So, I was watching the 6hrs at the glenn yesterday...

...and my buddy walks in and sits down. He's not a race fan and doesn't get it or understand really anything about racing. He watches for a couple minutes and then he starts. "Why do you waste all your time watching racing? It doesn't matter and anyone can drive. It's not like a real sport that actually takes skill, anyone can do that it's not like their athletes" I wasn't in a particularly good mood anyway but he's just getting started. It ends up getting pretty heated and I ended up throwing a chair and walking out.

I won't get into all the stupid little details, but most of you know how I like a good pointless argument. So this was his main point; The elite guys in racing are not really best in the world. If you take 10,000 people aged 18-30 and gave them all the training and preparation that these people have received. None of the people that we think of as being elite would even be in the top ten. There are many more talented people in the world who just aren't interested in racing.

I said you're an idiot and the same could be said for any sport. Cycling, Tennis, Golf anything except for maybe Football or Basketball where it takes certain physical attributes to really play. It's all about being passionate enough about something to do all the work. Hours and hours of training and dedicating your life for that single purpose. I said the people at the top levels of racing have worked just as hard at their craft as somebody who makes it all the way to the NFL.

He completely disagrees and said anybody can drive. Won't admit to the fact that it's all about what you put in and said there is nothing special about any of the racers except they have the money to play.

I'd love to hear your take on this.

Let him kart for 30 minutes, after his arms fall off, and his lap times are slow, you can let him know he sucks at life lolz

yup.. Kart track school time.

Ignore him. He got under your skin, which is all he wanted to do.

Yep. Challenge him to a Kart race (not just a 8 minute heat) at a real kart track.

Then challenge him to play one of his favorite sports.

Loser has to where a tu-tu and have his picture taken and posted on the Internet (Facebook profile picture perhaps?)

Basically there is a lot of practice and hand/eye coordination that goes into any skilled sport which is layered on top of a certain amount of interest and inherent skillset. The truly top drivers have to push their bodies to extremes to reach their peaks.

Another option would be to challenge him to drive in a LeMons or ChumpCar Race. Suits are available for rent and there are usually teams looking for drivers. After his fist stint in the car. At speed. With traffic. He will either still be a pompous ass or he might finally get it.

Again, compare lap times and make a bet for the loser to do something embarrassing and stupid for all to see, with proof provided to be used against them whenever they are being a dumbass in the future.

Just look at what Richard Hammond went through when he tried an F1 car. Not too mention the tons of articles written about how much drivers go through in an average race.

In reply to nicksta43:

No win situation.

He will change his argument after every proof that you give him. If other people want to think throwing a ball and hitting other people is more fun then fine. Enjoy your racing and ignore him.

I fully agree with you regarding the amount of time and effort needed to train yourself to be a good racing driver. Even Lebron James would just be a tall chubby delivery man for UPS if he didn't have the drive to train and fight for his chance in basketball. Also the money invested in him before he went pro was probably enough for a decent amateur racing season.

nicksta43 wrote: I said you're an idiot and the same could be said for any sport. Cycling, Tennis, Golf anything except for maybe Football or Basketball where it takes certain physical attributes to really play. It's all about being passionate enough about something to do all the work. Hours and hours of training and dedicating your life for that single purpose. I said the people at the top levels of racing have worked just as hard at their craft as somebody who makes it all the way to the NFL. He completely disagrees

That guy just is not worth the effort of a debate. Very closed minded.

don't think he would be welcome around me in the future … and I wouldn't put much effort into explaining to him what an shiny happy person you think he is … life is way too short to put up with "friend" like that

'course I'm old and grumpy, so that might be coloring my thinking a bit

but seriously, how much to you really need the aggravation of having him around

I can see both sides of that argument. I'm sure there are people out there that would excel at a particular niche sport, but never get exposed to it. How many Tiger Woods are lurking in the inner city? How many surfing champions come from Iowa? How many champion bull riders from Vietnam? I could go on all day. I've seen some awesome drivers in SCCA IT classes that can't afford to go to the next step. Also seen some pretty good ones that catch a break and get a chance at the next level, then go on become "elite".

1% talent and 99% hard work.

You threw a chair??

Ask him if he feels the same way about pilots.

In a strange irony, many on this board bag on circle track and drag racers. Easy? Really? Try it and get back to me.

http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/how-to-train-like-an-F1-driver-2012-01-01?imageNo=5

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/30864-formula-1-are-f1-drivers-considered-athletes

I would say that since he doesn't give two berkeleys about racing, come hang out when I'm not watching racing. Also tell him that if someone has God given talent in a sport or anything else, they can't be the best if they don't have the desire to pursue it. I watched a NFL Films show about John Elway and they said that as a kid, he was a little more accurate at throwing a ball than the other kids, not worlds better than the kids his age.

In reply to bludroptop:

I have rage problems

nicksta43 wrote: I won't get into all the stupid little details, but most of you know how I like a good pointless argument.

Sounds like your friend knew this as well, so he was just baiting you.

He does but when I told him he was starting to piss me off he just kept going and going. That's what prompted me to throw things, it was that or punch him in the throat and cut off a piece of his ear while he couldn't breathe.

I vote for the punch and the ear cut

nicksta43 wrote: He does but when I told him he was starting to piss me off he just kept going and going. That's what prompted me to throw things, it was that or punch him in the throat and cut off a piece of his ear while he couldn't breathe.

wouldn't that at least prove that one race car driver is a better athlete than one whiny ass annoying buddy?

Johnboyjjb wrote:

nicksta43 wrote: He does but when I told him he was starting to piss me off he just kept going and going. That's what prompted me to throw things, it was that or punch him in the throat and cut off a piece of his ear while he couldn't breathe.

wouldn't that at least prove that one race car driver is a better athlete than one whiny ass annoying buddy?

People like that are a waste of time to argue with. Just a hang out here, we like racing and we know the truth. If that doesn't work just punch him in the neck and walk away, not worth ruining a chair...

Sounds like he was simply trolling you. I've heard this argument before and it is some pretty simple-minded BS only perpetuated by people who know nothing at all about the sport.

He's right. Watching any sport is a waste of time. At my fattest I could still stand in a batting cage and drill 90% of the balls. As long as they went far enough for me to waddle around the bases I could play pro ball. I'd be like a chubby Babe Ruth