Why do we have gas-powered pace cars / gators?

Yes

Wouldn't it also be a great marketing idea for electric vehicles to be the pacers? Today's pace car brought to you by the chevy volt/Nissan leaf etc.

Agreed. BMW has done that for Berlin and other local races with the i3 and i8, but even in my local race when they had an i8, they also had a massive truck right next to it. Kind of defeats the purpose.

It would just open up another can of worms for all the old farts from the 70s to say "Well my 2:14 from 1978 would be worth 2:02 nowadays since I had to run behind a coal-powered pace car."

Good points. I'll point out that an electric golf cart likely can't handle the hills of a good XC course. Got to stay ahead of the leader, after all.

ElectricFan wrote:

Agreed. BMW has done that for Berlin and other local races with the i3 and i8, but even in my local race when they had an i8, they also had a massive truck right next to it. Kind of defeats the purpose.

Also, at Berlin the runners followed a big black van with a clock on it and the van was presumably gas or diesel powered.

Why you ask?

Because the leaders may take a wrong turn and get lost. That's why.

Seriously mate? wrote:

Wouldn't it also be a great marketing idea for electric vehicles to be the pacers? Today's pace car brought to you by the chevy volt/Nissan leaf etc.

Yeah, it would be great advertising for coal and nuclear power plants that supply the electricity for those cars too. Also, would be great advertising for the environmental damage caused by the mining of rare earth minerals required to make and dispose of those batteries.

comparison wrote:

It would just open up another can of worms for all the old farts from the 70s to say "Well my 2:14 from 1978 would be worth 2:02 nowadays since I had to run behind a coal-powered pace car."

That was a pretty awful attempt at making a point or at humor.

Most event directors, college coaches, athletic directors and/or staff do not care that much about things like clean air, emissions or the environment.

The sad truth is most people are the same.

Inefficient gas powered vehicles are ubiquitous. EPA standards allow things like ATVs, Gators and dirt motorcycles to spew far more toxic and damaging emissions into the air than cars or trucks. Gasoline is inexpensive and the full cost of using it is not considered by most.

There are not that many electric vehicles out there. Most golf carts are set up to be too slow to lead decent runnners.

If pressed on this issue, the event organizers would likely say the exhaust is the same for all the leaders.

Also remember pre nats are in Indiana. I have lived there and it is not the most environmentally aware state. Surprising they do not lead the race with a diesel tractor or a Hummer.

IN is a pretty conservative place. Check out Indiana Governor (and Trump running mate Mike Pence's) abysmal views on environmental issues.

I have been in some races on USFS dirt roads where the lead vehicle was an ATV, The noise and exhaust were awful. The lead pack spent the first few miles trying to yell at the driver to give us more space.

They could find some respectable mountain bikers to lead these events. Yes you can film from a bike. But would spectators respect people on bikes?

Could the f-- a-- guys they pick to lead a race even ride a bike faster than 15 mph (4 min mile pace)??

I have volunteered to lead some local road races on a bicycle. Easy and fun to do.

this and this wrote:

If pressed on this issue, the event organizers would likely say the exhaust is the same for all the leaders.

They should have someone rolling coal at the front of the race. It would be an obstacle, like hills or hay bales.

ElectricFan wrote:

Is anyone else frustrated that the leaders of races have to be stuck behind motorcycles, trucks, and gators? They emit way more particulate emissions than your average car, and there's no way that can be good for an athlete who is working at maximum effort. For example, Chez had to run behind a two-stroke gator at Pre-Nats, and pretty much every marathon as a motorcade plus film crew ahead of the runners.

Electric vehicle technologies are sufficiently advanced and it's time for race organizers to start looking at alternatives. Thoughts? Comments?

Why not use a pace horse/ donkey/camel? Or a pace bicycle ?

Star wrote:

comparison wrote:

It would just open up another can of worms for all the old farts from the 70s to say "Well my 2:14 from 1978 would be worth 2:02 nowadays since I had to run behind a coal-powered pace car."

That was a pretty awful attempt at making a point or at humor.

It was pretty funny

I think it's more plausible they will eventually use drones rather than electric golf carts for XC races

The Bird In Hand Half uses a horse and buggy, just watch out for the road apples. https://www.flickr.com/photos/birdinhandfire/29095269593/in/album-72157672796928032/

Why do you care? Are you a race leader? Shouldn't it be the race leaders that complain? I have not heard any race leader complaining.

Blah Blah. wrote:

Why do you care? Are you a race leader? Shouldn't it be the race leaders that complain? I have not heard any race leader complaining.

You seem pretty dumb lol

French Dawg wrote:

Blah Blah. wrote:

Why do you care? Are you a race leader? Shouldn't it be the race leaders that complain? I have not heard any race leader complaining.

You seem pretty dumb lol

You are a troll. Stick to the topic on hand.

comparison wrote:

It would just open up another can of worms for all the old farts from the 70s to say "Well my 2:14 from 1978 would be worth 2:02 nowadays since I had to run behind a coal-powered pace car."

There were no pace cars in 1978.