Comments on: Why Gas Prices Don’t Affect Motorsports http://twoguysrally.com/2008/06/27/why-gas-prices-dont-affect-motorsports/ Two guys on a journey into the Rally Racing world Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:05:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Charles Smith http://twoguysrally.com/2008/06/27/why-gas-prices-dont-affect-motorsports/#comment-338 Charles Smith Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:13:10 +0000 http://twoguysrally.com/?p=82#comment-338 Yea, good point Phil. Just like the SCCA data: club racers are racing on the margins but factory racers could care less. Yea, good point Phil. Just like the SCCA data: club racers are racing on the margins but factory racers could care less.

]]> By: Phil http://twoguysrally.com/2008/06/27/why-gas-prices-dont-affect-motorsports/#comment-336 Phil Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:34:56 +0000 http://twoguysrally.com/?p=82#comment-336 I'd imagine that the bigger the percentage of the total cost that the gas represents, the more likely it is to affect attendance. Meaning that grassroots stuff like auto-x and rallyx are what will be (are being) hit worst. They already have an electric rally in Japan btw. I’d imagine that the bigger the percentage of the total cost that the gas represents, the more likely it is to affect attendance. Meaning that grassroots stuff like auto-x and rallyx are what will be (are being) hit worst.

They already have an electric rally in Japan btw.

]]> By: Gas Saving Tip #3 at Two Guys Rally http://twoguysrally.com/2008/06/27/why-gas-prices-dont-affect-motorsports/#comment-286 Gas Saving Tip #3 at Two Guys Rally Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:52:41 +0000 http://twoguysrally.com/?p=82#comment-286 [...] in contact with the ground, and while this may generally be a good thing for racing, as we all know racing is not about fuel economy. Increased rolling resistance (which equates to traction) makes your engine work harder. Harder [...] […] in contact with the ground, and while this may generally be a good thing for racing, as we all know racing is not about fuel economy. Increased rolling resistance (which equates to traction) makes your engine work harder. Harder […]

]]> By: Idiot Cyvant http://twoguysrally.com/2008/06/27/why-gas-prices-dont-affect-motorsports/#comment-268 Idiot Cyvant Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:01:29 +0000 http://twoguysrally.com/?p=82#comment-268 http://www.leftlanenews.com/worst-protest-ever-german-man-burns-bmw-to-protest-gas-prices.html ^somewhat relevant; primarily funny http://www.leftlanenews.com/worst-protest-ever-german-man-burns-bmw-to-protest-gas-prices.html

^somewhat relevant; primarily funny

]]> By: Mark Ozimek http://twoguysrally.com/2008/06/27/why-gas-prices-dont-affect-motorsports/#comment-247 Mark Ozimek Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:22:38 +0000 http://twoguysrally.com/?p=82#comment-247 That is an excellent point, I never really stopped to consider how small the cost of gasoline is in the grand scheme of things for most race teams. For the SCCA, I can sorta understand, since many of their events are cheap to attend, especially if you're a member. I tend to look at it more along the lines of how gas prices affect motorsports from an engineering standpoint. Fuel consumption is an issue that is once again being brought to the forefront of everyone's mind. Normal people seem to be getting frustrated with the price of gas, and things are ready for a pretty major shift in design philosophy. We might start seeing radical things happen like the introduction of a hybrid or electric only class in some rally events. We actually discussed an electric rally car a while back, and generally decided it would be pretty badass. :P Racing is starting to see things change already. It looks like the FIA is going to add kinetic energy recovery systems for the 2009 F1 season, which means the F1 cars could technically be considered hybrids. How this will be implemented, I'm not entirely sure yet, but the potential for advancements in fuel usage in the high power range that most motorsports require will surely bring some awesome benefits to the average person over the next couple years. That is an excellent point, I never really stopped to consider how small the cost of gasoline is in the grand scheme of things for most race teams. For the SCCA, I can sorta understand, since many of their events are cheap to attend, especially if you’re a member.

I tend to look at it more along the lines of how gas prices affect motorsports from an engineering standpoint. Fuel consumption is an issue that is once again being brought to the forefront of everyone’s mind. Normal people seem to be getting frustrated with the price of gas, and things are ready for a pretty major shift in design philosophy. We might start seeing radical things happen like the introduction of a hybrid or electric only class in some rally events. We actually discussed an electric rally car a while back, and generally decided it would be pretty badass. :P

Racing is starting to see things change already. It looks like the FIA is going to add kinetic energy recovery systems for the 2009 F1 season, which means the F1 cars could technically be considered hybrids. How this will be implemented, I’m not entirely sure yet, but the potential for advancements in fuel usage in the high power range that most motorsports require will surely bring some awesome benefits to the average person over the next couple years.

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