Are NASCAR drivers athletes? but they just drive a car.........
#35
Posted 17 July 2005 - 02:11 AM
A few things.
Why did gamegirl single out NASCAR drivers as distinct from any other kind of motorsport driver?
It is true that motorsport driving is intensely physical and requires training and diligence - they need excellent reflexes, excellent mechanical understanding (less so in some forms of driving where the mechanical support is done by remote), a body that can withstand a lot of strain (they don't really go to a great deal of effort, but they can die from cardiac stress or suffer degeneration from G-forces) - but they aren't athletes. NASCAR drivers, Indycar, Supercar and Formula 1 definetely.
Rally drivers and the old grand touring racing (before Group C racing came in) are a bit of a grey area. I've seen those guys do some pretty impressive things when trying to finish a race in half a car.
Why did gamegirl single out NASCAR drivers as distinct from any other kind of motorsport driver?
It is true that motorsport driving is intensely physical and requires training and diligence - they need excellent reflexes, excellent mechanical understanding (less so in some forms of driving where the mechanical support is done by remote), a body that can withstand a lot of strain (they don't really go to a great deal of effort, but they can die from cardiac stress or suffer degeneration from G-forces) - but they aren't athletes. NASCAR drivers, Indycar, Supercar and Formula 1 definetely.
Rally drivers and the old grand touring racing (before Group C racing came in) are a bit of a grey area. I've seen those guys do some pretty impressive things when trying to finish a race in half a car.
#37
Posted 17 July 2005 - 07:23 PM
compedative driving requires a lot of skill; maintaining the 'racing line' for maximimum efficiencey, knowing when to to break and how much to break when approaching corners, overtaking without sacrificing the racing line by too much, picking the upmost efficient time to change gears, etc. etc. the list goes on...
they are no less sportsmen then anyone else, but athletes, if we must resort to staying on topic, are strictly by definition people who physically appraoch a chalange unequiped.
running, climbing, jumping, throwing, fighting.
that's it.
it's a stupid question when you think about it...
and even stupider if you have to think about it!!!
they are no less sportsmen then anyone else, but athletes, if we must resort to staying on topic, are strictly by definition people who physically appraoch a chalange unequiped.
running, climbing, jumping, throwing, fighting.
that's it.
it's a stupid question when you think about it...
and even stupider if you have to think about it!!!
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#41
Posted 18 July 2005 - 11:25 AM
I still maintain that some rednecks are good people.
but to diminish that point by bringing to light that we're a Nation of rednecks (and therefore, Southern citizens of the US are unfairly besmirched) bothers me not.
(e'en so, thank God for Mississippi)
I believe Barend's argument was it's the body that makes the athlete, not the apparatus he straps him/herself to. Just honing the point to include cyclists as athletes, although they are strapped to a device.
but to diminish that point by bringing to light that we're a Nation of rednecks (and therefore, Southern citizens of the US are unfairly besmirched) bothers me not.
(e'en so, thank God for Mississippi)
I believe Barend's argument was it's the body that makes the athlete, not the apparatus he straps him/herself to. Just honing the point to include cyclists as athletes, although they are strapped to a device.
#44
Posted 21 July 2005 - 08:19 PM
but we have westies...
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