Motorsport has a HUGE Problem! Can It Be Saved? JR Hildebrand and Scotto Have Some Ideas!
About this episode
Brian Scotto chats with JR Hildebrand, an IndyCar driver known for his dramatic 2011 Indy 500 finish, about the decline of motorsports and ideas to revive it. They dive deep into the challenges facing racing today, including fan engagement, the sport's relevance, and the impact of technology. JR shares insights from his racing career and discusses how motorsports can adapt to modern audiences. The conversation is thoughtful and detailed, offering a unique perspective from a driver who’s both experienced and reflective about the future of racing.
This week VERY VEHICULAR welcomes JR Hildebrand: Race Driver and Veteran of THAT Indy 500 Crash back in 2011. Scotto and JR get philosophical as they break down the maybes and what-ifs they’ve each encountered through the many forks in life’s road. Mainly though, they’re here to figure out the answer to motorsports’ entertainment problem. Drawing from his deep well of experience behind the wheel, JR’s manifesto for setting racing ‘off’ rather than on the straight and narrow is compelling. Scotto, as ever, brings both a viewer’s and a director’s eye to bear on the problem at hand, because at the end of the day, don’t we all deserve to be entertained? Enjoy!
Partners:
Vyper Industrial
FCP Euro
Heatwave Visual
Wera Tools
Producer: Nick Rutter @nickrutterarts
Music: SlikSound
Patreon: https://patreon.com/u37266647
https://bio.site/321actionaction
00:00 - Welcome & Introduction
00:54 - Sponsors: Vyper Industrial, Heat Wave & Wera Tools
03:19 - Meeting JR Pre Internet
04:20 - That Crash at Indy and What Ifs
15:27 - JR’s Road to Racing and a Career in Indy
27:05 - Rufus: A Way to Fix Motorsport?
39:19 - Flow State: Did Senna Really See Himself From Above?
42:11 - Hitting the Speed Ceiling. Is Speed Even the Right Thing to Chase?
46:30 - Nostalgia for Group B, Rose-tinted Glasses?
48:02 - Sponsor: FCP Euro
56:05 - So If Not Speed, What Becomes the North Star?
59:31 - Cut Downforce Add Power
01:03:01 - Rally Style And the Loeb of it all
01:14:22 - Storytelling in Racing
01:22:56 - Meetings With NASCAR
01:25:54 - How TV Shaped Racing
01:27:39 - Mickey Thompson Tangent
01:33:47 - Can The Existing Series Evolve? Or Do We Need To Burn It Down?
01:40:09 - Check Out The Patreon
01:48:03 - Rufus - The Vision
02:09:55 - Downforce Sucks. Get Rid Of It
02:11:04 - Blackbird66 and the Mark 1
02:25:19 - Looking For A Proof As A Beacon
02:29:28 - One Off Events at Iconic Tracks
02:34:21 - Thoughts On Rob Dahm’s Laguna Seca Track Record Ambition
motorsports
"And today we focus on how to save motorsports. Both of us have recognized that in the past two decades there has been a major decline in this thing that we love."
Motorsports means racing cars or bikes in competitions on tracks or roads. People race to see who is fastest or best at driving.
Motorsports refers to competitive sporting events involving motorized vehicles, typically cars or motorcycles, racing on circuits or tracks. It encompasses various disciplines such as Formula 1, IndyCar, rally, and drifting.
Heat Wave
"Of all the sunglass companies out there. You might ask Why Heat Wave, aside from them being friends of mine, they just make great shades, awesome styles, cool collabs, smart tech. They even have extra large sizes for big heads like me."
Heat Wave is a company that makes cool sunglasses and safety glasses that protect your eyes, especially for people who work or go to car events.
Heat Wave is a company that makes sunglasses and safety glasses, known for stylish designs and collaborations with motorsport and outdoor culture. They also produce safety glasses meeting Z87 standards for workplace protection.
Z87 spec safety glasses
"And for those of you wearing this on the job, they make antsy Z eight seven spec safety glasses too."
Z87 safety glasses are special glasses that protect your eyes from things that might hit them at work or in dangerous places.
Z87 spec safety glasses meet the ANSI Z87.1 standard for impact resistance and eye protection in industrial and workplace environments. They are designed to protect eyes from flying debris and hazards.
pit stops
""...you don't even make pit stops. Right. You know, up to that point. So yeah. End of the race, uh, get into just assume the lead 'cause cars are pit peeling off to make their pit stops right. Until the end of the race.""
During a race, cars sometimes stop briefly to get fuel or new tires; these are called pit stops and can change who is winning.
