Racing fan or car fan?

[Ian Sowman]

I thought I would start this in response to the Club racing 2005 thread on this forum and also one or two on National and Club recently.

We're all motor racing fans on here (pretty much). But why? Which appeals more - the motors (i.e. are the cars of more interest to you?) or the racing (i.e. will you watch anything providing it is close and fun?)?

I love racing far more than I do cars. Give me a close FF1600 or Caterham race any day over something spread out with 'interesting' cars in.

[BertMk2]

Depends really, a stock hatch race tends to be great close racing with 'less interesting' cars but sprints can be great to watch if there is an 'interesting' car blasting around on its own being driven hard.

You need to have either 'interesting' cars or great racing (or even better both). Having said that I really struggle with single seaters (as I mentioned in the other thread), Euroboss I quite enjoyed because the cars were visibly quick and sounded really good but fomula renault and FF1600 really didn't work for me - the racing was close with lots of overtaking but I just didn't 'get it'.

2CV racing was the dullest thing I have ever seen on a circuit though.

[chezza]

I don't car what cars are there as long as the racing is close and entertaining!

Although I do like my vees!

[JAG]

I am a car fan first and foremost.

I'll watch a close race on TV but would not pay money to watch FF1600 etc.

For me even the current BTCC cars interest me little.

[Les]

can I have a third option - I started as a race fan and obviously I still am but really I go to watch friends race in whatever car they are in.

[Adam43]

I like a good close race and you can get that in many places. However the cars do it for me, especially sportscars. The engines need to be big and attractive coach work too. I'd prefer a 917 and no overtaking (driven hard is important) to any racing really. It would be the same when I am involved too.

However that is not to say I don't crave racing either. I like racing for the entertainment, but the cars are for the soul. Now close racing with great cars, that is the best.

[Ian Sowman]

I deliberately didn't put a 'middle' option - because too many people would have gone for that. This perhaps makes it a slightly harder question...

[jim69]

Historic or vintage racing cars are great even if the racing is not close. For example the event at Aintree was fantastic, exciting cars making all the right noises. But you can not beat a hard fought 10 car scrap for the lead in a FF1600. The racing must take my vote by a whisker.

[KayBee]

Originally posted by chezza
I don't car what cars are there as long as the racing is close and entertaining!

Although I do like my vees!

I'm with you Chezza!

I like to see racing whether it be on two, three or four wheels. That's why I like to marshal trackside rather than nontrackside duties.

It's also why I'm not a great fan of sprints, hill climbs and rallies etc because you only get one vehicle at a time.

I like to see people competing against each other on the track not by stopwatch.

[Mike_Wooshy]

im a fan of both, i mean i love cars and how they work (engine components etc etc) but id rather watch a close race than a boring one.

[Gabrio]

I have to say I've always loved cars since when I was a kid and naturally, that brought me to love motor racing. I know if I could, I would buy and drive every car. I always find something interesting in every one of them...

[Woolley]

People find it odd when I say I'm not particularly interested in cars. What I like is to see them pushed to the limits. Hill-climbs and rallies against the clock or on circuits against each other.

[Aysedasi]

Racing for sure. I can still remember more FF1600 or one-make series races from years ago for their excitement than I can F1 races, for example......

[Adam43]

, but you can remember the sportscar races? I had you down for car Aysedasi. The Beemer GT debate, the love of Grp C and other great sportscars, etc... :confused:

[Adam43]

Originally posted by Mike_Wooshy
im a fan of both, i mean i love cars and how they work (engine components etc etc) but id rather watch a close race than a boring one.

Yes, obviously. However it is not as straight a choice as that it isn't as simple as better car is worse racing.

Originally posted by Mike_Wooshy
What I like is to see them pushed to the limits. Hill-climbs and rallies against the clock or on circuits against each other.

Pushed to the limits, yes I like that. And better cars have better limits!

[Mackmot]

I like to watch people driving great cars to their limit. Id prefer it if more than one person on the grid can do that though.

I cant stand seeing a bunch of amateurs not driving very well but overtaking each other, thats not racing.

[Adam43]

Mackmot, that last point is interesting. As most overtaking comes from a mistake that means that the better the overall standard the less the overtaking, but not necessarily the worse the racing? (Generalisation, obviously).

[MikeHoyer]

For me, it's more about racing, however I do like to see some awesome cars now and again. Like at the start of the year I saw Stock Hatch at Snetterton which was great, but I was glad I went to Le Mans aswell, and saw some of those awesome cars in action.

But I'd rather see several great races, and one car focused thing, rather than the other way round.

[Woolley]

A MkI Escort 1.6 or a Le Mans prototype can both do it for me if driven the right way. From the side you can't necessarily see the better car's limits, but yu can appreciate it's speed.

[Grahame West]

Definitly racing fan. Not just cars, bikes, karts, anything.

That's why I enjoy marshaling so much.

[pitcrew]

Its got to be racing i love the cars dont get me wrong thats what i do in life, but its the racing that got me more and more enthusiastic about enjoying the engineering side too! they equal each other out but its a fine balance need to get my fix!! so racing's my answer!

[woodyracing]

It's the cars for me. I prefer fast and loud cars and the more exotic. I could be happy watching GTs all day even if the racing wasn't so close. However close racing is good fun, especially if you know who the drivers are.

Andy.

[BertMk2]

Originally posted by woodyracing
...especially if you know who the drivers are.

That's a very good point, if there's someone you know out there it can make a lot of difference to how much you enjoy it.

[Steve Wilkinson]

I thought they banned the Fan Car?

Seriously my interests have slowly shifted over the years and now it is most definately the cars which I am more interested in. Especially the history and development.

[James North]

Strewth this is a bit of a googley of a question.

I always grew up thinking I'd if I couldn't be a racing driver, then I'd like to be an Engineer or a Mechanic. I actually spent some time as a Apprentice motor vehicle Technician. I soon disovered though, that I didn't actually enjoy it, and I wasn't interested enough in it to do it well. So I left. And I worked for a Jaguar dealership.. so the cars I learnt on were flash and expensive.

From that I learnt that it's not cars I'm really interested in, it's motor racing cars, and racing. From the driving aspect, and ofcourse spectationg and photography view.

The first event I can remember being at (as a child), was the 1991 British Grandprix, I also attended some of the Group C races at Silverstone. So for me Formula One and Group C hold special places in my affection for motor racing. The cars looked, smelt and sounded gorgerous.

I can appreciate a cracking race trackside, lots of overtaking is fun, as is general wheel to wheel combat, even if it's club race with the same cars etc... but I also love just watching one car on track.. I even turn up at Silverstone just to see one Formula One car on track. I can't explain what makes me do that, I guess I'm simply obsessed about it.