Difference between revisions of "Road racing"

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'''''Road racing''' can be a term involving [[road running]], [[road bicycle racing|road bicycle races]], or automobile races.  As contemplated in this article, the term will be treated as it relates to [[motorsport]], specifically car and motorcycle racing.''   
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'''''Road racing''' can be a term involving [[road running]], [[road bicycle racing|road bicycle races]], or [[automobile]] races.  As contemplated in this article, the term will be treated as it relates to [[motorsport]], specifically, [[automobile racing]] and [[motorcycle racing]].''   
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[[Image:Motorcycle phillip island02.jpg|thumb|250px|Road bike racing around Phillip Island]]
  
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'''Road racing''' can be of two types. True road races are run over what are, in fact, actual public [[road]]s that have been temporarily closed off to the public for the purpose of conducting a race. Notable examples of this include the [[Monaco]] Grand Prix which is conducted on the city streets of the small principality, and the [[Isle of Man]] [[Isle_of_Man_TT|Tourist Trophy]], probably the most famous motorcycle race of its type.  Alternatively, road races can be conducted on purpose-built [[racetrack]]s that, due to their irregular shapes and many turns and curves, resemble true road courses. Due to safety and insurance concerns, this style of racing has largely supplanted true road racing, particularly in [[Europe]]. In the [[USA]], road racing is also conducted on oval tracks, such as in the [[NASCAR]] series.
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==Types of road courses==
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[[Image:Riverside Raceway.JPG|thumb|[[Riverside International Raceway]] is an example of a road course]]
  
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Global road-racing series such as [[Formula One]] car racing and [[MotoGP]] motorcycle racing are almost always conducted on dedicated race tracks, with only a few exceptions. Several of these tracks are world-renowned, such as the circuits at [[Le Mans]], [[Imola]], and [[Silverstone_Circuit|Silverstone]]. Recent expansion of these international series has resulted in dedicated tracks being built in [[Qatar]], [[Shanghai]] and [[Sepang]] ([[Malaysia]]).
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'''Road racing''' can be of two types: in the first, car or motorcycle races are run on specially built, closed circuit courses; in the second, public [[road]]s are temporarily closed off for the purpose of conducting a race. Notable examples of this include the [[Monaco Grand Prix]] which is conducted on the city streets of the small principality, the [[Mille Miglia]], the [[Targa Florio]],and the [[Isle of Man]]. The [[Isle of Man TT|Tourist Trophy]], probably the most famous motorcycle race of its type, takes place over the [[Snaefell Mountain Course]], as well as the Northwest 200 in Ireland. Today, some small portion of these automobile race tracks are called temporary street courses.  
  
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The most famous U.S. road courses include the tracks at [[Watkins Glen, New York]] and [[Sebring, Florida]]; others include the road course built at [[Daytona International Speedway]] and [[Infineon Raceway]] in [[California]]. Additionally, [[Grand Prix motor racing|Grand Prix]]-style road course racing over public streets is making something of a comeback; the most famous race of this sort currently held is the one hosted annually in [[Long Beach, California]]. The [[San Jose Grand Prix]] features a road course passing directly through downtown, and hopes to follow in Long Beach's success.
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Of the former, closed circuit type, purpose-built [[race track]]s are used that, due to their irregular shapes and many turns and curves, resemble true road courses. Due to safety and insurance concerns, this style of racing has largely supplanted true road racing, particularly in [[Europe]]. Road racing is also occasionally conducted using the infield and [[Oval track|oval]] portions of tracks making a "[[roval]]", such as the [[24 Hours of Daytona]]. Road racing has become a featured part of many racing video games.
  
