Doping in Motorsport Dissertation

Afternoon all, hope this is okay to post (if not, my apologies)

I'm a student at Wiltshire College studying motorsport engineering, and as part of my degree I'm completing a dissertation looking at doping in motorsport. As part of the dissertation I'm researching about the public's perception of doping in motorsport, and to help complete this I've created a questionnaire. It should take around 5-6 minutes to complete, and I'd appreciate some responses from motorsport enthusiasts!

If anyone is interested in completing it the link is: https://jamesbeddow.typeform.com/to/mnAsea

Thanks for your time!

For the question on "What is your relationship to the motorsport industry?", how do you want people to answer if we participate at an amateur, but not professional level? "Participate" or "Other"?

I just wanted to compliment you on your impeccable taste in your survey audience. Nowhere else will you find a more knowledgeable group with experience in both motorsports and drug usage.

Oh, and I just completed your survey. Good luck!

Interesting topic. A lot of people in motorsport like to say that there's no advantage to doping (in motorsport), but that's not exactly true. Look at the drugs that are given to fighter pilots and tell me why they wouldn't offer the same advantages in motorsport...that said I think it's basically a nonexistent problem. The risks simply outweigh the benefits for this kind of activity.

GameboyRMH wrote: Interesting topic. A lot of people in motorsport like to say that there's no advantage to doping (in motorsport), but that's not exactly true. Look at the drugs that are given to fighter pilots and tell me why they wouldn't offer the same advantages in motorsport...that said I think it's basically a nonexistent problem. The risks simply outweigh the benefits for this kind of activity.

My exact thoughts were the speed they give to fighter pilots. Staying focused for hours on end making the same lap would be a huge advantage. Doping in AutoX would be kind of pointless, but when a driver is spending more than an hour behind the wheel I could see where stimulants would be a huge boost.

I think ritalin would help in AutoX. Pro gamers use it heavily to keep their reaction times sharp...the same thing could help in autocross. Catch oversteer sooner, time corner entries better, unlock wheels quicker.

Closest I've come to doping is using caffeine in a 24-hour offroad rally, but I think that was like trying to put out a house fire with a squirt gun...

This is a topic that can get very messy very quickly for amateur racing. As mentioned above, stimulants can provide a considerable focus advantage and methylphenidate (Ritalin) lasts about 4.5 hours in most adults with a level plateau of effectiveness over most of the dose (it's not "peaky"). Stimulants will help everyone whether or not they have a mental ailment. That's why they're carefully prescribed to people with ADD and other attention issues related to autism.

Is it right to "out" people with valid prescriptions if they want to participate in club racing? What about at the professional level?

GameboyRMH wrote: I think ritalin would help in AutoX.

From experience, it doesn't much, if at all. Autocross involves a spike in adrenaline and heart rate and on Ritalin, you don't have enough time to adjust and are "jittery" during the run. For club racing, however, you'd adjust after the first lap or so and would benefit.

I've heard bad things about those badminton dopers...

For some reason, the first thing that came to mind was the scene in "Planes" where one of the air racers was disqualified for using nitromethane.

Can say from personal experience that steroids, legal mind you, have made me much better in the car. I put on a bunch of muscle mass and I don't get as tired in a Cart or on the track as I used to. I can hold myself into a better driving position for longer. I don't get as bruised on long days as well.

I don't know about helping drivers but I've heard a little coke can keep a handful of crew members productive day and night.

Beer Baron wrote: For the question on "What is your relationship to the motorsport industry?", how do you want people to answer if we participate at an amateur, but not professional level? "Participate" or "Other"?

Thanks for the interest! Apologies for the late reply, if you still need an answer then participate would be suitable, though either would be fine :)

slefain wrote: I just wanted to compliment you on your impeccable taste in your survey audience. Nowhere else will you find a more knowledgeable group with experience in both motorsports and drug usage. Oh, and I just completed your survey. Good luck!

Thanks for completing it! Looks like I've found the perfect audience for it then

As for your post regarding fighter pilots, coincidentally enough I've just finished reading about a study of F-117 Nighthawk pilots using Modafinil on 37 hour flights- on technical test pilots using it reported 15-30% decreases in performance over time, vs. 60-100% decreases for 'clean' pilots (and they say drugs are bad...).

