Real Racer

neilap · 25 Jun 2003, 18:44 (Ref:642953)

After reading this article I had to ask the same question here. What is the difinition a racer?

To me a racer does as much ontrack as he does off. He/she takes calculated risks and is able to race hard and consistent. JPM is a racer for example, so is JV.

NiceGuyEddie · 25 Jun 2003, 18:56 (Ref:642963)

A real racer is a driver who doesn't back down for ontrack-duelling, is skilled in doing so, and rather takes up the immediate fight than to leave it all to pitstops. Unfortunatly the technical rules and the sporting rules, play into the hands of those who'd rather avoid ontrack-duelling.

I think many drivers will rise to the occassion when to occassion actually arises. Kimi will fight JPM if needed, JPM will fight MS if needed. Even DC is has made some pretty spectacular overtakingmanoeuvres. Rubens never had a problem with overtaking while starting from the back. Sato had some great duels in Monaco, Silverstone and Indy. Of course there is Villeneuve, who sometimes takes it a bit overboard, and so on and so on.

ASCII Man · 25 Jun 2003, 19:07 (Ref:642968)

Uh, what he said...

billaboy · 25 Jun 2003, 19:26 (Ref:642989)

Quote:

Originally posted by neilap

To me a racer does as much ontrack as he does off. He/she takes calculated risks and is able to race hard and consistent. JPM is a racer for example, so is JV. [/B]

I agree with you there; testing and car develompent are huge to racing and being a "racer" you cant just "show up" on race day! ( I guess JPM does to...getting caught doing 205kpm in an X5..way to go...he he

) But seriously I dont understand how he can say DC isn't a real racer and then say...
(("Coulthard has fought the best of them – and succeeded. He has raced wheel-to-wheel with Michael Schumacher and bettered the German on several occasions. He has won the Monaco Grand Prix twice – a feat that cannot be ignored. But, despite all of this, could the Scot actually be classed as a real racer?"))
This is confusing to me. Just the simple fact that he admitted that he has alot to learn makes him more of a racer than most drivers; and so what if he has a hot girlfriend that he brings to the track...if I had a girlfriend that hot I'd show her off to! Women and fast cars have always gone together..like pizza and beer!

KC · 25 Jun 2003, 19:51 (Ref:643015)

If you define a racer as above, then this can be seriously affected by how well the driver can set up the car. Some drivers can get more out of a car with a dodgy setup than others. I think JPM is more capable of driving a tweaked car than say DC. If DC gets his car just right then he can be very hard to beat. He has shown this in the past. A driver like JPM or MS can work around some of the shortcomings of the car and go on to perform well.

I'll never forget MS being passed by Hill after the Bennetton got stuck in 5th gear only to change his line and go back around Hill later in the race. That is how a racer can expand his opportunity.

That does not mean that DC is not a racer, it means that his window of opportunity is smaller than others. The best find a way to maximize their window of opportunity. I think that is what sets racers like Moss, Schumacher, Clark, Villeneuve (father and son), Senna and others apart from racers like Coulthard, D. Hill, Barrichello, Alesi, and Irvine. All are very good, but some have just a little more than others and it shows when things do not go 100% correct and they still find a way to compete.

Snrub · 26 Jun 2003, 04:57 (Ref:643356)

When I hear the word "racer" I think of someone who does it because they love it and they love the speed and nailing EVERY corner. Zanardi as much as I didn't like him before his horible crash was a racer at heart. Even when it was to his detriment. Villeneuve senior another perfect example. Drove like a maniac.

The other definition of it is someone who will never fully hang up their hat either. Mario Andretti being a perfect example, why bother racing in so many series and doing it for so long? Compare this to a guy like MH who gave it up after arguably having much to prove, only being on top because his car was tops and made to look bad by MS, EI, HHF.

climb · 26 Jun 2003, 06:27 (Ref:643384)

IMO the racer is the one who succeds in optimizing the car's performances during the race, mixing all it needs: battle spirit, tactics, consistency, and, when necessary, ability to "administrate" the car.
In the long run a good racer get the best results from his car, whatever the level of competitiveness.
Thus I don't agree with the concept many expressed:
racer= fighter.
For example Gilles was a great fighter (probably the best ever) but not an excellent racer, as he was not that consistent.
From this point of view, a driver like Prost proved very good, despite being less fast than Senna.

golem · 26 Jun 2003, 06:37 (Ref:643390)

To me, the definition of racer is a driver who gets thrown a challange and attacks it. Some people may be quicker drivers, but he'll make that faster driver work to overtake him, and even if he's underpowered and overweight try and stick with him and get back ahead. He'll try and learn to overcome his shortfalls in technique when he's not on the track. Acknowledges when he simply wasn't good enough, and works with whoever it takes to make his car faster.

