To my mind auto racing involves the test of a machine, not a human. Therefore, it’s not truly athleticism, regardless of the driver’s physical abilities. Kind of like being a horse jockey: it’s the horse who’s competing.
I would wholeheartedly disagree with both examples, having participated in them.
Riding horses gave me tight thighs, strong shoulders, arms and back.
Racing bikes gave me tight thighs, strong hands/fingers, shoulders, arms, calves, ankles and back and the motor reflexes of a rattlesnake on crank.
Dismounting from either ride does not suddenly make any of those benefits ‘go away’ and they help with the rest of everyday living.
Were it not exercise/athleticism, I would not be stiff, tired and sore after a long day doing either.
It’s tantamount to isometrics.
So how the hell does the machine get around whatever race course it navigates without the driver being subjected to the same forces and environment as the car? Do you even have an idea of what those conditions are? You may have an idea, but you just don’t know, now do you? Then go a step further and consider road racing.
The reason it looks so easy in your recliner is that the guys who do it are just that good. It never ceases to amaze me how everyone is just a damned expert on everything they know nothing about.
To my mind auto racing involves the test of a machine, not a human. Therefore, it’s not truly athleticism, regardless of the driver’s physical abilities. Kind of like being a horse jockey: it’s the horse who’s competing.
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Exactly. While I do appreciate the physical and mental toughness and stamina required to sucessfully race cars, drivers are not world class athletes. I’m going against most on this thread but Tate is correct, IMHO.