We often hear the commentators tell us that driving in a V8 Supercar race is equivalent to running in a marathon. We also see that Rick Kelly often has a heart rate monitor on during a race for the telecast to show the audience.
So a couple of questions:
a) What impact does a race have physically. Do you get muscle soreness or any other physical soreness/tiredness after a race?
b) Do you ever get into the car feeling physically sore, and therefore don't feel you race as well as you could due to being sore?
Displaying 1 to 5 of 5 replies
There have been 5 replies to this Discussion Topic:
jamiefan25 4:38 pm November 28th 2008
it musit be hot in the cars
Mackenzie Price 11:58 am December 1st 2008
Yes, it certanily is. Genrally 25 degrese hotter in the car then outside. Nice Irwin car BTW Muz.
David Wood 2:06 pm December 2nd 2008
Jamie is a pretty fit bloke, i am sure he doesnt train for fun.
To sustain a high level of concentration over a long distance (over 2 hours in some cases) whilst sitting in a flying sauna wearing 2 tracksuits with almost max heartrate isnt for the unfit…. It is hard to appreciate just how tough it must be in the cars, especially at places like Adelaide.
Muz 2:35 pm December 2nd 2008
Agree there David, but hopefully Jamie will come online and help us appreciate how hard it is!!!
David Wood 3:08 pm December 2nd 2008
True Muz, i can only guess, but i have raced a few different categories, such as Formula Ford and Improved production cars, and never found them overwhelmingly phyiscal. Having said that i am a bigger bloke who used to keep quite fit when i was racing, and only raced over shorter distances which is easier.
V8's, from what i know, are a totally different animal….
Formula Ford I found was hard on the upper body, particularly the forearms, as the movement in the cockpit is quite limited, apart from that they are good because you dont have the furnace going on as you have your head sticking out in the fresh breeze . If you dont mind getting hit with rocks and getting a sore bum it is all good!
I remember doing a 25 lap improved production car race around Queensland Raceway a few years ago, on a geninue 30 degree day. My little Mazda that i was racing lapped the circuit around 10 seconds slower than a supercar, so it wasnt a slow thing. But it had a straight cut gearbox (like a supercar) and willwood brakes so it was similar to a V8 in pedal pressures (in a cheap way) and used to get quite hot inside.
The hardest thing was the heat, the hot cabin makes you tired and tiredness leads to errors. 25 laps isnt that far - i didnt have a drama on the day as i was a younger bloke then,(and was clever enough to take a water bottle with me) and lapped with a tenth or two lap after lap.
What that day gave me was a greater appreciation for what Jamie and co do, race after race. Afterwards, the dehydration leads to cramp - particularly in the legs - which is quite interesting when you are trying to brake from 230kp/h….
It is a cardo thing, i never found muscles getting tired it was more mental - the concentration required is high, the heart rate is high, and you are hot and wear hot clothing. I am guessing that is why Jamie does a lot of running and cycling, as it simulates his V8 and prepares him well.
Still, maintaining such a high level of concentration in hot, uncomfortable conditions is not an easy thing, and it is one of Jamie's real strengths I think. He trains very hard, and it shows….
The most phyiscal thing i have ever driven i would say would be the humble Go-Kart… those things are killers !