The Dangers of Motor Sport

[Max Speed]

Even though F1 is so much safer nowadays, of course it will be impossible to eliminate the danger completely. In any open top form of racing, where the drivers head is often traveling somewhere in between 180-200mph it stands to reason that if it makes contact with an immovable object the result will be calamitous. Accidents are part and parcel of Motor Racing, but the absolute aim has to be making them survivable. Anyone who would disagree with this would, in effect, be saying that the chance of death would be preferable.

[Dragonfly]

So?
What's the purpose of your slogan?

[Callum]

Is this in answer to anything?

[beelsebob]

Correct, and?

[Max Speed]

Doesn't have to be "in answer to anything", doesn't have to be a controversial comment, just the sentiments of a motorsport fan of 43 years who is saddened by the events of the past two weeks. And "the purpose", as somebody strangely asked, is to vent my thoughts. Thought this site was a "blog", not a tool of great purpose.

[axle]

Even though F1 is so much safer nowadays, of course it will be impossible to eliminate the danger completely. In any open top form of racing, where the drivers head is often traveling somewhere in between 180-200mph it stands to reason that if it makes contact with an immovable object the result will be calamitous. Accidents are part and parcel of Motor Racing, but the absolute aim has to be making them survivable. Anyone who would disagree with this would, in effect, be saying that the chance of death would be preferable.

have you not worked out that to feel alive some people need to fleet with death? It natural, human nature.

[Max Speed]

I don't think that if you asked any of the current F1 drivers if the reason they drove F1 cars was to "fleet with death" they would agree with you.

[beelsebob]

I don't think that if you asked any of the current F1 drivers if the reason they drove F1 cars was to "fleet with death" they would agree with you.

No, in fact, DiResta stated that while Indy Car and Moto GP are clearly very dangerous, he feels (mostly) safe in F1. I'd tend to agree with him that while it's possible to be killed in an F1 car, it's *extremely* unlikely, partly due to car design, and partly due to circuit design.

[Giblet]

Look at all the tight racing and dangerous moves that have happened to Schumacher. Other than a broken foot for t-boning into a wall at high speed he had precious little injury to show for all his races, all done at 10/10ths.

He retires, races motorbikes recreationally, and brakes his neck doing that instead.

[beelsebob]

Yes,absolutely i agree that motor sport it is illegal and dangerous yet, despite its illegality and danger, it has become a popular "underground" sport.

Illegal?

[tathan]

Underground?

Is it a full moon or something?

[Richard]

Its illegal in Switzerland.

[mnmracer]

Kinda ironic that's where the most successfull Formula One drivers live

While it can't be denied that there is a risk to even Formula One, you have to wonder what would have to happen for a driver to get killed in F1 these days. We've seen Luciano Burti go straight into the tires with 273kph (I think was the impact speed) at Blanchimont. Robert Kubica went into a concrete wall in Canada with 300kph. We've seen the BARs test every possible crash angle in Eau Rouge, while sideways impacts like the massive shunts of Button and Perez in Monaco all went without serious injuries. Even a spring to the head was just a temporary set-back for Massa. If a driver can be killed in Formula One, I currently do not see how.

[Gerhard Berger]

I agree with the above. Safety standards are very high. However, i still think the biggest threat to an F1 driver is a head injury due to their head being exposed and only being protected by a helmet.

Wurz/Coulthard in Melbourne 06 (or 07), Schumacher in Abu Dhabi last year, and Massa in Hungary 09 could have all ended up much worse.

[Tufty]

Here's one journalist's reaction to the events of the past month [add to the 2 in here that an eleven year old boy also died recently, karting].

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/rac ... ad67fa3908

And my own response to it, posted before Mark Webber's partner had a go at her [couldn't find the link to that, sorry]: http://www.fofassociation.com/features.php?id=198