What is your favorite auto racing type?

[Member2019]

We've had a number of threads on auto racing, but I did not note a good poll on your favorite auto-racing. Here's my attempt:

1. Drag racing / hot-rod burst speed (NHRA, IHRA and others)
2. NASCAR oval speed (not really stock, but speed/driver-focused)
3. Purpose-build open wheel for speed+handling (Formula 1, Indy Car)
4. Purpose-built prototype for speed+handling (Daytona, Le Mans Prototype)
5. Production distance/duration (Le Mans, ALMS, FIA, Grand Am, SCCA GT)
6. Production/street unmodified (Grand Am, SCCA, other GS, ST and more)
7. Unsanctioned legal track or illegal street racing
8. Other auto (please post with details)
9. Non-auto and other, smaller, motorized sport (Kart, Motorcycle, others)
10. Not into motorized racing at all

If you are into "one type" car races that focus on the driver, then still choose the type that you like -- NASCAR, open wheel formula/indy, open or closed wheel prototype, GT modified production, GS/ST production, etc...

For those that want to talk about either the "straightline speed" v. hugging curves" of women, and not the autos, there is already a thread for that here (among others) ...
Chicks in Racing Outfits!: http://board.freeones.com/showthread.php?t=255529

And for video games, here (among others on Forza v. GT, and others) ...
Favorite racing games?: http://board.freeones.com/showthread.php?t=253333

 

[larss]

Specifically F1 - The start to this season (barring the 1st race) has been very entertaining.

 

[Member2019]

Poll error (to be corrected shortly) ...

I screwed up the poll (having the mods fix it now), but #7 should be as below, and not the same as #6 ...

6. Production/street unmodified (Grand Am, SCCA, other GS, ST and more)
7. Unsanctioned legal track or illegal street racing

 

[Member2019]

3. Purpose-build open wheel for speed+handling (Formula 1, Indy Car)

Specifically F1 - The start to this season (barring the 1st race) has been very entertaining.

Vote #3 then:
3. Purpose-build open wheel for speed+handling (Formula 1, Indy Car)

 

[Ace Bandage]

IndyCar racing. The month of May is my favorite month of the year. I've been to every Indy 500 since I was 4 years old. Race day is bigger than Christmas. I seriously cannot wait until the first day of practice. I'm getting pumped just thinking about it...

 

[LukeEl]

The Paris-Dakar Rally or any other type of offroad cross country race.

 

[zell]

I've never been that much of a racing fan(even though I love the Gran Turismo games),but I have to say I like Formula 1 for one simple fact;they have the best courses of any other major racing league.I can't stand seeing cars jockey for position going around on a big oval.At least in F1,the cars make more than just left turns.

 

[Member2019]

More than just NASCAR ...

I've never been that much of a racing fan(even though I love the Gran Turismo games)

There are a lot of races in the Americas and Europe that cater to more production, as well as a few "world circuits" for Gran Turismo / Grand Touring (GT).

but I have to say I like Formula 1 for one simple fact;they have the best courses of any other major racing league.I can't stand seeing cars jockey for position going around on a big oval.At least in F1,the cars make more than just left turns.

Have you checked out the Le Mans Series (both LMS, European, and ALMS, the American version)? They often race many of the same tracks as Formula 1, although are more regionalized. For more of a world circuit with GT, there is FIA.

Le Mans features both prototype and modified production, the latter classed similarly to FIA. Some courses are street, whereas others are endurance of 6, 12 and even 24 hours. The US ALMS series has the most, direct, worldwide manufacturer involvement for their leading-edge design. It's where BMW, Chevy, Ferrari, Jaguar, Porsche and others are going to run their best vehicles with next or (at release) latest gen drive trains and "as close to (going to be) production" features. Sadly Lamborgini and Maserati are no longer running in ALMS, although you'll still see involvement or independent teams in European Le Mans or FIA.

In the US, there is also Grand Am which has Daytona Prototypes (DP) and modified GT, down to Grand Sport (GS) and Street Touring (ST). GS literally takes 911, Camaro, M3 and others "off the dealer showroom" with only safety added. The ST is for lower classes of cars with the same approach. Grand Am runs the modified Daytona track (not the tri-oval layout) like Indy Car and others.

 

[Facetious]

CART PPG Indy Car World Series :thumbsup:

√ The IRL establishment and the drivers bore me to tears....
Who won the race ? ! 'never heard of him before ! :dunno:

√ f1 is a collection of wealthy - smug - arrogant - elitist douches AFAIAC.
Oh, sure they may be faster than the American cars but all it takes is the slightest bump and they're off into the kitty littah or worse ! Nope, f1 is way too finesse for me.

Take me back to the day of real racing !

 

[The Paulinator]

I picked #3. I am a lifelong F1 fan, though I feel that the sport has already passed its apex.
I long for the days when the v12s would make the ground beneath tremble, and was still happy with the v10 setups after that era. The Indy 500, too has passed its heyday for reasons Facetious mentioned. Driver recognition. Yeah I liked the PPG cup racing too.

I've been to around 15 NASCAR races, dating back to the Kulwicki and Allison days. Television does this racing no justice. Feeling it is an important part of the experience. Plus back in the 80s and 90s the "moving the leader out of the way" maneuver was not as prominent.

