Fossil Fuels and Racing Sports

[sharadkumar]

I don't know whether this topic has been raised earlier or not, tell me if it has been already discussed.
With the continuous decrease in the total available quantity of fossil fuel on earth, how justified is the wastage of this fuel in sports events like F1 or GP, which are all about fuel guzzling vehicles. Now wait before you criticize me, I am not saying to stop such sports events, I just want your opinion. In the wake of sustainable development, which essentially means that we use ONLY that much which is required, so that the coming generations can also enjoy this nature's benefits, what are the steps that can and should be taken to prevent fuel depletion.

Also, a little off topic - every day I here bizarre researches being conducted in India and of course all over the world. Some of them really challenge the sanity of researchers, and also challenging me to understand their exact motive of research. How justified are such researches and huge amounts of money that are spent on them. Coukdn't the money used for the betterment of humanity in general?

[Punch Farce]

They should race only Toyota Prius and Honda Insight from now on.

-PB

[rajan1310]

well, it may seem that there is a lot of fuel being wasted in Motorsports, its not gonna solve any problem by stopping these.

In F1, its a mixture of alcohol and fuel. I dunno about the rest.

The only way we can solve the fuel crisis is...... i really dunno.

At our personal level, try to reduce consumption by using public transport.
Even if you drive your car, switch the engine off during traffic signals.....

[sharadkumar]

well, it may seem that there is a lot of fuel being wasted in Motorsports, its not gonna solve any problem by stopping these.

In F1, its a mixture of alcohol and fuel. I dunno about the rest.

The only way we can solve the fuel crisis is...... i really dunno.

At our personal level, try to reduce consumption by using public transport.
Even if you drive your car, switch the engine off during traffic signals.....

I just want to ask why stopping these won't solve any problems? Again, I am not asking these sports to be stopped, just curiosity!

[rajan1310]

Well, i dont know exact numbers, just think.

If you stop 25 cars from doing 3000 miles per year, which equals to 9000L per car per year, that will really be a VERY TINY number when stacked up to our global needs. But yes, stopping this will surely create awareness among people about the gravity of the problem.

You see, as i have told in my previous post, i really have no idea how we can effectively reduce our consumption numbers...

[just4kix]

You have raised a good question but as Rajan said stopping F1 (or for that matter any motor sports) will hardly make any dent in the fossil fuel consumption. In my opinion, all countries need to make a concentrated effort on:

• reducing the coal and gas burning power plants, invest more on nuclear energy and making it safer
• introduce a heavy tax on personal vehicles
• introduce mass rapid transit systems like in Singapore
• convert 50% of road width into electric tram routes
• introduce high speed electric trains
• a country like India should not sell subsidized diesel to personal motor vehicles' owners
• introduce congestion charge in big cities/towns like in London

[rajan1310]

• introduce congestion charge in big cities/towns like in London

what does that mean ?

But then with huge electricity shortage in india, how will they maintain electric trams?
We really need to invest in solar or wind energy......

[just4kix]

what does that mean ?

But then with huge electricity shortage in india, how will they maintain electric trams?
We really need to invest in solar or wind energy......

I thought that we were talking about the entire world. For India, nuclear energy is the answer.

London Congestion Charge: Read here: London congestion charge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Solar energy or wind require huge array banks that is ecologically disturbing.

[andasay]

I love motorsports, but I do share the concerns about burning up fossil fuels.

F1 is such a huge money spinner, I cannot see that ethics ever plays a part in the sport.