Pit stops are scheduled or unscheduled stops during a race where cars enter the pit lane for refueling, tire changes, repairs, or adjustments. They are critical strategic moments that can affect race position.
spotter
""didn't ha didn't have anybody over the radio. Your spotters are mostly telling you what's going on kind of behind you. Like they're not, you're the one that's supposed to be responsible for what's going on in front of you.""
A spotter is someone who talks to the driver during a race to help them know what's happening around them, like where other cars are or if there are any dangers.
A spotter is a team member who communicates with the driver during a race, providing information about track conditions, other cars, and potential hazards, especially in blind spots.
throttle
""So you were on throttle at this point, like the full throttle, the car front right corner is completely destroyed.""
The throttle is like the gas pedal that makes the car go faster when you press it.
The throttle controls the engine's power output by regulating air and fuel intake, affecting the car's acceleration.
NASCAR
"And I think that's like where certain racing is really successful. Because I think it's one of the, one of the reasons people like nascar, and I'm not a big NASCAR person, but like there's always a big wreck in the last three laps. It just happened to Daytona, right?"
NASCAR is a type of car racing in the US where cars race on oval tracks and the race can change a lot at the end, sometimes because of crashes.
NASCAR is a popular American stock car racing series known for its close racing and frequent last-lap changes, often involving crashes that can dramatically affect race outcomes.
Indy
"But, but I wanna, I wanna hit a few, a few things first and we, we don't have to talk about the crash anymore, that's not behind us, but how, what was your road up to Indy? 'cause I, I, it's actually something you and I have never talked about."
Indy is a famous car race and racing series in the US where very fast open-wheel cars race on big tracks.
Indy refers to the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series, a premier American open-wheel racing series known for high-speed oval and road course racing.
karting
"Yeah. Like where did you come up the standard route of carting? Like how did that, you get into that? Did you have, were you in a family of motorsport? Like how, how did you end up there? No, I think, I mean, so much of what has informed, just my perspective..."
Karting is racing with small, simple cars called karts. Many race car drivers start by racing karts when they are young.
Karting is a form of motorsport using small, open-wheel vehicles called karts. It's often the starting point for many professional race car drivers.
Chevrolet Camaro
"my dad had a vintage race car from when I was a kid, so he was a CPI grew up in the Bay Area. Um, and, but he had a 68 Camaro that was a, what had been a race car from when it was new."
The 1968 Chevrolet Camaro is an old American sports car that was fast and popular for racing and street driving.
The 1968 Chevrolet Camaro is a classic American muscle car known for its powerful engines and sporty design. It was also used in various racing formats including vintage racing.
hill climb racing
"Basically it was an a sedan car, hill climb, SECA hill climb car, that kind of stuff. Um, so he raced that with, still has this car, uh, raced that."
Hill climb racing is a type of race where cars try to drive up a hill or mountain road as fast as they can.
Hill climb racing is a motorsport where drivers race individually against the clock to ascend a hill or mountain road as fast as possible.
TransAm
"It was not a TransAm car, but it ran in that mm-hmm. Of that spec. Basically it was an a sedan car, hill climb, SECA hill climb car, that kind of stuff. Um, so he raced that with, still has this car, uh, raced that. In the TransAm group in like the vintage TransAm group for a long time..."
TransAm is a type of car racing where cars that look like regular street cars are changed to race on tracks.
TransAm is a racing series featuring modified production-based cars, popular in the 1960s and 1970s. It includes various classes like the A Sedan class and is known for intense competition.
vintage racing
"In the TransAm group in like the vintage TransAm group for a long time up until that group mean, we know that group now as being like all of the heavy hitting real deal cars... He raced six or eight times a year, uh, vintage races, mostly just on the West Coast."
Vintage racing is racing with old cars that people keep in good shape to race like they did many years ago.
Vintage racing involves racing older cars that are preserved or restored to their original racing condition, often with period-correct specifications.
season passes for racetracks
"And growing up in Marin, like you were 45 minutes from Sears Point and an hour and some change from Laguna. We had season passes to both places. So I, I mean, wait, there's season passes for racetracks."
Season passes are tickets that let you go to many races at a track during the year without buying a ticket each time.
Season passes allow fans to attend multiple race events at a racetrack throughout a season, offering convenience and cost savings.
Hot Wheels
"Basically. And had, you know, I played baseball really competitively for a long time, but if you'd got in my room when I was 10, I had hundreds of Hot Wheels cars and no baseball cars anywhere, right?"
Hot Wheels are small toy cars that many kids collect and play with. They come in many different styles and colors.
Hot Wheels is a popular brand of die-cast toy cars known for their wide variety of miniature vehicles and collectible appeal.
rookie
"...That Right. That I was better than I was or something. Mm-hmm. You know, that moment in 2011 for, I think, you know, partially 'cause I was a rookie, but, and so just knowing the circumstance of the whole thing..."
