Zero grip, maximum fun: A practical guide to getting into amateur ice racing

February 20, 2026
Zero grip, maximum fun: A practical guide to getting into amateur ice racing

Here's something that might surprise you — sometimes, less grip equals more fun. Tim Stevens from Technology argues that in Formula One, grip is king, but honestly, that kind of racing isn’t always the most enjoyable. Now, here’s where it gets interesting: if you live somewhere cold enough, you can try ice racing. All you really need is a set of good tires and a car that’s willing to slide. Stevens, who’s been ice racing for over 20 years, points out that there’s no thrill quite like slipping through a corner inches behind a rival, feeling totally alive. And get this — ice racing flips the usual on its head. Instead of fighting grip, you’re embracing the slide, making every turn a dance. As Stevens explains, if you want pure, unfiltered fun on four wheels, this is it. So, whether you're a seasoned driver or just curious, ice racing might be the adrenaline rush you didn’t know you needed.

In Formula One, grip is everything. The world's best engineers devote their careers to designing cars that maximize downforce and grip to squeeze every bit of performance out of a set of four humble tires. These cars punish their drivers by slinging them at six Gs through corners and offer similar levels of abuse in braking.

It's all wildly impressive, but I've long maintained that those drivers are not the ones having the most fun. When it comes to sheer enjoyment, grip is highly overrated, and if you want proof of that, you need to try ice racing.

Should you be lucky enough to live somewhere that gets cold enough consistently enough, all you need is a good set of tires and a car that's willing and able. That, of course, and a desire to spend more time driving sideways than straight. I've been ice racing for well over 20 years now, and I'm here to tell you that there's no greater thrill on four wheels than sliding through a corner a few inches astern of a hard-charging competitor.

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Audio Transcript

In Formula One, grip is everything. The world's best engineers devote their careers to designing cars that maximize downforce and grip to squeeze every bit of performance out of a set of four humble tires. These cars punish their drivers by slinging them at six Gs through corners and offer similar levels of abuse in braking.

It's all wildly impressive, but I've long maintained that those drivers are not the ones having the most fun. When it comes to sheer enjoyment, grip is highly overrated, and if you want proof of that, you need to try ice racing.

Should you be lucky enough to live somewhere that gets cold enough consistently enough, all you need is a good set of tires and a car that's willing and able. That, of course, and a desire to spend more time driving sideways than straight. I've been ice racing for well over 20 years now, and I'm here to tell you that there's no greater thrill on four wheels than sliding through a corner a few inches astern of a hard-charging competitor.

Read full article

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Zero grip, maximum fun: A practical guide to getting into amateur ice racing | Speasy