Anyway, my point is that going and sitting in the stands of any kind of racing beats watching on TV any day.

 

[Member2019]

Anyway, my point is that going and sitting in the stands of any kind of racing beats watching on TV any day.

Even better are the long, road courses you can walk all along and enjoy all sorts curves up-close, well under fifty feet from the action (sometimes as little as twenty feet).

I know a number of people like the large grandstands for only a two or so mile course so they can see the whole race. But I like being able to see the driver's eyes as he dives into or pulls out of a curve.

 

[Facial_King]

LeMans.

Infinitely more exciting than the drive-the-oval NASCAR garbage.

 

[zell]

Re: More than just NASCAR ...

Have you checked out the Le Mans Series (both LMS, European, and ALMS, the American version)? They often race many of the same tracks as Formula 1, although are more regionalized. For more of a world circuit with GT, there is FIA.

Yeah,I've seen a little bit of American LeMans,but quite frankly,it's hard to find on tv most of the time.The one thing that I really don't like about it though,is that they are racing multiple classes at the same time.

 

[Kingfisher]

Formula 1. But the stupid cable company took it away from me. Assholes.

 

[Facetious]

LeMans.

Infinitely more exciting than the drive-the-oval NASCAR garbage.

What about the drive-the-oval Indy Car garbage ?
I suppose those are cool only if a non American racer wins eh ?

 

[Rey C.]

CART PPG Indy Car World Series :thumbsup:

Consider yourself owed a beer (or three). :glugglug:

In its day, CART was where it was at. And unlike what we have in America now, you actually had to "drive" a Champ car... 900hp+ and they weren't nailed to the track by downforce. Ah, remember the days...

These days, I primarily watch F1. That's where the action, my favorite circuits and the best drivers are. But I actually watch (on occasion) about every type of auto racing that there is. The saddest thing that happened this year (IMO) was Angelle Sampey announcing her retirement. I haven't watched much NHRA so far this year, since I was hoping that she'd be back on track this season.

 

[Facetious]

CART Era (1979-2003)

You just can't beat this cast of characters. :thumbsup:


Michael Andretti
Mario Andretti

Raul Boesel
Scott Brayton (RIP)

Hélio Castroneves

Scott Dixon

Adrian Fernandez
Gil de Ferran
Emerson Fittipaldi

Dario Franchitti

Robby Gordon

Roberto Guerrero
Maurício Gugelmin

Richie Hearn
Bryan Herta
Stefan Johansson

P. J. Jones

Tony Kanaan

Buddy Lazier

Arie Luyendyk
Jan Magnussen
Nigel Mansell

Rick Mears

Juan Pablo Montoya
Greg Moore (RIP)

Max Papis
Scott Pruett
Bobby Rahal

Andre Ribiero

Paul Tracy
Al Unser, Jr.


Jimmy Vasser
Jacques Villeneuve

Alex Zanardi
:hatsoff:

 

[larss]

Mario Andretti - F1 Champion 1978
Emerson Fittipaldi - F1 Champion 1972 and 1974
Nigel Mansell - F1 Champion 1992 and CART Champ 1993 in his rookie year
Juan Pablo Montoya - No F1 Championships
Jacques Villeneuve - F1 Champion 1997

The above all started in F1 then went to CART when they got a bit old, except Montoya who went to F1 from CART

F1 - 1979 - 2003
Jody Scheckter
Alan Jones
Nelson Piquet
Keke Rosberg
Niki Lauda
Alain Prost
Ayrton Senna
Nigel Mansell
Michael Schumacher
Damon Hill
Mika Häkkinen
:hatsoff:

 

[Rey C.]

CART Era (1979-2003)

You just can't beat this cast of characters. :thumbsup:


Michael Andretti
Mario Andretti

Raul Boesel
Scott Brayton (RIP)

Hélio Castroneves

Scott Dixon

Adrian Fernandez
Gil de Ferran
Emerson Fittipaldi

Dario Franchitti

Robby Gordon

Roberto Guerrero
Maurício Gugelmin

Richie Hearn
Bryan Herta
Stefan Johansson

P. J. Jones

Tony Kanaan

Buddy Lazier

Arie Luyendyk
Jan Magnussen
Nigel Mansell

Rick Mears

Juan Pablo Montoya
Greg Moore (RIP)

Max Papis
Scott Pruett
Bobby Rahal

Andre Ribiero

Paul Tracy
Al Unser, Jr.


Jimmy Vasser
Jacques Villeneuve

Alex Zanardi
:hatsoff:

:glugglug:

I was at VIR for a vintage race a few years ago. Some guy had his car parked beside the grandstand I was in, and he turned up his CD player to play this for everybody.



Looking around the grandstand and seeing who almost had tears in their eyes told you who the long time, hardcore fans were. Even with its warts and blemishes, I doubt there'll be anything like it again in my lifetime -
CART: Real Racing. Real Sport.

In addition to the drivers you listed...

• March, Lola, Reynard, Penske, Swift, a works Ferrari that never made it over, etc.
• Ford-Cosworth, Chevy, Mercedes, Porsche, Alfa-Romeo, Toyota, Honda, etc.

My gosh, we had something beautiful! Waking up to current day reality is what almost made some of us cry.

 

[Skyraider22]

NASCAR the overall of it really the last 20 laps or so.