Did race car drivers have to be more skilled in the old days?
12-07-2018, 11:09 PM
#1
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Did race car drivers have to be more skilled in the old days?
Saw this video on the PCA website. Just look at the hand/foot action. Before the days of PSM PTV ABS. Less speed but way fewer safety features.
12-08-2018, 04:08 AM
#2
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YES
12-08-2018, 04:14 AM
#3
Yes, but more important have bigger *****
12-08-2018, 04:28 AM
#4
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I wouldn’t say so, this is a current driver in an old car, I don’t think he looks like he’s struggling or lacking in any way
Check out Goodwood Revival, a bunch of current and ex drivers racing old machinery to the limit.
If you can drive, you can drive
JC
Check out Goodwood Revival, a bunch of current and ex drivers racing old machinery to the limit.
If you can drive, you can drive
JC
12-08-2018, 05:48 AM
#5
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Resounding YES.
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12-08-2018, 07:52 AM
#8
Resounding No from me. Everything went much slower and pressing a clutch and moving a gear level is not where the real skill of a racing driver lies. In the old days the pool of racing drivers was much smaller. With the amount of data analysis and because the sport has become more accessible to a broader section of the population, it takes more skill and training now to really stand out. Higher speeds and gforces also mean fitness levels and concentration levels need to be much higher.
We are all speculating of course, but I reckon if your took a random selection of current top drivers and ported them to the ‘70 they would cream the rest of the field once familiar with the controls. Vice versa I reckon the old era drivers wouldn’t stand a chance in a modern race series.
Still amazing though how they risked their lives and for sure the sport was more spectacular to watch back then.
We are all speculating of course, but I reckon if your took a random selection of current top drivers and ported them to the ‘70 they would cream the rest of the field once familiar with the controls. Vice versa I reckon the old era drivers wouldn’t stand a chance in a modern race series.
Still amazing though how they risked their lives and for sure the sport was more spectacular to watch back then.
12-08-2018, 09:55 AM
#10
i don't know. I'd love to see someone like Gilles Villeneuve drive a modern car. I think he would puke in the face of pretty much everybody. He wouldn't finish half the races but he'd win the other half.
12-08-2018, 10:08 AM
#11
Nordschleife Master
Resounding No from me. Everything went much slower and pressing a clutch and moving a gear level is not where the real skill of a racing driver lies. In the old days the pool of racing drivers was much smaller. With the amount of data analysis and because the sport has become more accessible to a broader section of the population, it takes more skill and training now to really stand out. Higher speeds and gforces also mean fitness levels and concentration levels need to be much higher.
We are all speculating of course, but I reckon if your took a random selection of current top drivers and ported them to the ‘70 they would cream the rest of the field once familiar with the controls. Vice versa I reckon the old era drivers wouldn’t stand a chance in a modern race series.
Still amazing though how they risked their lives and for sure the sport was more spectacular to watch back then.
We are all speculating of course, but I reckon if your took a random selection of current top drivers and ported them to the ‘70 they would cream the rest of the field once familiar with the controls. Vice versa I reckon the old era drivers wouldn’t stand a chance in a modern race series.
Still amazing though how they risked their lives and for sure the sport was more spectacular to watch back then.
24 hour endurance races used to take finesse...the cars were fragile. you were putting 350 ish HP thru a 915 gear box. if you didnt have finesse the car wouldnt last
The modern cups you can beat the crap out of them and they just keeping going....they are faster, but much much easier to drive at the limit. ABS and TC make it REALLY easy....and all you have to do is repeat data
In the 60s and 70s...up until early 90s if a few guys wanted to campaign a car in an endurance race it was possible on a reasonable budget
These days the best drivers are not the ones running....the ones running are the ones with the largest checkbook / trust fund ect.....pro racing doesn't pay....its a sport for the wealthy.
Pro racing parallels the same path as Rolex Equestrian....its for the "haves" not the "nots"
12-08-2018, 07:48 PM
#13
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Hard to know
what I do know is that all the old timers in racing I know tell awesome stories of getting hammered the night before races and all sorts of cool fun stuff
i can’t ecen have a beer the night before a race
now maybe they they were just that good that it didn’t matter but it’s interesting to ponder
what I do know is that all the old timers in racing I know tell awesome stories of getting hammered the night before races and all sorts of cool fun stuff
i can’t ecen have a beer the night before a race
now maybe they they were just that good that it didn’t matter but it’s interesting to ponder
12-08-2018, 07:52 PM
#14
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Hard to know
what I do know is that all the old timers in racing I know tell awesome stories of getting hammered the night before races and all sorts of cool fun stuff
i can’t ecen have a beer the night before a race
now maybe they they were just that good that it didn’t matter but it’s interesting to ponder
what I do know is that all the old timers in racing I know tell awesome stories of getting hammered the night before races and all sorts of cool fun stuff
i can’t ecen have a beer the night before a race
now maybe they they were just that good that it didn’t matter but it’s interesting to ponder
12-08-2018, 08:04 PM
#15
