Racing

File:Racing.inflatables.arp.750pix.jpg Offshore inflatable racing (Thundercat class) at Ilfracombe, north Devon, England.These boats can reach 60mph

Air racing:Hungarian aerobatics pilot Peter Besenyei at speed in his Extra 300 at an air race in England

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.

A race to cover a certain distance may be any length, and using any means stipulated by the rules. Running a distance is the most basic form of racing, but races are often conducted in vehicles, such as boats and cars, on or with animals such as horses and in aircraft.

A race may be run continuously from start to finish or may be made of several segments called heats or stages. 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.

List of types of race

Unassisted human racing

Using only the human body's own muscles:

• Cross country running
• Marathon
• Racewalking
• Road running
• Running
• Track running in Athletics
• Swimming

Cycle racing

Bicycle racing:

• Track cycling, such as a Points race
• Road bicycle racing, such as the Tour de France
• Offroad cycling or Mountain bicycling

Ski racing

Skiing with skis, on snow:

• Alpine skiing such as Slalom skiing or Downhill skiing
• Cross-country skiing

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
• Horse-racing, see also United Kingdom horse-racing and Equestrianism
  • Chariot racing
  • Flat racing
  • Thoroughbred horse races, such as Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing or a Derby.
  • Trotting
  • Steeplechase
• Pigeon racing
• Pig racing

Aircraft racing

• Air racing

Motorized racing (motorsport)

Machines powered by motors, on land:

• Auto racing (also known as automobile racing, motor racing or autosport)

• Formula One, Formula Ford, GP2 Series (Replacement for Formula 3000)
  • Grand Prix motor racing
  • Production Car Racing
  • Rally racing, Drifting
  • Drag racing
  • Sand Drag Racing
  • Sports car racing
  • Stock car racing, NASCAR,
  • Open Wheel Racing, IndyCars, Champ Car
  • dirt speedway racing
  • Sprint Car Racing
  • Offroad racing
  • Touring car racing
  • Truck racing
• Kart racing
• Motorcycle racing, such as the Isle of Man TT
  • Motocross Racing
  • Grand Prix motorcycle racing
  • Pocketbike Racing
  • Production Bike Racing
  • Superbike racing
• Snowmobile racing ("land" = land or frozen lakes/rivers)

Boat racing

Boats on water:

• 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

In virtual reality, or in a videogame:

• Chocobo Racing

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; 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 Paris-Dakar rally or the Athens marathon.