HippoSleek

sorry dousan - I didn't address your points b/c I generally agree w/ what you said. I agree that some people will start in that manner and eventually wind up taking it to the next step. I know a few people who got their SCCA SpeedFreakz memberships w/ their first car, but they are a vast minority. There are many gateway "drugs" that lead to real racing...

My emphasis here is based on a few premises. First, that international excellence in motorsports will not happen with drivers who don't compete in any way until they are 16. If a very naturally talented driver isn't exposed until he's 16, he's at a HUGE disadvantage in professional motorsports - especially in the most competitive arenas. While there are exceptions, most professional, paid drivers began in carts and worked their way up. They have more seat time by 16 than I'll ever have.

The second premise is that driving fast is nothing like actually racing. Personally, I am still at the school stage as well, but it takes nothing more than a ride along w/ an instructor who races in an open passing group to show me that racing is different. Never mind the volumes of literature availabe and separate training that racers undergo, compared to the average track driver. I've seen these same fast driving steet racers show at sanctioned events. If I had a dollar for every ricer who showed up at an autox - ONCE - I would be a richer man. Generally, driving a modified ITR and getting your a$$ kicked by someone in a stock Miata or Neon keeps them disinterested. Reality hurts. Similarly, I could count the number of these guys I've seen at the track on one hand.

The final premise is an admitted disgust with the "scene." I love motorsports. But I love all types of racing and I rate them according to the level of skill, quality of cars, and - most importantly - their worldwide attention. F1 wins. Period. Behind that are other series that draw talent from all over the world to compete. CART has significantly more international drivers than JGTC. Which leads to the premise that, even though I drive a Japanese car, I refuse to idolize all things Japanese. I give credit where it is due, but I will not pretend for a minute that canyon carvers are more imporant to motorsports that people racing at tracks. As with drift - if that is what makes you happy, fine, but don't attempt to convince me that it is the fastest way, best training ground, future of American motorsports, etc.

So I hear you and, as I said, I accept that street driving can be a gateway - but once you go though, there is a whole different world there. And it is that world that we were discussing above. But to say that the gateway is the pinnacle, I refuse to accept.