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Comment by olivermarks | Hacker News Reader

Depends on the motorsport. Take drag racing. top fuel driver after reaction time is mostly along for the ride, depends on quality of engineering to win/lose. Alcohol FC is immensely complicated to drive, also pro stock which is pure driving skill.

MotoGP motor cycle racing is highly skilled and is IMO far, far more exciting than Formula One which used to be the fastest/most expensive formula amongst multiple divisions and is now largely an inventors/engineers domain.

As others have noted different eras of racing cars (late 60's early 70's formula one for example) required very different skills and bravery levels.

David Coulthard drives Jim Clark's Lotus 25 https://youtu.be/_L1tHavnd9w lovely bit of informative film

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MotoGP obviously doesn't have the same level of tech as F1 but it is the apex of racing series IMO. Dorna has done a great job with the rules to keep the series competitive in recent years. It's amazing that there are 5 out of 6 manufacturers legitimately able to produce wins this year!

MotoGP is having an exciting season because the previously dominated rider has been out for most of this season. This highlights the skill of the rider compared to engineering for MotoGP.

There also seems to be a psychological thing happening, where riders are in general less consistent then previous seasons. There’s a lot of emotional toll happening to the riders.

Furthermore, lots of tech built in MotoGP sees itself trickle down consumer level motorcycles. There is a lot of competition going on in 400-1000cc sport/naked bikes for consumers leading to some really great bikes.

Two wheelers are inherently difficult to balance/ride design than a four wheeler.

Ex- vehicle engineer at a three letter company.

My favorite expression of motorsport is the Isle of Man TT. Mostly because it’s a freak show.

Here’s a serene introduction for the uninitiated: https://youtu.be/zbaO8mzByvw

Once you’re done with that, search YouTube for “Isle of Man TT onboard” and prepare thyself.

Oh man, I used to love watching IoMTT videos until I actually started riding a bike. Now they're legitimately terrifying.

I use those TT headrush onboard videos as motivators, they are really intense. Milky hitting the wall https://youtu.be/-Nzq2GorVH4 The great Michael Dunlop first person https://youtu.be/YWZG1nhgwgg Like watching speeded up video rushes

I get tunnel vision just watching these damn videos. I don't know how they do it with so much at stake, especially when it's down to the wire and they are passing back and forth on roasted tires. It feels superhuman. Then you hear Guy Martin 'talk' and it all makes sense. :D

There's also the Azores Rallye.

The Lotus 25 is the most beautiful F1 car ever. Love the stinger exhaust!

i have a lotus 23 of the same era. they are wonderful cars. uncomplicated and incredibly good handling feel.

I'm very envious!

come drive it? if i ever get the engine back...

this is what it looks like in action. https://jalopnik.com/don-t-feel-bad-if-you-get-passed-by-a-p...

(i am the driver in the yellow car. I'm doing close to 100mph in that video, and the guy in the porsche is probably north of 130?)

where are you running? Laguna Seca?

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