I haven't seen many references to it in the USA, but in Europe there's an active truck racing circuit, with professional teams as well as enthusiastic amateurs. Here's a video clip with more information about it.
I've only been at one 'truck meet' like this, but the hair-raising antics of these battling behemoths were enough to make me a fan from the start!
Peter
4 comments:
Truck racing had a brief moment in the sun in the late 70s / early 80s in conjunction with the Citizen's Band radio / Convoy / Smokey and the Bandit phase of American infatuation.
What makes truck tractor racing really challenging is the relative lack of weight on the drive axle - in effect an unladen truck is rather like a badminton shuttlecock. The tractor relies on the weight of the trailer and cargo to develop traction - without that weight it's VERY easy to overcome the friction between the road and the drive tires, leading to the impressive spin-outs shown in the video.
I've 'ground looped' an unladen tractor at low speeds on a slick parking lot...fun and scary at the same time!
The truck racing I really enjoy are the Rally Car support trucks. Started as just friendly competition to get set up at the next local, and now they have their own division.
Brass
They still race pickup-trucks in the desert and at Baja - and the big ones in the Paris-Dakar ralley.
Look up "Super Truck racing Australia" in youtube for all the latest on this crazy, crazy sport!
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