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

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, against an objective criterion, usually a clock. 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.

Running a distance is the most basic form of racing, but races are often conducted in vehicles, such as boats, cars and aircraft, or with animals such as horses.

A race may be run continuously from start to finish or may be made of several segments called heats or stages (stages are also known as legs). 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.

Types of racing

Unassisted human racing

Using only the human body's own muscles:

• Running:
  • Cross country running
  • Marathon
  • Road running
  • Track running in Athletics
  • Fell running
  • Relay Race
• Amateur Radio Direction Finding
• Orienteering
• Rogaining
• Racewalking
• Swimming

Cycle racing

Bicycle racing:

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

Ski racing

Skiing with skis, on snow:

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

Animal racing

Ostrich racing

• Camel racing
• Dog racing
  • Greyhound racing
  • Dogsled racing, such as the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
• 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
• Ostrich racing
• Snail 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)
  • Board track racing
  • Drag racing
    • NHRA+
      • Powerade Drag Racing Series
      • Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series (Sportsman)
      • Summit Racing Series (E.T Drag Racing Series)
      • Jr Drag Racing League (JDRL)
      • NOPI Drag Racing Series
    • Sand Drag Racing
    • International Hot Rod Association (IHRA)
  • Dirt track racing
  • Grand Prix motor racing
  • Ice racing
  • Open wheel racing
    • A1 Grand Prix
    • Champ Car
    • Formula One, Formula Ford, GP2 Series (Replacement for Formula 3000)
    • Indy Racing League
    • Midget car racing
    • Sprint car racing
  • Offroad racing
    • Motocross
      • Supercross
      • Beachcross
  • Production car racing
  • Rally racing
    • European Rallycross
    • SCCA RallyCross
  • Road racing
  • Sports car racing
  • Stock car racing
    • NASCAR
    • Arena Racing USA
  • Touring car racing
  • Truck racing
    • NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
• Kart racing
• Lawnmower racing
• Motorcycle racing
  • Tarmac (aka Road Racing)
    • Grand Prix motorcycle racing
    • Pocketbike Racing
    • Production Bike Racing
    • Superbike racing
    • Track Racing
      • Flat Track
      • Speedway
      • Grasstrack (aka Long Track)
  • 70% Tarmac 30% Off Road
    • Supermoto (aka Supermotard)
• All-terrain vehicle
• Snowmobile 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:

• Adventure racing
• Kinetic sculpture racing

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, as in a mill race; 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.

External links

• Grandprix-Live.com - Covers all the major Grand Prix motorsport championships, including Formula One, MotoGP, Nascar, IRL, WSBK, WRC Rally and many more.

See also

• Pace race
• Sport
• Gambling
• Totalisator
• Pacemaker
• Nuclear arms race
• Space Race
• Racing game
• Surf lifesaving

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