Offshore inflatable racing (Thundercat class) at Ilfracombe, north Devon, England.These boats can reach 60 mph
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Air racing:Hungarian aerobatics pilot Peter Besenyei at speed in his Extra 300 at an air race in England
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A race is a competition of speed. 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.
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Types of racing
Unassisted human racing
Using only the human body's own muscles:
Cycle racing
- Track cycling, such as a Points race
- Road bicycle racing, such as the Tour de France
- Mountain (offroad) cycling
Ski racing
Animal racing
Animals alone, or with human riders on the animal's back or in a conveyance:
- 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
- Pigeon racing
- Pig racing
- Ostrich racing
- Snail racing
Aircraft 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
- Dirt track racing
- Drifting
- Grand Prix motor racing
- Ice racing
- Open wheel racing
- Offroad racing
- Motocross
- Supercross
- Beachcross
- Motocross
- Production car racing
- Rally racing
- European Rallycross
- SCCA RallyCross
- Road racing
- Sports car racing
- Stock car racing
- Touring car racing
- Truck racing
- 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)
- Tarmac (aka Road Racing)
- All-terrain vehicle
- Snowmobile racing
Boat racing
- 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:
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.
