Motor Sports Are Popular Around the World

The sound of a purpose built racing car is something that people around the world find intensely exciting. The vehicles are often worth a fortune and the people who bravely guide them around become heroes to many. However this rarefied world in which internationally famous drivers exist does not properly represent the many level of grass roots motor sport that exists on the fringes of this popular spectator pastime.

Although we may all know the famous single-seater racing cars that appear on our TV screens on a Sunday afternoon, but motor sports has so much more too it, here are some examples:

Hillclimbing

Hillclimbing is the process of driving up a narrow track against the clock. These ‘races’ are normally very short in comparison to other motor races, so precision and bravery is valued above almost everything else. Sometimes the vehicles being used are road cars customised with performance brakes and other performance car parts to make them perform better, or they can even be self built specialised vehicles who’s soul job is to be the fasted up the hill. Often the cars are split into a number of classes so that everyone gets a chance to compete for victory.

Drifting

Drifiting is a rather unique sport in that the winners are normally decided by a team of judges. Drift racing takes place by 2 normally rear wheel drive cars are driven in an over-steering or ‘drifting’ fashion around a course. Marks are awarded for angle of the car in relation to the direction of actual travel, smoke coming from the wheels, and speed through the course. These cars are mainly customised road cars with VERY high power outputs to allow them to spin their wheels at seemingly any speed.

Ice Racing

Ice racing is exactly what it sounds! Racing on ice! This incredibly spectacular form of motor sport can take place in many cold weather environments where packed snow and ice can have a course cut from them. The cars are modified road cars and racing cars with customised suspension set-ups and bespoke ice driving studded tyres.

So the world of motor sport is much more than the single seat or rallying that you may have seen on the television. If you like the sound of any of these events then there is probably one of them taking place near you at some point. Contact you local motor sports venue and you may find that you can go along to watch at relatively low cost. Who knows, you might just catch the bug and find yourself participating some day!