A rookie is someone who is new to a sport or race and is still learning how to do it well.
A rookie is a competitor in their first season or year in a particular sport or racing series, often facing a learning curve compared to more experienced participants.
Formula Drift
"I think I actually met you through Formula drift. That sounds right. 'cause I think you were, 'cause you were driving, you drove one year."
Formula Drift is a type of car racing where drivers slide their cars sideways around corners in a controlled way. They are judged on how well they do this, not just who finishes fastest.
Formula Drift is a professional drifting series where drivers compete in controlled oversteer maneuvers around a course, judged on style, speed, and execution. It is a major motorsport discipline focused on car control and precision.
Formula One
"And then started watching Formula One. Um, I started watching Formula One sort of in the, probably like the middle of the Schumacher kind of era, right? Sure. And like really exciting. Late nineties. Yeah. Yeah, late nineties."
Formula One is the top level of car racing where very fast, special cars race on different tracks around the world.
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing, featuring the fastest cars and most skilled drivers competing on circuits worldwide.
pursuit of speed
"It's like, well, we're just Chis like about the pursuit of speed. Right. That's what we're here to do. And let, let me ask you a quick question there. Do you think the pursuit of speed was the right pursuit for motorsports through that period?"
In racing, people always try to go faster and beat previous speed records. This is called the pursuit of speed.
The pursuit of speed refers to the continuous effort in motorsports to achieve faster lap times, higher top speeds, or quicker acceleration, often driving technological and competitive development.
group B
"And one of the things I go back to is why do we have this nostalgia for a slower time, right? Like, like for example, group B it gets talked about all the time, right? From rally group B, group B, the modern rally car is so much faster. Especially the era, the arrow era of the modern WRC car is so much faster than group B cars."
Group B was a type of rally car from the 1980s that was super fast and powerful but also risky to drive, so they stopped making them.
Group B was a class of rally cars in the 1980s known for their extreme power and minimal restrictions, making them very fast but also dangerous, leading to their ban in 1986.
Jeep Gladiator
"...n the planet, or just turn it into a gladi, a gladiator sport where race car drivers die every week like ..."
The Jeep Gladiator is a truck that can go off-road like a Jeep and also carry stuff in its back. People like it because it’s tough and good for both work and fun outside.
The Jeep Gladiator is a midsize pickup truck that combines Jeep's off-road capability with the utility of a truck bed. It's significant for bringing Jeep's rugged design and performance to the pickup segment, appealing to enthusiasts who want both adventure and practicality.
open wheel cars
"You know, any of the open wheel cars, it's like either it's stuck or it's unstuck. Yeah. And, and that's kind of that, you know, like maybe you get a chance to, to catch the wiggle, but it, it's, it's a thing that is impossible to tell what's going on."
Open wheel cars are race cars where the wheels stick out on the sides, not covered by the car's body.
Open wheel cars are race cars with wheels located outside the main body, such as Formula 1 and Indy cars, designed for high speed and agility.
BMW E30
"I wanna see the car feel aggressive. I, I miss the days of watching cars go up, you know, Mercedes one nineties on two wheels through the curb. Ah, like, yeah, like that. There's just something so cool about that, right? And I think it's why Instagram accounts like patina research in Japan, California, all have so much success because people are like, Ooh, like, that looks so exciting. You know, how slow that E 30 was going. That thing was not moving. Like, but it, but it looks like it's moving. Yeah. And I, I think this is one of those things that like, how do we, how do we all agree that that may actually be a better formula than this new formula, which is all about math, right?"
The BMW 3 Series is a popular car that’s fun to drive and feels nice inside. It’s known for being both comfortable and sporty, making it a favorite for many drivers.
The BMW 3 Series is a compact executive car known for its sporty handling and luxury features. It has been a benchmark in its class for decades, often praised for delivering an engaging driving experience with a balance of comfort and performance.
GoPro
"I had GoPro as a sponsor. Yeah, yeah. I remember. And you couldn't ever get. GoPro is on the car. It was either some media rights thing that they wanted GoPro to spend. And I'm like, guys, just let them put this on their It's practice. Yeah. Let them put a lap on their YouTube page."
GoPro makes small cameras that you can attach to cars or helmets to record videos from the driver's point of view or other angles.
GoPro is a company known for its compact, rugged action cameras often used in motorsports and other extreme sports to capture first-person footage.
Chevrolet Corvette
"... from the seventies that are like advertising the Corvette with Gymkhana, which Jim Suspension. You still ..."
The Chevrolet Corvette is a fast and stylish sports car from America. People love it because it’s powerful and looks cool, making it a classic favorite.