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[[Category:Auto racing]]
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==Global road courses==
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Global road-racing series such as [[Formula One]] car racing and [[MotoGP]] motorcycle racing are almost always conducted on dedicated race tracks—with only a few exceptions. Several of these tracks are world-renowned, such as the circuits at [[Le Mans]], [[Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari|Imola]], and [[Silverstone Circuit|Silverstone]]. Recent expansion of these international series has resulted in dedicated tracks being built in [[Qatar]] in the [[Middle East]], [[Sepang]] in [[Malaysia]], and [[Shanghai]] in [[China]].
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==North American road courses==
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There was a long tradition of road racing on real streets in United States. Now the most famous American road courses are all purpose-built, but some where the original tradition evolved include: [[Riverside International Raceway]] at [[Riverside, California]] (now closed); [[Watkins Glen International]] at [[Watkins Glen, New York]]; [[Road America]] at [[Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin]]; and [[Infineon Raceway]] at [[Sonoma, California]]. After a few decades of such events three sons of [[Barron Collier]]—Barron, Miles, and Samuel—founded the ''Automobile Racing Club of America'' in 1933. That organization became the [[Sports Car Club of America]] in 1944. Throughout its history, American race car drivers such as [[Briggs Cunningham]], [[Lake Underwood]], [[Carroll Shelby]], and [[Mark Donohue]] were among the contestants at these road racing events.
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Other less famous purpose-built road courses include:  [[Moroso Motorsports Park]], [[Barber Motorsports Park]], [[Miller Motorsports Park]], [[Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course]], [[Heartland Park Topeka]], [[Lime Rock Park]], [[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca]], [[Road Atlanta]], [[Portland International Raceway]], and [[Virginia International Raceway]].  Additionally, [[Grand Prix motor racing|Grand Prix]]-style road course racing over public streets is making something of a comeback; the most famous race of this sort currently held is the one hosted annually in [[Long Beach, California]]. Other famous street circuits in [[North America]] include events held in [[St. Petersburg, Florida]], [[Vancouver]], [[Canada]], and [[Toronto, Canada]]. Airport runways figure into several part-time road courses in North America: [[Burke Lakefront Airport]] in [[Cleveland, Ohio]] hosts a [[Champ Car]] race every summer; the [[Streets of St. Petersburg|St. Petersburg]] course uses the runway of a [[Albert Whitted Airport|small airport]] as its main straight, and [[Sebring International Raceway]], home of the prestigious [[12 Hours of Sebring|12-hour race]] in March, was formerly a military airfield in [[Sebring, Florida]].
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==See also==
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*[[Oval track]]
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*[[Roval]]
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*[[Dragstrip]]
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==External links==
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*http://www.rrdc.org/  ''see'' - ''[[Road Racing Drivers Club]]'' - many photographs with biographies of all ever invited to join, living and deceased
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*http://www.scca.org/  ''see'' - ''[[Sports Car Club of America]]'' - Large road racing organization in the United States, originally founded as the Automobile Racing Club of America in 1933
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*http://www.wera.com/  ''see'' - ''[[WERA Motorcycle Racing]]'' - the largest amateur motorcycle road racing organization in the United States
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*[http://www.nasaracing.net/nasa_regions.htm National Auto Sports Association] ''see'' - ''[[National Auto Sport Association]]
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*http://www.sportbikes.com International Sportbike Forum
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*http://www.trackHQ.com - The Central Archives of Road Course Photos, Videos, and discussion forums for everything related to amateur track day on Road Courses.
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*http://www.morosomotorsportspark.com Year-round, full facility motorsports park with a 2.2 mile road course, located in the Palm Beaches of Florida.
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*[http://www.ma.org.au Motorcycling Australia (MA)]- Australian Governing Body
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[[Category:Auto racing by type]]

Latest revision as of 13:36, 20 January 2008

Road racing can be a term involving road running, road bicycle races, or automobile races. As contemplated in this article, the term will be treated as it relates to motorsport, specifically, automobile racing and motorcycle racing.

Road bike racing around Phillip Island

Types of road courses

Riverside International Raceway is an example of a road course

Road racing can be of two types: in the first, car or motorcycle races are run on specially built, closed circuit courses; in the second, public roads are temporarily closed off for the purpose of conducting a race. Notable examples of this include the Monaco Grand Prix which is conducted on the city streets of the small principality, the Mille Miglia, the Targa Florio,and the Isle of Man. The Tourist Trophy, probably the most famous motorcycle race of its type, takes place over the Snaefell Mountain Course, as well as the Northwest 200 in Ireland. Today, some small portion of these automobile race tracks are called temporary street courses.

Of the former, closed circuit type, purpose-built race tracks are used that, due to their irregular shapes and many turns and curves, resemble true road courses. Due to safety and insurance concerns, this style of racing has largely supplanted true road racing, particularly in Europe. Road racing is also occasionally conducted using the infield and oval portions of tracks making a "roval", such as the 24 Hours of Daytona. Road racing has become a featured part of many racing video games.

Global road courses

Global road-racing series such as Formula One car racing and MotoGP motorcycle racing are almost always conducted on dedicated race tracks—with only a few exceptions. Several of these tracks are world-renowned, such as the circuits at Le Mans, Imola, and Silverstone. Recent expansion of these international series has resulted in dedicated tracks being built in Qatar in the Middle East, Sepang in Malaysia, and Shanghai in China.

North American road courses

There was a long tradition of road racing on real streets in United States. Now the most famous American road courses are all purpose-built, but some where the original tradition evolved include: Riverside International Raceway at Riverside, California (now closed); Watkins Glen International at Watkins Glen, New York; Road America at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin; and Infineon Raceway at Sonoma, California. After a few decades of such events three sons of Barron Collier—Barron, Miles, and Samuel—founded the Automobile Racing Club of America in 1933. That organization became the Sports Car Club of America in 1944. Throughout its history, American race car drivers such as Briggs Cunningham, Lake Underwood, Carroll Shelby, and Mark Donohue were among the contestants at these road racing events.

Other less famous purpose-built road courses include: Moroso Motorsports Park, Barber Motorsports Park, Miller Motorsports Park, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Heartland Park Topeka, Lime Rock Park, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Road Atlanta, Portland International Raceway, and Virginia International Raceway. Additionally, Grand Prix-style road course racing over public streets is making something of a comeback; the most famous race of this sort currently held is the one hosted annually in Long Beach, California. Other famous street circuits in North America include events held in St. Petersburg, Florida, Vancouver, Canada, and Toronto, Canada. Airport runways figure into several part-time road courses in North America: Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio hosts a Champ Car race every summer; the St. Petersburg course uses the runway of a small airport as its main straight, and Sebring International Raceway, home of the prestigious 12-hour race in March, was formerly a military airfield in Sebring, Florida.

See also

External links

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