_vod69]

Forgetting about reliability, the fact remains that the machine has too much of an influence on the result, much more so than any current Olympic sport.

 

[nissman]

Thank god the F1 race is every other week and the Olymics every 4 years, thats all I have to say.

 

[DK]

After reading this BBC Sport article, I figured it's time to dust off this thread.

In the unlikely event the Olympics decides to add motorsports to its event list, I guess they'd probably opt for electric power over anything else. Anyone for an Olympic ePrix?

 

[AMPMROCKETFANN]

After reading this BBC Sport article, I figured it's time to dust off this thread.

In the unlikely event the Olympics decides to add motorsports to its event list, I guess they'd probably opt for electric power over anything else. Anyone for an Olympic ePrix?

1. That photo was the best part of the Torino Olympics. I still remember that screaming V10 Ferrari vividly. 2. I got a better idea, How about X2011/VGT style cars built within VERY tight rules governing basic dimensions, safety features and whatever rules they have for athlete uniforms already but the powertrain can be anything but Gasoline/diesel ICEs and the cars have to be 99.9% (spec safety features excluded) built within the country that the team/driver are representing including wheels and tires (Example: US teams must run Goodyear tires, French must run Michelins and Japanese must run Bridgestone etc.) It would be environmentally friendly, entertaining, and we'd still get oppurtunities for amazing driving.