[August 22, 2026] I’ve been a rally racing fan since the day I saw my first race in West Germany back in 1975. I was hooked. But I’m sure if you asked me why I was drawn to it, perhaps there was no way I could explain it. Today, I’m highlighting European Rally Racing, a true manly sport.
The races of today are more exciting than those I first saw from the stands in Munich, now more than 50 years ago. Today, we see more compact cars with more powerful engines, but also equipped with better safety designs and equipment. And greater speed.
The rally fans of today are also crazier, some running out onto the unimproved roads and trails where the cars zoom by so fast, the cars (and fans) sometimes fly into the air. It is not that uncommon to witness a fan getting too close to the action and hit by road debris or a racing car part that has been flung off unexpectedly.
The machines are pushed hard, and the drivers have considerable strength and endurance to keep their cars controlled. They must be quick to respond to changing conditions of the race, and most of these men (and they are all men) are very young. Some would also say they are crazy; I prefer brave, yeah, maybe a little crazy.
The sport is an adventure for all those involved. There is one lesson for the racing fan that they all know; there is no substitute for being at the race. Watching it on television or on social media smothers the excitement, unfortunately. However, we can get a small glimpse inside the sport because a few videos are posted on YouTube. One site is
Rally Racing is for the professionals who are ferocious, tough, and brave; being part of a grueling competition that fits well into European culture. I’ve always been fascinated by watching it, as have millions in over the past decades. Rally racing doesn’t seem the same after watching a baseball or soccer game. It is a manly sport.
I provided two links below to give my readers a good feel for the excitement of the competition. Enjoy.
- https://youtube.com/shorts/MCsQGhgodVY?is=zU4i-x2w5XGWxfuF
- https://youtube.com/@fiaerc?si=PdA8E8TpJ6-4VmRe
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I think this might be a sport where the spectators are more likely to be killed than the participants. 👀👀👀👀
It’s early Saturday morning — 6 AM in Texas — and I again get to read about “manly sports”. Gen. Satterfield, thank you.