The Chevrolet Corvette is an iconic American sports car known for its powerful performance and distinctive design. It has a rich history dating back to the 1950s and is often celebrated for delivering supercar-level performance at a relatively affordable price.
motocross
"Right. It's motocross for a Supercross, right? Yeah. Motocross fell away because Supercross was easier to film and easier to sell seats. And you know, you have your paint bucket full of Coca-Cola and it was easier to watch."
Motocross is racing motorcycles on outdoor dirt tracks with hills and turns. It's harder to watch on TV than Supercross because it happens outside and is less predictable.
Motocross is off-road motorcycle racing held on natural terrain tracks with varying surfaces and obstacles. It is known for its challenging courses but is less suited for television compared to Supercross.
Supercross
"Right. It's motocross for a Supercross, right? Yeah. Motocross fell away because Supercross was easier to film and easier to sell seats. And you know, you have your paint bucket full of Coca-Cola and it was easier to watch."
Supercross is motorcycle racing that happens inside big stadiums on special dirt tracks with jumps. It's easier to watch on TV than regular motocross, which happens outside on natural tracks.
Supercross is a form of motorcycle racing held on artificially made dirt tracks inside stadiums, featuring jumps and tight turns. It is a more spectator-friendly and televised version of motocross, which is held on natural terrain.
Dakar Rally
"Because like if I, if you were to say right now, like pick three races, you wanna tell a story about I a man super exciting Baja or Dakar interchangeable. Right."
The Dakar Rally is a very long and hard race where cars and bikes drive over deserts and mountains. It's one of the toughest races in the world.
The Dakar Rally is a famous annual off-road endurance race that covers thousands of kilometers over challenging terrain like deserts and mountains. It tests the durability of vehicles and skill of drivers.
Baja race
"Because like if I, if you were to say right now, like pick three races, you wanna tell a story about I a man super exciting Baja or Dakar interchangeable. Right."
Baja races are long and tough off-road races that happen in desert areas. Drivers race over rough ground for many miles, making it very hard but exciting.
The Baja race refers to off-road endurance races held in the Baja California Peninsula, known for their challenging desert terrain and long distances. They are popular in off-road motorsport culture.
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
"Or you know, like Bergen 24, which is another race that's like really hard or Pikes Peak, which is like really hard to tell a story with like two cameras to capture."
Pikes Peak is a race where cars and motorcycles drive up a mountain road with lots of turns. It's very hard because the road goes higher and higher.
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is an annual automobile and motorcycle hill climb race to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado. It is known for its challenging course with many turns and elevation changes.
Tony Stewart
"You got your Tony Stewart's or Right. You know, whatever. But it's few and far between in comparison to what it was like back then."
Tony Stewart is a famous American race car driver who won many races and also owns a racing team.
Tony Stewart is a retired American professional racing driver and team owner known for his success in NASCAR and open-wheel racing. He is often cited as a prominent example of a versatile and influential modern driver.
24 Hours of Daytona
"He, I mean, it's not to say it's the only reason, but he did the 24 hours of Daytona the following year."
The 24 Hours of Daytona is a very long car race where teams race for a whole day and night to see who can go the farthest and fastest without stopping.
The 24 Hours of Daytona is a famous endurance sports car race held annually at Daytona International Speedway. Teams of drivers race continuously for 24 hours, testing reliability and speed.
wings
""...which is take the fucking wings off, like get rid of the downforce in a big way and we can crank all the knobs back up to make up for that in so much as it matters.""
Wings are parts on race cars that push the car down onto the road to help it stick better. Taking them off means less grip but changes how the car drives.
Wings on race cars are aerodynamic devices designed to create downforce by directing airflow. Removing wings reduces downforce, affecting grip and handling.
Honda
"Like there's probably room to turn those things up, but they were, that was like a competition era in, I mean, that was Ford Cosworth versus Honda versus Toyota versus Mercedes-Benz. Like, it's not like they were pulling punches, you know, at that time."
Honda is a big car and engine maker from Japan. They make engines that help race cars go fast.
Honda is a major Japanese automotive manufacturer known for producing reliable and high-performance engines, especially in motorsports. Honda engines have been competitive in various racing series including Formula 1 and IndyCar.
Ford Cosworth
"Like there's probably room to turn those things up, but they were, that was like a competition era in, I mean, that was Ford Cosworth versus Honda versus Toyota versus Mercedes-Benz. Like, it's not like they were pulling punches, you know, at that time."
Ford Cosworth is a company that made very powerful engines for race cars. These engines helped cars go really fast in races.
Ford Cosworth is a renowned collaboration between Ford and Cosworth, famous for producing high-performance racing engines used in various motorsports including Formula 1 and IndyCar. Their engines are known for advanced engineering and competitive power output.
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