An Accelerated Learning Curve: Understanding the Benefits of Motorsports within Academic Disciplines

Authors

Mark D. Howell, Northwestern Michigan College

Abstract

This article examines the growing need for college and university programs focusing on the motorsports industry. Many institutions fight against the age-old academic debate between classical or "high" culture and popular or "low" culture. Since motorsports affect large, general audiences, they are traditionally deemed "low" culture. As this article states, however, the need for college-educated engineers, designers, and business people in the rapidly expanding motorsports industry is slowly pushing automobile racing into the arena of an established and necessary academic discipline. The benefit of such a discipline is that graduates are successful in finding jobs with many of the biggest and best racing teams in the sport. As racing grows in popularity and sophistication, so will the number of jobs requiring university-trained team members.

Recommended Citation

Howell, Mark D. (2000) "An Accelerated Learning Curve: Understanding the Benefits of Motorsports within Academic Disciplines," Visions in Leisure and Business: Vol. 19: No. 2, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/visions/vol19/iss2/3