"Major Sporting Event Coming to Portland" Announcement 11am today (It's Indy Car)

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You bet your ass. I was in much better shape when I raced cars as an amateur(*) - these guys are top level athletes.

* - part of it was that I could not get in the seat of my car if I gained any weight - but whatever the reason is - you need stamina, you need to be able to handle extreme heat or cold (if you are in an open cockpit car) for long times under high stress and extreme g forces.

Did you race here in Portland? I raced here locally many years ago and still support my brother and now his son at the Oregon, Washington tracks. This weekend is the 8 hour endurance event at P.I.R. One of my favorites.
 
Did you race here in Portland? I raced here locally many years ago and still support my brother and now his son at the Oregon, Washington tracks. This weekend is the 8 hour endurance event at P.I.R. One of my favorites.

I did - but last time I ran PIR was probably in 2009 with occasional event up to 2011. Started racing a Miata in the 90s, ran a super-7 most of the 2000s and a couple of races in the end before we moved to California with a vintage GTV. I used to do a lot of rallycross events in Hillsboro, Eugene and around Washington. These were my favorite events - but again, have not raced in Portland since 2011 or so.
 
I ran in the old RX7 challenge class 17 years ago. I quit when my youngest was 1 to raise a family. Kept the car though. Looking to get back in the endurance races in a year or two. The Miata class is crazy!
 
I ran in the old RX7 challenge class 17 years ago. I quit when my youngest was 1 to raise a family. Kept the car though. Looking to get back in the endurance races in a year or two. The Miata class is crazy!

I never ran the Miata in a spec-Miata which is crazy (I love watching them). I believe it was ITB when I ran it last (a long time ago) and I think we had some RX7s at the class at the time. I know what you mean not racing when you have kids. They sure take a lot of time. Unfortunately, my kids never cared about racing - so no father/kid efforts for me.

Unfortunately, I now live more than 2 hours away from the nearest track. I still keep my old GTV race car. Maybe when my kids leave to college in 7 years I will get a trailer and go back to race vintage.
 
And any idiot can freestyle rap. You prove that. :wink: :laugh:

Actually no. None of you here could. Freestyling is not easy. Not sure why you think it is. I'm not even that good at it. But give me a little time to write...
 
Curious where you draw the line. As previously mentioned, driving is a much more strenuous activity than golfing. So, I can only assume you do not consider golfers to be athletes. Where is your break off point for athletes and non-athletes?

People that are doing athletic things? :dunno: This is an age old argument.

Golf no. Racing? Pushing it IMO.
 
People that are doing athletic things? :dunno: This is an age old argument.

Golf no. Racing? Pushing it IMO.


Read the links about the work regiment for these guys that I provided. These guys are in top form.
 
People that are doing athletic things? :dunno: This is an age old argument.

Golf no. Racing? Pushing it IMO.

Don't you think reaction time is athletic? That is a big part of racing.
 
Being in top form doesn't make what you do athletic man...

Having 170+ BPM for 90-120 minutes is definitely an athletic fit. Being able to handle the g forces for hours is an athletic ability. You really think you can train with Tour cyclists if you are not an athlete or finish the triathlon in such fast time if you are not? These guys train as long as top athletes from any other sport.

I do not believe they can run as fast, jump as high or lift as much as the top athletes from other sports - but I assure you that most of these guys will not be able to handle the tasks these guys perform in race cars for long periods of time at the speeds they need to perform them either.

The dictionary definition - https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/athlete - is

Definition of athlete
:a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina

Check, check and check.
 
Having 170+ BPM for 90-120 minutes is definitely an athletic fit. Being able to handle the g forces for hours is an athletic ability. You really think you can train with Tour cyclists if you are not an athlete or finish the triathlon in such fast time if you are not? These guys train as long as top athletes from any other sport.

I do not believe they can run as fast, jump as high or lift as much as the top athletes from other sports - but I assure you that most of these guys will not be able to handle the tasks these guys perform in race cars for long periods of time at the speeds they need to perform them either.

The dictionary definition - https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/athlete - is

Definition of athlete
:a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina

Check, check and check.

For future reference stop using the dictionary.

1st, I could give a fuck what Merriam Webster thinks.
2nd, This subject is... subjective.

I don't need stats. I don't need figures. IMO Racing isn't a sport.
 
People that are doing athletic things? :dunno: This is an age old argument.

Golf no. Racing? Pushing it IMO.
I don't necessarily disagree with you. I don't quite know where I draw the line myself. Without giving it too much thought, I agree with your "definition", but the problem is you're using the word to define itself.
I think that you can do something that requires you to be in good physical shape without being an athlete...and somehow, the opposite is also true. As an example, I think F1 drivers have a far more physically taxing job than baseball players - yet baseball players are clearly athletes. I'm inclined to agree that drivers are not. F1 drivers are more akin to fighter pilots or astronauts - something that requires you to be in peak physical shape, but goes well beyond that - there's a whole mental aspect that is absolutely necessary to do these things, that can be utterly absent in athletes (see: Aminu).
 
Yes but it matters who defines those words.

“History is written by the victors.”

- Walter Benjamin

Pfft. Don't quote me on Victors and come at me with a Walter.

- Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots.

Victor Hugo.
 
Pfft. Don't quote me on Victors and come at me with a Walter.

- Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots.

Victor Hugo.

This quote literally has nothing to do with what I'm saying at all.

Bottom line:

Merriam Webster is crap and I don't accept definitions from them.
 
Good. Because I was that close to unleashing a Victor Oladipo quote on you.

-- I'm just abnormal. I'm a weird dude.

Victor Oladipo.

Damnit.
It's a wise man who knows when to throw in the towel.
And it is a moron who gives advice to a horse's arse.
--Victor Victoria (1982)
 
I love the old quote. "Racing is the only sport you have to remind yourself to breathe"

Anyone who has raced cars etc. knows how real that is.

Not looking to convince anybody of anything. Just don't think people realize how tough it really is.
 
I love the old quote. "Racing is the only sport you have to remind yourself to breathe"

Anyone who has raced cars etc. knows how real that is.

Not looking to convince anybody of anything. Just don't think people realize how tough it really is.

I have no doubt it's tough. Badminton is also tough.
 
It's a wise man who knows when to throw in the towel.
And it is a moron who gives advice to a horse's arse.
--Victor Victoria (1982)

I like this one:

“Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”

Mark Twain
 
I love the old quote. "Racing is the only sport you have to remind yourself to breathe"

Anyone who has raced cars etc. knows how real that is.

Not looking to convince anybody of anything. Just don't think people realize how tough it really is.

Can confirm. Went for a ride with someone who had raced pro Go Karts once. If you think those guys aren't trained or professionals at what they do, you don't know shit. They drive 80 like you are 25 mph. I had my heart beating as loud as John Bonham's bass drum by the third stop. It's amazing how until you actually experience something, you don't get the full "OH THIS IS A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME type feeling.
 
Is a pro Esport gamer an athlete? They have to have really fast reaction times and the ability to stay focused too for long periods of time.
 

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