AUTOMOBILE RACING

When automobile racing began in the 1890’s, the speed were like those of a fast horse and buggy. The first major race, held in 1895, was from Paris to Bordeaux, France, and back. The winner averaged only24 kilometers (15 miles) an hour. But the speeds of racing automobiles increased every year. By the 1960’s, the racing automobile was nearly as fast as some kinds of airplanes.
Autoracing includes event and classes for almost every kind of four wheeled vehicle. The racing rules and formulas are established so that the vehicles in each classperform as much like the others as possible.
Racing takes place many kinds of tracks. There are oval track, drag strips, and twisting tracks build around oval track. There are also cross-country races on public roads or on the dirt and sand. If a car is designed for one type of track if minor change are made in the car.
The emphasis in automobile racing has shifted away from pure speed. Race car designers now concentrate on improving the cornering speeds, breaking, and furl economy of their machines. Top speeds on a straight course have not increased much since the 1960’s. But racing cars are getting around the track faster. This is because of improvement in tires, design, brakes, and aerodynamic (the study of the way in which air affects moving objects). It can be said, then, that winners of race are determined by abilities of the drivers, the car designers, and the mechanics.
Modern racing cars have been made safer with stout metal frame bars, noneploding fuel tanks, and build-in fire estinguishers. Race courses are now usually lined wth safety barriers to help stop cars that go out of control. Safety helmets and fire proof driving suits provide more protection for the driver. But racing is still a dangerous sport, and the driver must be highly skilled.