Motor Sports Belfast

Motor sports are sports based on motorised transportation on land, water or air. Read the following articles to learn about motor sports such as motorcar racing and air racing.
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Demolition Derby Belfast

Demolition derby can be very dangerous, but serious injuries are rare. To make the event safer, all glass is removed from the vehicle, and deliberately ramming the driver's-side door area is usually forbidden.

Motorcar Racing: The Race Program Belfast

Many tracks have other special events. They may have a "trophy dash" during each program, between the heats and the features, to allow the heat winners to compete for a trophy. If the reward is monetary, the race may be called a "dash for the cash" or a "run for the money".

Motorcar Racing Organisation Belfast

In the common Eliminator racing format, the losing car and driver are removed from the contest, while the winner goes on to race other winners, until only one is left. There are some instances where there are 3 cars remaining, and in this case one car, either chosen at random or the car with the fastest elapsed time thus far, gets a "bye run" where his or her car goes down the track by itself (in order to at least partially eliminate the advantage that would otherwise come from the engine having one less run on it), and then awaits the winner of the other two for the title.

Drag Racing Performance Facts Belfast

The faster categories of drag racing are an impressive spectacle, with engines of over 6000 horsepower (4.5 MW) and noise outputs to match, cars that look like bizarre parodies of standard street cars (funny cars), and the ritual of burnouts where, prior to the actual timed run, the competitors cause their wheels to spin while stationary or moving slowly, thus heating up the tyres and laying down a sticky coat of rubber on the track surface ( which may have been coated with VHT Trackbite or similar to increase traction) to get optimum grip on the all-important initial launch.

Drag Racing Strategies & Methods Belfast

Some common enhancements include the use of slicks (smooth, soft tyres that grip the track), methods for introducing more air into the motor such as turbos, superchargers, and nitrous oxide, specialised fuels (higher octane gas, methanol and alcohol), improved suspensions, and a multitude of others.

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An Amateur "Day at the Races" Belfast

There are two reasons to try to arrive just as the track is opening. First, the "pit area", where all cars that will race initially congregate, offers better spots (closer to the track) early on. Secondly, there is a greater opportunity to get more practise runs in.

Autocross Belfast

Autocrosses typically have many classes which allow almost any vehicle prepared to almost any prep level to have a realistic expectation of doing well, subject to driver skill and experience level.

Autograss Belfast

Autograss is basically cars racing, usually on quarter-mile oval tracks laid out on natural surfaces (usually a farmer's field) - a fresh track will start off as grass. Although highly spectacular to watch, it is first and foremost a participant sport.

Cars Belfast

There is some debate over whether or not front-wheel-drive (FWD) vehicles can drift. By the technical definition (rear wheels slipping at a greater angle than front wheels), they are indeed able to drift.

Demolition Derby Belfast

Demolition derby can be very dangerous, but serious injuries are rare. To make the event safer, all glass is removed from the vehicle, and deliberately ramming the driver's-side door area is usually forbidden.

Dirt Track Racing: The Racecar Belfast

Many tracks support both types of racer in their programmes. Both types range from powerful V8 engines to small, still powerful, 4-cylinder engines. Some of the smaller open wheel racers even have classes for single-cylinder powerplants. Depending on the class, the cars may have wings to aid in handling at higher speeds.

Drag Racing Belfast

Drag racing originated in the United States and is still the most popular there. The most common distance is one quarter of a mile (402 m), although one-eighth of a mile (201 m) tracks are also popular.

Drag Racing Performance Facts Belfast

The faster categories of drag racing are an impressive spectacle, with engines of over 6000 horsepower (4.5 MW) and noise outputs to match, cars that look like bizarre parodies of standard street cars (funny cars), and the ritual of burnouts where, prior to the actual timed run, the competitors cause their wheels to spin while stationary or moving slowly, thus heating up the tyres and laying down a sticky coat of rubber on the track surface ( which may have been coated with VHT Trackbite or similar to increase traction) to get optimum grip on the all-important initial launch.

Drag Racing Strategies & Methods Belfast

Some common enhancements include the use of slicks (smooth, soft tyres that grip the track), methods for introducing more air into the motor such as turbos, superchargers, and nitrous oxide, specialised fuels (higher octane gas, methanol and alcohol), improved suspensions, and a multitude of others.

Drifting Techniques Belfast

It should be noted that ABS (to allow the wheels to lock) and TCS (to allow the tyres to spin) should be turned off before attempting to drift. These systems are not made to take into account a driver wanting the car to slide.

Drifting Today Belfast

Drifting competitions are judged based not on the time it takes to complete a course, but it is based on line, angle, speed, and show factor. Line involves taking the correct line, which is usually announced by judges.

Hillclimbing Belfast

A very different kind of hillclimbing is done with offroad motorcycles going straight up extremely steep hills. The winner is the one which could climb the highest, or in case more than one made it to the top, the fastest.

Ice Racing Belfast

Ice racing usually involves subcategories for full-rubber and studded tyres. These classes are applied to cars and motorcycles, although a greater percentage of motorcycles use studded tyres. Studs on motorcycles for ice racing may be as long as 2.5 inches with as many as 500 per tyre.

Kart Racing Belfast

The sprint format is a series of short-duration races, normally for a small number of laps, that qualify for a final, with a variety of point scoring calculations to determine the event's overall winner.

Karting Belfast

By definition a kart must have no suspension, (relying on chassis flex), and no differential, (solid back axle). They are usually raced on scaled-down tracks, but are sometimes driven as entertainment or as a hobby by non-professionals.