GameboyRMH wrote: Interesting topic. A lot of people in motorsport like to say that there's no advantage to doping (in motorsport), but that's not exactly true. Look at the drugs that are given to fighter pilots and tell me why they wouldn't offer the same advantages in motorsport...that said I think it's basically a nonexistent problem. The risks simply outweigh the benefits for this kind of activity.

That was my train of thought! Initially I thought it would be pointless, but the more I've read about it (particularly the demands on drivers), the more it makes sense! (please no one take that as professional advice, can't be dealing with being sued!)

As I said to slefain, I've just been reading about modafinil use in F-117 pilots on long distance flights, and the benefits are clear!

But I agree, (hopefully) most drivers would see the benefits as being too small to risk doping.

Kylini wrote: This is a topic that can get very messy very quickly for amateur racing. As mentioned above, stimulants can provide a considerable focus advantage and methylphenidate (Ritalin) lasts about 4.5 hours in most adults with a level plateau of effectiveness over most of the dose (it's not "peaky"). Stimulants will help *everyone* whether or not they have a mental ailment. That's why they're carefully prescribed to people with ADD and other attention issues related to autism. Is it right to "out" people with valid prescriptions if they want to participate in club racing? What about at the professional level?

Absolutely, it's a pretty sensitive subject.

I believe professional athletes (including drivers) can seek therapeutic exemptions to allow the use of prohibited substances, so hopefully those who need don't have to be excluded from motorsport.

Though one of the big risks is how easy it is to obtain certain prescription drugs- it's getting increasingly common for students to use modafinil and other 'study drugs' (which can also benefit drivers for long lasting focus), whether it be through dodgy websites, or dubious prescriptions. So I guess the risk is that 'healthy' drivers may abuse exemptions by getting a questionable diagnosis and prescription? It's a bit out there, but if people are willing to push the rules with technical regs, is the next step pushing it with medicines?

Wall-e wrote: I don't know about helping drivers but I've heard a little coke can keep a handful of crew members productive day and night.

Haha, that's pretty much what my project leader said!

wearymicrobe wrote: Can say from personal experience that steroids, legal mind you, have made me much better in the car. I put on a bunch of muscle mass and I don't get as tired in a Cart or on the track as I used to. I can hold myself into a better driving position for longer. I don't get as bruised on long days as well.

Wow really? That's really interesting! I've just been looking at the benefits of steroids.

Without trying to sound weird, would you mind if I messaged you about this? As it potentially sounds really interesting for the dissertation (I'm not WADA/ DEA/ the feds... honest!).

jeddows wrote:

wearymicrobe wrote: Can say from personal experience that steroids, legal mind you, have made me much better in the car. I put on a bunch of muscle mass and I don't get as tired in a Cart or on the track as I used to. I can hold myself into a better driving position for longer. I don't get as bruised on long days as well.

Wow really? That's really interesting! I've just been looking at the benefits of steroids. Without trying to sound weird, would you mind if I messaged you about this? As it potentially sounds really interesting for the dissertation (I'm not WADA/ DEA/ the feds... honest!).

I would prefer not to honestly.

I have a pretty nasty growth in my head pushing on my pituitary gland and it has caused all kinds of havoc. I am at a super physiological level of TRT right now as they try and get me back to normal. Even on what would be considered well below a bodybuilding dose of Test it was amazing the difference I felt. I can see absolutely how you could us this, plus Modafinil and a few other interesting things that I know about to make you a better all around athlete no matter what the sport. Honestly with a Test/Tren/DNP/Mast mix and a good training regimen you could be a monster quite quickly in mass if that is what you are after.

Been moving down with the docs orders to get it right into normal range as we speak actually. Driving is more of a contact and strength sport then most people give it credit. Exponentially when I have been out in my friends shifter carts in the past. Its not for guys in their mid 30's.

In reply to jeddows:

I used to work on a stock car in an industrial park and in the garage next to us were a couple guys that built drag cars. They worked for an a/c company during the day and then after work work build race cars until 2-3 in the morning at least three nights a week.