# Are Motorsports "Real" Sports? **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [May 15, 2009, 8:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837 "2009-05-15T08:53:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 10:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/21 "2009-05-15T10:48:20Z")
Spend half an hr on an alcohol powered go-kart and tell me motorsports are not a true sport. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 10:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/22 "2009-05-15T10:49:50Z")
… or an atv, dirtbike, motorcycle, car without power steering etc. More physical and mental goes into racing than would go into many MANY other recognized sports. Fuck I could go on all day about this. ---
**Author:** ![MOBOOST4U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@MOBOOST4U](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MOBOOST4U)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 10:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/23 "2009-05-15T10:52:11Z")
> [@maxwell](#): > > … or an atv, dirtbike, motorcycle, car without power steering etc. > > More physical and mental goes into racing than would go into many MANY other recognized sports. > > Fuck I could go on all day about this. Did you even read the first post. No doubt it takes “athletic”/physical ability but does that make it a sport? And drivers may have to be athletic, but would you call them athletes? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 10:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/24 "2009-05-15T10:54:11Z")
> [@MOBOOST4U](#): > > Did you even read the first post. > > No doubt it takes “athletic”/physical ability but does that make it a sport? > > And drivers may have to be athletic, but would you call them athletes? Lol yeah I did. And yes I would ABSOLUTELY consider them athletes… more-so than many other “athletes” in recognized sports. ---
**Author:** ![Karter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@Karter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Karter)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 10:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/25 "2009-05-15T10:54:36Z")
things that dont count as a professional sport due to how slow and untalented they are golf and football,baseball sports that just dont matter tennis, basketball. this leaves the only real sports being hockey and racing, oh and soccor if your into that kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 10:56am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/26 "2009-05-15T10:56:29Z")
Let me add that talent vs talent plays a HUGE role in motorsports. I do not agree at all with your ‘no’ viewpoint on this topic. ---
**Author:** ![MOBOOST4U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@MOBOOST4U](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MOBOOST4U)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 11:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/27 "2009-05-15T11:02:55Z")
^^^What about drivers that dominate their class for years but then jump factory sponsor, retain their entire team, and now struggle to win? You hear about it all the time… ---
**Author:** ![MOBOOST4U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@MOBOOST4U](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MOBOOST4U)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 11:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/28 "2009-05-15T11:06:37Z")
Also… notice sports like horse racing are more horse oriented than jockey oriented??? Which one is the athlete? Which one are you betting on? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 11:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/29 "2009-05-15T11:09:55Z")
> [@MOBOOST4U](#): > > ^^^What about drivers that dominate their class for years but then jump factory sponsor, retain their entire team, and now struggle to win? That in my opinion is getting way too specific, and swaying too far from the original argument. Bottom line is this… put me in the same car as a professional driver and watch me get whooped. I may have the same car as him with the same power, etc… but he will kick my ass. Why? Because he is a talented driver who is excelling in his SPORT. It goes beyond machinery. It is a talent and just like in any other recognized sport, you will always have the superstars and whatnot. Getting back to what I just quoted you on… just like with superstars in any sport, they have bad years or whatever. This may not be the best example but when Brett Favre came out of retirement and switched teams, he had somewhat of an off year… idk… you get what I am trying to say? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 11:12am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/30 "2009-05-15T11:12:50Z")
I do get where you are coming from with the horse racing thing. Maybe the Favre example was not the best… but IMO horse racing is ALL horse. Put two people in the same car and the more talented driver will win. Put two people on two horses and the better horse will win… Is my sloppy sentence structure and wandering ADD thoughts making any logical sense? 🤓 ---
**Author:** ![Geoff](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geoff/32/6104_2.png) [@Geoff](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geoff)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 11:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/31 "2009-05-15T11:14:55Z")
Just because there are factors and variables within the sport does not mean it is not a sport. In the “no” camp, I suppose the only pure sport would be the orignial olympic games in which competitors were basically naked which eliminated the other variables that may have determined success. ---