Karting as a Learning Tool Belfast

As well as "serious" competitive kart racing, many commercial enterprises offer casual hire of karts. Such karts are usually powered by small, detuned four-stroke engines and are far slower than the fully-fledged competitive versions.

Karting Components Belfast

Kart chassis are also classified as 'open' or 'caged'. Caged karts have a roll cage surrounding the driver, and open karts have no roll cage. Caged karts are not used in Europe.

Motocross Belfast

Motocross is form of motorcycle or ATV racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. Motocross is derived from the French, and was originally called Scrambling when the sport was "invented" in the UK. The name "motocross" is a contraction derived from the words "Motorcycle" and "Cross Country". Motocross is often abbreviated to MX. Read more.

Motorcar Racing Belfast

Motor racing (also known as automobile racing, autosport or auto racing) is a sport involving racing automobiles. It is one of the world's most popular spectator sports and perhaps the most thoroughly commercialised. Read more.

Motorcar Racing Organisation Belfast

In the common Eliminator racing format, the losing car and driver are removed from the contest, while the winner goes on to race other winners, until only one is left. There are some instances where there are 3 cars remaining, and in this case one car, either chosen at random or the car with the fastest elapsed time thus far, gets a "bye run" where his or her car goes down the track by itself (in order to at least partially eliminate the advantage that would otherwise come from the engine having one less run on it), and then awaits the winner of the other two for the title.

Motorcar Racing: Other Divisions Belfast

In North America, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series maintains its own interpretation of sports car racing, dividing its races into two classes: Grand-Am GT cars and DPs. Read more.

Motorcar Racing: The Race Program Belfast

Many tracks have other special events. They may have a "trophy dash" during each program, between the heats and the features, to allow the heat winners to compete for a trophy. If the reward is monetary, the race may be called a "dash for the cash" or a "run for the money".

Motorcar Rally Courses Belfast

A typical rally course consists of a sequence of relatively short (up to about 50 kilometres) timed "special stages" where the actual competition takes place, and untimed "transport stages" where the rally cars must be driven under their own power to the next competitive stage within a generous time limit.

Motorcycle Trials Belfast

Motorcycle Trials or ("observed trials" or "observed motorcycle trials") is a non-speed event on specialised motorcycles. The sport is most popular in the UK and Spain, though there are participants around the globe. Read more.

Rallycross Belfast

Rallycross is an inexpensive, entry level type of rallycross is the Swedish folkrace or its Norwegian counterpart, the so-called bilcross.

Reasons for Racing Belfast

Most adventure races are team events, with expedition length races typically requiring a set number of teammates (usually four or five) and requiring the teams to be co-ed. Many racers find the team aspect of adventure racing to be among the most enticing and demanding aspects.

Reconnaissance Drives Belfast

In these reconnaissance drives, the co-drivers, who sit next to the drivers, write down shorthand notes on how to best drive the stage. Usually the drivers call out the turns and road conditions for the co-drivers to write down.

Road Racing Belfast

Road racing can be of two types. True road races are run over what are, in fact, actual public roads that have been temporarily closed off to the public for the purpose of conducting a race. Alternatively, road races can be conducted on purpose-built racetracks that, due to their irregular shapes and many turns and curves, resemble true road courses. Read more.

Setting Up the Car Belfast

The differentials (diff) are clutch-type or viscous type Limited-Slip Differentials (LSD), not the standard open differential. On an open differential, the automatic transfer of power to the spinning wheel causes the car to the inside wheel spinning out of control, and the other spinning at the actual speed of the car.

Short Track Motor Racing Belfast

Many traditional fans and purists still see short track racing as the "real" NASCAR, because the lower speeds make "paint swapping", where the bodies of the cars actually rub against one another, practical without a very high likelihood of serious accidents.

Sidecars Belfast

Sidecar racing, known as Sidecarcross has been around since the 50's but has declined in popularity since the 90's. This variant is common in Europe, with a few followers in USA, New Zealand and Australia. Read and find out.

Single-Seater Racing Belfast

Single-seater (open-wheel) racing is perhaps the most well-known form of motorsport, with cars designed specifically for high-speed racing. The wheels are not covered, and the cars often have aerofoil wings front and rear to produce downforce and enhance adhesion to the track. Read more.

Solo Motorcar Racing Belfast

Solo (also known as slalom) originated in the US. In 2002, it was pioneered in the UK by Bristol Motor Club. The second event was run again by Bristol Motor Club in May 2003, which started a landslide of other motorclubs running Solo events. Read more.

Sports Car Racing Belfast

Sports car racing is a form of circuit racing, with purpose-built cars that nevertheless have enclosed wheel wells and often have closed cockpits. Read and find out more.

Stock Cars Belfast

A stock car in the original sense of the word is an automobile which has not been modified from its original factory configuration. This term was used to differentiate such a car from a race car, a special, custom-built car designed only for racing purposes with no intent of its ever being used as regular transportation. Read more.

Street Racing Belfast

Street racing is a form of auto racing taking place on public roads, either during normal traffic or during empty hours of traffic, often within the city area. It is the only form of illegal auto racing since all traffic regulations forbid the type of driving involved in such racing. Read more.

Types of Sports Car Racing Belfast

There are many kinds of sports car racing that can be broadly broken down into two categories: Prototype racing and Grand Touring (GT) racing. These two categories are often mixed together in a single race. Read more.

What Constitutes a Touring Car? Belfast

While rules vary from country to country, most series require that the competitors start with a standard bodyshell, but virtually every other component is allowed to be heavily modified for racing, including engines, suspension, brakes, wheels and tyres. Read more.