Preventing Injury In Motorsport

Motorsports, as much as any other sport save golf, comes under the unfair criticism of being an 'unathletic' activity. To those uninitiated with the experience of maneuvering their way around an asphalt speedway, it would appear the act of driving is more reminiscent of a Sunday stroll to the mall, rather than a constant test of concentration and physical endurance. It's a frustrating conversation to have. Yet, if you've been around long enough, you'll be able to remember this exact exchange. 

Unlike other more traditional ball sports however, motorsports injuries run the gambit from invisible 'micro-concussions' to full on train-wreck-esque accidents. The unpredictability of motorsport make it the world's premier content-creator for catastrophic accident videos across the web. It seems unlikely then, for a sport as visually dangerous as drunk driving or an unforeseen construction accident to be as 'child-friendly' as it is. Most parents of racing drivers recount the internal horror story of seeing their child race for the first few years of their careers. Many continue to experience this same, 'racer's parent' paranoia into their sons and daughters' adult years. 

When it comes to the drive to compete, no one could expect an 8 year old to carefully review rules and regulations as they relate to engineering terms more suited for at least a high school algebra class. The interest is simply in the undeniable adrenaline rush of a day out on track. As supervisors, adults, and overall responsible actors for the safety of racing's next generation, it ought be a more common conversation.