Racing

Encyclopedia : R : RA : RAC : Racing

This article is about the speed competition. For the Argentinian football club, see Racing Club; for the Spanish football club see Racing de Santander.

$Offshore inflatable racing (Thundercat class) at Ilfracombe, north Devon, England.These boats can reach 60mph$
Offshore inflatable racing (Thundercat class) at Ilfracombe, north Devon, England.These boats can reach 60mph

Air racing:Hungarian aerobatics pilot Peter Besenyei at speed in his Extra 300 at an air race in England

A race is a competition of speed. The competitors in a race try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time. Typically this involves traversing some distance, but it can be any other task involving speed.

A race to cover a certain distance may be any length, and using any means stipulated by the rules. Running a distance is the most basic form of racing, but races are often conducted in vehicles, such as boats and cars, on or with animals such as horses and in aircraft.

A race may be run continuously from start to finish or may be made of several segments called heats or stages. A heat is usually run over the same course at different times. A stage is a shorter section of a much longer course or a time trial.

Early records of races are evident on pottery from ancient Greece, which depicted running men vying for first place. A chariot race is described in Homer's Iliad.

Contents

1 List of types of race

1.1 Unassisted human racing
1.2 Cycle racing
1.3 Ski racing
1.4 Animal racing
1.5 Aircraft racing
1.6 Motorized racing (motorsport)
1.7 Boat racing
1.8 Other types

2 Etymology
3 See also

List of types of race

Unassisted human racing

Using only the human body's own muscles:

Cycle racing

Bicycle racing:

Track cycling, such as a Points race
Road bicycle racing, such as the Tour de France
Mountain (offroad) cycling

Ski racing

Skiing with skis, on snow:

Alpine skiing such as Slalom skiing or Downhill skiing
Cross-country skiing

Animal racing

Animals alone, or with human riders on the animal's back or in a conveyance:

Camel racing
Dog racing
* Greyhound racing
* Dogsled racing, such as the Iditarod
Horse-racing, see also United Kingdom horse-racing and Equestrianism
* Chariot racing
* Flat racing
* Thoroughbred horse races, such as Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing or a Derby.
* Trotting
* Steeplechase
Pigeon racing
Pig racing

Aircraft racing

Air racing

Motorized racing (motorsport)

Machines powered by motors, on land:

Auto racing (also known as automobile racing, motor racing or autosport)

Formula One, Formula Ford, GP2 Series (Replacement for Formula 3000)
* Grand Prix motor racing
* Production car racing
* Rally racing, Drifting
* Drag racing
* Sand Drag Racing
* Road racing
* Sports car racing
* Stock car racing, NASCAR,
* Open wheel racing, IndyCars, Champ Car
* dirt speedway racing
* Sprint car racing
* Offroad racing
* Touring car racing
* Truck racing
Kart racing
Motorcycle racing, such as the Isle of Man TT
* Motocross Racing
* Grand Prix motorcycle racing
* Pocketbike Racing
* Production Bike Racing
* Superbike racing
Snowmobile racing ("land" = land or frozen lakes/rivers)
lawnmower racing

Boat racing

Boats on water:

Drag boat racing
Dragon boat racing
Hydroplane racing
Jet sprint boat racing
Offshore powerboat racing
Outrigger Canoe racing
Rowing
Sailing or yacht racing also match race such as America's Cup races or team racing.

Other types

Some races involve multiple modes of transport:

Etymology

The word race comes from a Viking word. This Viking word arrived in France during the invading of Normandy and gave the word raz which means "swift water" in Brittany; it can be found in "Pointe du Raz" (the most western point of France, in Brittany), and "raz-de-marée" (tsunami).

A race and its name are often associated with the place of origin, the means of transport and the distance of the race. As a couple of examples, see the Dakar Rally or the Athens marathon.