'Professional' or club racing?

[Ian Sowman]

I guess this follows on from a thread I posted late last year asking whether people liked motor racing for the racing or the cars. By and large, it was the racing that attracted people.

Now, following on from a thread in National and International Single Seaters: does it matter whether you are watching 'professional' or 'club' racing. For the purposes of this thread, professional racing will be British F3, British GT and the TOCA package and above (I'm making this UK-centric because that is what I know best). Everything else is 'club' racing.

Look at this from the spectating (not competing!) point of view.

Vote away.

[MikeHoyer]

I am happy at anything to be honest. For example this year, I will be at Le Mans, and then the weekend after I'll be at Mallory Park for club racing, and I look forward to them with equal enthusiasm. For sure, when I'm at a big well known event like Le Mans, or TOCA or whatever, I sometimes think "next weeks clubbie at Snet is going to be a major let down compared to this", but invariably it isn't.

I love the atmospher and excitement of a big event, and the impressive machinery, but a club event is much more relaxed in a way, you can watch from anywhere, everyone is usually friendly and happy to chat, and you aren't getting pushed around in a big crowd. So they both have there good points, and I look forward to visiting a wide variety of events in 2005.

[ss_collins]

which is more entertaining? club...

[MikeHoyer]

Generally it is, yeah.

But the big events do have a special atmosphere.

[Eddy V]

I work in motorsport and see here in Belgium and Germany almost only professional racing (Beru Top 10, Belcar,..). Which is nice and quiet awsome sometimes, but I'm always looking forward to my next trip to the UK clubbies. Where racing is still real racing and drivers go for it. Professional or club? The latter one please.

[ScottDay]

For enteertainment its got to be club racing,

[Sheila M]

Most definitely club racing. The drivers are not prima donnas, don't have huge bank balances and generally race the cars like they stole them! Isn't that the way it should be?

[beefy]

Definitely club. There tends to be less ego and more action. I find that the drivers are more approachable in the paddock and more willing to discuss their cars/races with spectators.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Sheila M

Most definitely club racing. The drivers are not prima donnas, don't have huge bank balances and generally race the cars like they stole them! Isn't that the way it should be?

Well put Sheila!

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Sheila M

The drivers are not prima donnas, don't have huge bank balances and generally race the cars like they stole them! Isn't that the way it should be?

in club racing (like all racing) the biggest cheque book usual wins (or at least it helps a lot!). Others on budgets race with their cars well being at the forefront of their minds (unlike pros who race other people's cars). As for the people and their attitudes, it matches the range in the rest of society! Snobbery about the chosen field exists in both. In many of these respects there is little in it. IMHO.

Anyway, back to the topic. I enjoy watching club racing, there is normally more action - but this comes from there being more mistakes and less consistency. Professional racing demonstrates the best of various aspects, but consistency is more likely.

It is odd, generally, the lowest amateur level of most sports would never get considered in this light. The other sports don't let the amateurs play at the same venues.

Anyway the question? Love 'em both.

[topwelshman]

Club for sure, but I think the difference between club racing and Professional Racing shouldn't be that great

[Peter Harding]

I voted indifference. I like it all.
If you had asked about the drivers rather than the racing well ............

[pitcrew]

Has to be club, but there souldnt be a massive diffrence!! pro should be more of a relaxed atmos then maybe rated equally.

[diz]

Club any day. It is the only racing there is. Everything above, or perceived to be above, is only business.

[neil_davidson2]

I voted indifference. Leaving aside the attitudes of drivers etc good racing is good racing regardless of who's doing it. Most series go through ups and downs in terms of grid-size, competition and spectacle over the years.

[BillyT]

I really dont' mind. I think that the proffesional noses just ahead as the the grids are a bit bigger and the whole day is a bit smoother. I still love club racing though.

[johnw]

Originally Posted by Sheila M

The drivers are not prima donnas, don't have huge bank balances and generally race the cars like they stole them! .......

Most of us did Sheila!

I much prefer the accessibilty at Club meetings, but we do need to get back to full grids, by any means, for it to regain it's past glory.