**Author:** ![MOBOOST4U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@MOBOOST4U](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MOBOOST4U)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 11:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/32 "2009-05-15T11:18:40Z")
So what you’re saying is in any given race, the best driver should pretty much always prevail by winning, solely based on his talent, and hardly manipulated by any other factor? (Which is the general format for all other forms of athletics). ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 11:19am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/33 "2009-05-15T11:19:01Z")
> [@Geoff](#): > > Just because there are factors and variables within the sport does not mean it is not a sport. > > In the “no” camp, I suppose the only pure sport would be the orignial olympic games in which competitors were basically naked which eliminated the other variables that may have determined success. “You’re hammer was more aerodynamic then his” “Your discus more round” “Your javelin was pointier”. By that argument the ONLY actual sport is running. But you’d have to be barefoot. Then there is the whole issue of diet, stride length, etc. You cannot strip an athletic event down to the sole human being. :picard: ---
**Author:** ![Geoff](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geoff/32/6104_2.png) [@Geoff](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geoff)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 11:19am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/34 "2009-05-15T11:19:04Z")
> [@MOBOOST4U](#): > > So what you’re saying is in any given race, the best driver should pretty much always prevail by winning, solely based on his talent, and hardly manipulated by any other factor? (Which is the general format for all other form of athletics). no. there are other factors, but it is still a sport. (equipment, money, etc) they are all following the same rules. > [@Nikuk](#): > > You cannot strip an athletic event down to the sole human being. :picard: My point exactly (I voted [yes](http://nyspeed.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1373101&postcount=7).) :picard: ---
**Author:** ![MOBOOST4U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@MOBOOST4U](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MOBOOST4U)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 11:21am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/35 "2009-05-15T11:21:02Z")
> [@Geoff](#): > > In the “no” camp, I suppose the only pure sport would be the orignial olympic games in which competitors were basically naked which eliminated the other variables that may have determined success. LMAO… so true… I guess I just draw my variable line differently than you all do. I feel a wooden bat can only differ so much, and soccer cleat is a soccer cleat. A car: 5646546514 interconnected systems that in each event, all work differently. At the end of the day, the driver is the majority of the talent, but I just feel the vehicle means too much. ---
**Author:** ![fiend540](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bcef8e/32.png) [@fiend540](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/fiend540)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 11:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/36 "2009-05-15T11:27:15Z")
> [@MOBOOST4U](#): > > So what you’re saying is in any given race, the best driver should pretty much always prevail by winning, solely based on his talent, and hardly manipulated by any other factor? (Which is the general format for all other forms of athletics). Talent matters in every single sport, and it is what separates good from great, but there are things outside of being the best at something that contribute to winning. Quality of equipment/participants matters in every sport, and such shouldn’t be the reason that motorsports should be excluded as a sport. ---
**Author:** ![MOBOOST4U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@MOBOOST4U](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MOBOOST4U)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 11:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/37 "2009-05-15T11:27:31Z")
> [@Nikuk](#): > > You cannot strip an athletic event down to the sole human being. Agreed, but I feel the closer you get to the “human being,” the more the event takes on the name of a “sport” as opposed to a competition. If that means anything lol. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 11:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/38 "2009-05-15T11:28:12Z")
You cant play hockey without hockey equipment, and to be good at hockey takes tons of practice and dedication. You can’t drive without a car, and to be good at driving takes tons of practice and dedication. ---
**Author:** ![MOBOOST4U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@MOBOOST4U](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MOBOOST4U)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 11:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/39 "2009-05-15T11:35:56Z")
> [@maxwell](#): > > You cant play hockey without hockey equipment, and to be good at hockey takes tons of practice and dedication. > > You can’t drive without a car, and to be good at driving takes tons of practice and dedication. Ok that doesn’t really help your argument. You’re just arguing practice makes perfect. You cant play poker without cards, and to be good at poker you need practice and dedication. You cant tango without a partner, and to be good at tangoing you need lots of practice and dedication. You cant be a speed reader without a book, and to be a speed reader it takes lots of practice and dedication. You cant be a good craftsman without tools, and to be a good craftsman it takes lots of practice and dedication… I get what you’re saying and what you’re thinking, I just disagree. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 11:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837/40 "2009-05-15T11:40:38Z")
Very good rebuttal. What you are saying is very true. Ugh internet debates are so HARD.🤓 [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/are-motorsports-real-sports/67837.md?page=3)