What's the point of this organised activity? Amateur level that as...

Ok we all have enjoyed the odd spot of it at the traffic lights, but I see that hundreds of people flock to these events in cars ranging from fairly standard or highly modified.

To take a standard car to what is effectively a legalised traffi light GP seems a bit odd. Even more odd, people seem to spend tens of thousands on making their car go quicker - in a straight line. Puzzling.

Surely this takes very little skill? Reaction time and knowing when to change gear??

Drifting or track racing is highly skilled, and I can see the point in that. But drag racing?

"Woohoo i'm going to Santa Pod to drive in a straight line" Maybe i'm missing something, but I really don't get it.

 

I think that's it.

You can show off how great you are (how big your overdraft and Ocean Finance loan is) without needing any skill what-so-ever.

Not really for me, but a few mates enjoy it.

I go on the weekends to drink beer.

 

It is actually a bit of a buzz. Although, after you have done it a couple of times, it quickly becomes dull.

When I went to pod for USC, it was nice to sit on the bank, eat ice cream, talk b0ll0cks, and listen to cars.

But yes, this type of Motorsport is best left for those who have parobolaphobia

 

Have to admit that I don't get it either

The pros have huge budgets and the race is over in 8 seconds or less. I can't see it being much of a spectator sport, until someone has a nasty crash. Maybe it's the thought of someone slamming into the wall at 200mph that draws the crowd.

I've been to a few GTI Festival days at Santa Pod and seeing hot hatchs tearing up the lanes at Santa Pod left me cold.

Each to their own and all that

 

Surely the point of drag racing is like any competitive event - simply winning and being the best?

At pro-level presumably there's some skill involved in getting something with the better part of 10,000 hp off the line to 300 or so MPH in 3 seconds? Balls of steel (or Labia Majori of steel in the case of Shirley Muldowney) are prime qualifications too I guess...

The engineering in these motors is pretty impressive too.

I consider drifting possibly the most pointless activity known to man - but as j8mie says, each to their own - and rejoice in it!

 

I don't really get it myself, I'm also sceptical about the skill involved but at a professional level I suspect it's a different matter and it is a real spectacle.

I also thinking drifting is crap, it fact I'm starting to really hate the expression especially when it's used to describe a pathetic little wheelspin out of a T-junction.

However, I've got a certain amount of respect for anyone that goes out and competes in anything at properly organised events with proper timing rather than boasting in pubs and internet forums about their car's performance figures or ring lap time set by some racing driver with skills they can only dream of.

 

I normally would also say each to their own, but I dont get drag racing At a top level, yep those things are monsters. At a modified road car level - seems like a waste.

I don't lik drifting, but I can appreciate just how skillful that is.

 

It's less about the driving, and more about the engine building.

At least that's the way I understand it to be, but then the guy I spoke to about it was an engine builder. They take great pride in building the engine within the regulations but with more power than the other competitors. If you speak to people who do it and spectate, they will talk more about the cars than the drivers (passengers?).

So it's not so much a sport for drivers, it's a sport for engineers. If you look at it that way I think it makes a bit more sense.

 

I like drifting, but I don't get how it's a 'sport'. Anything where you get points awarded by a judge is far to 'arty'.

(Like ski jumping, why the hell isn't that just on distance? Why to they get 'style' marks?)

If it's engineering, do a dyno shootout.
If it's driving skill, do a track day.

If it's pulling a 20 second 1/4 mile in you Mum's FWD french hatch, it's neither.

 

There's clearly physiological aspects to consider apropos the driver. Reaction times when the Christmas tree goes red are hyper-critical. Optical response - signal to brain - brain to muscles - muscle to mash the pedal.

As MarkB suggests, perhaps it's the engineering that makes the sport such a special attaction for the fans.

I don't think I could stand to watch much drag racing personally - a little goes a long way, much like Mongolian throat singing.