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and influence of marketing, from the advance of technology to the
psychology of the great drivers, in order to create what we hope
will be an enjoyable guidebook for anyone who wishes to find out
something more about the past, present and even the future of
motorsports.
In this introductory number, for example, we ask what is the value
of having rules on the track (and in life), what is the origin of man’s
love for speed, who are today’s drivers and what the future holds
for a sport that combines the love of risk and the search for
maximum safety. Happy reading!
of motorsport and the companies who
manufacturer the equipment used in this field
(
engines, vehicles, tyres, brakes etc.) However,
increased safety generates a greater sensation
of invincibility in the drivers/heroes, and
reduces the distance between the man in the
street and the professional drivers to the point
where, using modern simulators, it is possible
to experience the adrenaline of racing without
any of the risks. Thus, the tendency of
motorsports, in its guise as an entertainment
industry, to reach out to ever wider audience in
order to increase profits has generated the
reasons underlying its own crisis. And here’s
the paradox. Motorsport is, or should be, the
sport where you use a car to compete with –
not against! – your rivals to win a prize that is,
essentially, symbolic. For the public, the
collective tension when facing the risk of
challenging death has become part and parcel
of an entertainment business that also
includes cinema and videogames and is,
perhaps, the most profitable industry of
current times».
Who are today’s drivers? The fans of popular
championships like Formula 1, or Nascar
in America, come from all social classes.
But unlike football, or athletics, the drivers
who make their way in motorsports almost
always have significant financial resources
to draw on.
«
Let’s be honest: it’s a sport for the rich, the
sons of the rich or for young drivers with
wealthy backers, such as the government of
Venezuela or certain industries in
specialised high-technology sectors. Unlike
athletics, swimming or football, to compete
in motorsports drivers require costly
"
equipment" and "infrastructure" (circuits,
personnel, laboratories, etc.) that become
obsolete within the space of a year or so.
Maybe today’s racing drivers are in search
of the exclusiveness of a sport that is
accessible only to the select few».
The recurring – and predictable –
controversies that affect Formula 1 when a
driver’s «rights» are sacrificed on the altar
of team orders raise another question:
should we motor racing to be a sport for
individuals or acknowledge that even the
most egotistical of drivers must bow down
before the good of the team?
«
One of the most difficult concepts for
drivers to accept is that they are part of a
team. Despite appearance, motorsport is
not an individual sport. A lot of drivers are
unsuccessful because they don't respect the
job and fail to acknowledge the
contribution of the other people who work
behind the scenes and behind the cameras.
A driver can never win or achieve significant
results all on his own, in the same way that
the pilot of a military aircraft could never
complete his mission if he didn’t have his
ground staff to ensure that his plane is in
perfect condition, and ready to fly and
perform at the highest level; the whole team
must be coordinated and share the same aims
and objectives».
by Stefano Semeraro and Andrea Toso
ACING
«
Team» is an English word that has its roots in farming
terminology. [Old English team "set of draft animals yoked
together,"] «Team-mate» is the animal we share the yoke with;
a vary different concept to the «companion» we share our
bread with…. More than an organisation «Team» indicates a
small, tightly-knit group of people where everyone has their
own specific role to play that is fundamental to the overall
success of that group, close bonds with colleagues [«the
harness» to continue with the analogy..], where everyone has
the same objective, (without necessarily being aware of the
reason… ). The word «team» indicates the function rather
than the organisation.
«
Squad» comes from the Latin «quadratum», a military term
that indicates a particular formation of soldiers arranged in
parallel rows under a single commander. Compared to «team»,
«
squad» places the onus more on the organisation of the
soldiers than n the function.
Unsurprisingly, the term «Stable» comes from the world of
horsemanship comes to us via the Old French etable from the
Latin stabulum meaning "standing room". The equivalent
term in Italian «Scuderia» also has equestrian connotations
since it derives from the French «ecurie» («stable»). This, in
turn, is related to the word Scudo («shield»), from «Skutos»,
meaning «leather» in ancient Greek: horse hide and, by
extension, protection.
«
Stable» indicates not only the organisation as a "team" of
people, but also includes the equipment, the cars and the
people themselves. «Stable» also evokes the more romantic
origins of the sport itself, still recalled in the name «Scuderia
Ferrari», when «sport» still meant «disport» (a pastime, game,
relaxation, recreation). Other equestrian terms to be found in
motorsports include «race», grand prix», «horsepower» used to
express the power of a motor, «trim», (the position assumed by
the rider in order to guide the animal correctly while retaining
his equilibrium), «box» (where horses are housed at night),
«
paddock» (an enclosure for horses), «pit» (where horses drink).
Last, but not least, it is worth remembering that the oval
tracks used in America are derived from hippodromes; races
on oval tracks are always run in a counter-clockwise direction
because horses prefer to run counter-clockwise.
Dizionario
