Planet 9

gtscayman · #1 04-28-2009, 10:13 PM

Which of the following series has the drivers/riders with the highest level of skill? You can pick more than one.

bccars · #2 04-29-2009, 06:40 AM

driving skill, car control is best with rally drivers offcourse. Combined with physical fitness you get F1. Combined with endurance your get endurance (Le Mans type) racers.

zedcat · #3 04-29-2009, 06:59 AM

I would have voted Can-Am. That's historical I know but in the day virtually all the top drivers raced in the series.

**Chris S** · #4 04-29-2009, 07:50 AM

Supercross - it's much more physically demanding than the others, plus they're racing on tracks that are practically designed to buck off lesser riders. Add in the additional dimension of jumping/whoops, and there are so many more dimensions to racing than most other forms.

suhkoi · #5 04-29-2009, 08:17 AM

Not having given this topic much thought or even having enough knowledge to make a an educated answer I would venture to say that the World Rally drivers have the best racing skills. I say this because they race on ALL surfaces with incredible car handling skills. Not only that but they also have to listen to someone telling them where to go.

Imagine having to race with your significant other bitchin in your ear

In2Esses · #6 04-29-2009, 08:37 AM

I don't think you can say which series has the most skill.

Given the lack of success of drivers running across multiple series these days, and in some cases the vast disparity in the competiveness of the equipment within some of the series, I don't think any one series has the best overall drivers, but each series has those that excel in the type of cars they drive.

Going back decades, in the US, I think the most talent was in open wheel Indy cars, while of course in Europe it was F1, and the great thing was, the best of the best crossed over to CanAm, NASCAR, LeMans, Indy, and F1, and were competive............ Not so today.

Now,as for the "nuts" factor, the super bike guys win by a landslide.

**madcow** · #7 04-29-2009, 10:34 AM

World Rally.Even if you look at some of the past and present champions in other race series they often have a race history of either Karting or rally driving.Especially in the F1 race series.....

**Bodhii** · #8 04-29-2009, 10:40 AM

I would say WRC rally racing requires the greatest all-round driving talents. F1 drivers regularly speak with the highest respect for this motorsport venue. A couple of F1 drivers even publicly speak of their desire to make their money in F1 and then to try and graduate UP to the highest WRC Championship driving. They see WRC as being the greatest challenge for a really complete racing career.

As to SuperBike,.. I have nothing but the highest respect and awe for their courage. When tracking cars at the huge Miller Speedway facility, we often use only half the track, while SuperBikes practice and race on the other half. We regularly watch these guys crash and slide and crash some more. They are crashing and bashing at +160 MPH, without roll cages, racing harnesses, or HANS systems.. using only a thin layer of leather to protect themselves from asphalt and gravel at a 160 MPH!

For years I raced World Cup Alpine Ski racing. In the downhill we would regularly hit speeds of +80MPH. And this was serious, scary, scary fast! At our level, all competitors had experienced serious crashes at speed. We all knew 1st hand, embedded deep into our brain memories just how serious crashing can be.

And so I can relate a little to what these SuperBike guys experience. .. KINDA!!! +160 MPH, crashing on asphalt and gravel rather than snow?!!!

.. LOL.. NO ****** WAY!

Last year we again were tracking sports cars on half track at Miller, while Super Bikes were having a small race on the other half in preparation for the next week's super big World Superbike Championship races. During this one race day, they had 3 red flag, full-course closures due to very serious injury/accidents,.. along with their usual many, many yellows cautions. During the 3 red flags, they had 4 very serious injuries and 3 different helicopter medical evacuations! You could see all of the many destroyed bikes,.. and sometimes also the remains of their leathers hanging up later in the work areas... This is a sport where everyone does crash and take fearsome sliders fairly regularly. It is a part of the sport. And still the races continued, and the Super Bike guys just grit their teeth and drove faster.

kareldeeley · #9 04-29-2009, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by suhkoi

I would venture to say that the World Rally drivers have the best racing skills. I say this because they race on ALL surfaces with incredible car handling skills. Not only that but they also have to listen to someone telling them where to go.

Imagine having to race with your significant other bitchin in your ear

PriceLess.................!

Respect For All Race Drivers - In Every Field - They Are The Best of the Best...........

My Efforts - Do Not Even Come Close...............

**madcow** · #10 04-29-2009, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by suhkoi

Not having given this topic much thought or even having enough knowledge to make a an educated answer I would venture to say that the World Rally drivers have the best racing skills. I say this because they race on ALL surfaces with incredible car handling skills. Not only that but they also have to listen to someone telling them where to go.

Imagine having to race with your significant other bitchin in your ear

Thats funny