Doesn't have to be good at it, just has to try and never say die.

Jukebox · 26 Jun 2003, 07:24 (Ref:643409)

To me, whoever possesses a Super License are real races

**Adam43** · 26 Jun 2003, 07:26 (Ref:643410)

Quote:

Originally posted by Snrub
When I hear the word "racer" I think of someone who does it because they love it

me too.

All the other qualities are required to be successful, but 'racer' is just one of them. A pure one if you like. The one that means it is the taking part that counts.

A real racer may possess the other qualities and try hard to acheive them, but that is because being good at them makes the whole thing more enjoyable.

ASCII Man · 26 Jun 2003, 07:56 (Ref:643420)

Quote:

Originally posted by Jukebox
To me, whoever possesses a Super License are real racers

Even Deletraz, Inoue and Montermini??

Jukebox · 26 Jun 2003, 09:18 (Ref:643485)

They certainly are faster than you, me and the vast majority of the world population....don't they?

roxana · 26 Jun 2003, 09:59 (Ref:643523)

a real racer is a fighter, a guy that believes in his power to win and is ready to take risks to achieve victory. and he should be ok as a person too, not trying to make the other racers look bad.

Dani Filth · 26 Jun 2003, 10:03 (Ref:643526)

don't know .. Deletraz could be faster than Schu ,in a 550 Maranello ..

Miss Hardt · 26 Jun 2003, 10:03 (Ref:643527)

Quote:

Originally posted by ®îjñtjûh
Even Deletraz, Inoue and Montermini??

billaboy · 26 Jun 2003, 12:50 (Ref:643699)

Quote:

Originally posted by Snrub
Compare this to a guy like MH who gave it up after arguably having much to prove, only being on top because his car was tops and made to look bad by MS, EI, HHF.

I assume your refering to Mika...I really thought he was gonna come back to F1. I know he was really involved in getting Kimi into Mclaren, anyone think he's really planning on a comeback? Take DC's place maybe or is he to old?

ASCII Man · 26 Jun 2003, 12:59 (Ref:643704)

Imagine, a McLaren 1-2 finish and both Fins at the interview table...

**Bononi** · 26 Jun 2003, 13:03 (Ref:643708)

Quote:

Originally posted by neilap
After reading this article I had to ask the same question here. What is the difinition a racer?

Gilles Villeneuve.

billaboy · 26 Jun 2003, 13:53 (Ref:643744)

Quote:

Originally posted by ®îjñtjûh
Imagine, a McLaren 1-2 finish and both Fins at the interview table...

I dont know if that'd be the funniest thing in the world or the most annoying!

429CJ · 26 Jun 2003, 16:42 (Ref:643883)

I know one guy who is not a racer: Ralf Schumacher. All his GP wins, he has not made a single overtake on them (not included lapping or passing on pits)!

JohnSSC · 26 Jun 2003, 17:50 (Ref:643931)

This is one of the best threads I have read recently. Thanks everyone!

**Adam43** · 26 Jun 2003, 17:58 (Ref:643938)

Quote:

Originally posted by ®îjñtjûh
Imagine, a McLaren 1-2 finish and both Fins at the interview table...

Mika and Kimi actually have very different interview styles. Mika is short to the point and often a very dry wit (normally too much for the interviewer to take in). A rubbish question (95% of them are) gets exactly what it deserves.

Kimi is just a kid and it shows (good job he is about the most exciting to watch drive a car!).

However neither of them go out there way to be heard. They don't need to be in the headlines or to say something controversial (Mika certainly would rather say something to the person involved quietly). They just want to race cars - very quickly.

I like people who speak their mind, but only when there is something to say. But that's not the way of the world now is it? We need brash obvious soundbites all the time.

A real racer, likes racing best and talking is way down on his priorities. 'Doing is better than talking' is what they think. However if something important needed to be said then I feel a real racer would say it because his inherent passion would make him say it, but even then he would do this is the right way.

neilap · 26 Jun 2003, 21:59 (Ref:644155)

Quote:

Originally posted by JohnSSC
This is one of the best threads I have read recently. Thanks everyone!

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