Why the need to race?

Why we have this need to race?
Everything, anything. The culmination of this bizarre behavior is the farce of the Olympics.
Why racing?
Lister

 

Because if you get there first you get the best parts. And more of them.

 

Well Lister it makes you realise where you stand in life at a youngf age. I was never very good at running at school, so in every race I came last.

This made me realise then that I am a loser and it saved me from ever trying anything because I would have failed.

When I hear of rich people going bankrupt I realise how much money I would have lost, had I not had heeded the lesson I had learned as a child.

 

Some of us want to be the best possible in life.

 

It is part of the DNA

Man has been racing since the second man wanted to get to the food before the first guy. I've been racing various vehicles from cars to aircraft to boats for over 45 years, and if you go back to the Soapbox Derby it could be more like 50 years. Before that I was a competitive swimmer. From bicycles as a kid to boats to cars and then aircraft I've enjoyed beating my fellow man.

With vehicles there is the challenge to operate the vehicle at the limits of control and capability. This goes for almost any vehicle, from a sailboat or bicycle, to the fastest racing car. The more challenging the operation of the vehicle, the more satisifying it is to get the most out of it.

There is a huge rush that comes with speed, that is what gets you hooked. At first you just want to go fast and that feels good. After a while it is the competition, beating the other guy that feeds the addiction.

Perhaps it is the testostorone thing or maybe it's just the pleasure of winning, but it just feels good. That's what it's all about.

 

I suggest it's even deeper than the competition. Think about the old joke of two guys having to run from a bear. "I only have to run faster than you" Now apply that to two prehistoric "humans" being chased by a carniverous dinosaur. It's about survival, and living to procreate another day. We "civilized" humans are just using different means to go faster than the other guy.

Roger

 

For many it is about doing the best possible while following the rules. It is an exercise in ethics.

 

GTS225, what a great idea. The Olympics should include wild animals, the losers get eaten.

 

The very first caveman that saw another caveman instantly noticed his club wasn't quite as long, so he made a new one that was longer. On a hunt the next day the fastest guy could run down his selected prey and be home, ignoring the little woman's complaints, while the slower (lesser) men still had work to do. We are the descendants of these . . .

 

We are a dot in the middle of nowhere This is not something you say;

 

.....because we can.......

 

Sport reminds us of survival

 

We race because more notice you if you fall harder than any one else.
Yes that deep desire to be noticed more or less by the extent of your failure


He he... Par, cavemen you say.
What's the difference between a caveman and a troglodite ?

 

caveman



troglodite

 

I was going to say that but you beat me to it.