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[RC] Rethinking "Grand Prix" Racing - rides2far

OK, I'm in a good mood because I *finally* got 2/3 of my year's hay in
and while stacking hay I thought this whole FEI thing out.

They said they like the Grand Prix concept, but plan to change the name
from Grand Prix. Maybe this was because I pointed out it could be
translated by some as "Big Pricks"...but heck I would have thought they'd
have liked that.  Anyway...

Think about it. What are the different types of auto racing?  There's
auto track racing like NASCAR...and we have Thoroughbred racing. Both are
on an oval, flat out. There's Quarter Horse racing and Drag Racing. Then
there's Grand Prix.  It's very flat, not on an oval but it's a prepared
track, viewer friendly, emphasizes speed, has a bunch of "hot shot" type
drivers, very international. Sounds like what the UAE/FEI envisions as
the ideal horse sport. Then there's those Baja guys who take off across
country and just GO. That's us....*Endurance*.  I think there's room for
everybody and Grand Prix is the IDEAL name, not for their type of finish
but for their ENTIRE SPORT. It would be rediculous for Grand Prix auto
races to pretend they're the wild & wooly *extreme* sport that Baja is.
They are elitest racers who don't go in circles. I think if they'd just
give it a new name they would be rid of us, we wouldn't bother them any
more...they would go...probably something like 35 miles. They could 
determine the *ideal* weight the horse should carry by the average weight
of whatever individual contributer offers to pays all FEI's bills, then
everyone else could add or subtract weight to meet that goal.

It would be so easy, if they'd just give it a new name and go invent it
just like they want!  Of course, it's not like *they* would ever do the
24 hours of LeMans...but then if they got involved in Grand Prix auto
racing I'm sure they could donate enough money to the governing body to
get them to re-think the "viewer friendly" angle and it would become the
2.4 hours of LeMans...but that would be up to them since we'd be out of
it. That's my proposal. They'll have a sport that's flat, with some
curves thrown in with maybe bales of straw around the curves in case they
wipe out, but through towns so people could watch, 35 miles...back home
and showered in time for tea!

Angie McGhee
http://www.lightersideofendurance.com
Some people are like slinkies. Not really good for anything, but they
bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.


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