A to Z: Animals on Race Tracks
Sometimes, animals want to get a closer look at the action.
We have collated this assortment of instances where animals have invaded motorsport, seemingly all with happy outcomes.
Of course, it doesn’t always end that way, for animal, man or machine – clearly, the optimal outcome is for incursions not to happen, for everyone’s sake. There have been countless times over the years when the ending has been bad for all involved.
Regarding the more light-hearted moments, what have we missed? Hit us up on the socials @theracetorque with your clips and pics, and we’ll add them to the story!
Beaver
Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, located on the artificial Île Notre-Dame (which was created from fill made by the creation of the city’s Metro network) in the middle of the Saint Lawrence River, has over the years grown into a natural animal haven.
Between old mate above, groundhogs, foxes, squirrels and more, Montreal is the veritable petting zoo for race cars.
Measures over the years to deter animal invasions have included traps, and the deployment of fox urine at select locations, to mixed results.
Clearly taking the piss out the foxes didn’t stop them from entering the race track.
Bees
We are unsure if this impromptu beehive at Autoclub Speedway ultimately contributed to the decision to bulldoze the venue, but it had to be a contributing factor…
Bird
Birds across the board are perhaps the biggest invaders of race tracks, often with mixed results.
This little fella demonstrates the concept of aerodynamics, and why race teams don’t bother storing canaries in their wind tunnels.
Cat
Fun fact: in China, there are 58 million pet cats, but only 54 million pet dogs.
After the Beijing Formula E race, there were nearly 57,999,999 cats, with Garfield here seeking our lasagne in all of the wrong places…
Cows
Sébastien Ogier at the Rally Mexico 2016 showed just how good his reflexes are to avoid wearing a bovine stampede.
We have not found any proof that he is actually vegetarian.
Deer
Here, you can watch this clip from Austria 2001, where Juan Montoya enjoyed the deer on the track a bit too much…
Dog
Man’s best friend has played numerous terrifying motorsport cameos over the years.
Who could forget the dog on the track at the 1995 Bathurst ATCC round, then there was Bahrain in 2020, or the Mexican NASCAR race in 2005.
There was also this one time in India…
Echidna
As far as animal invasions go, this one was ridiculously on-brand for Bathurst.
As it transpires, he is a regular invader of the Mount Panorama Circuit at The Cutting, as documented by the local accommodation house in the vicinity…
Eel/turtle
Lakeside’s flooding in 1989 provided something completely different: meet an eel and a turtle on the race track, while we also recall fish taking advantage of the sodden conditions to take to the circuit.
As a side note, at the 2001 Development Series event at the venue, the author on arriving at the venue early, rescued a turtle from the middle of the main straight – and it was a perfectly dry day.
Fox
Typically NASCAR is on Fox, this time a Fox was on NASCAR.
Geese
Cape Barren Geese are 4kg of rock-solid fearless stupidity, that have found a way to wreck multiple races at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit over the years.
Don’t ask the author how he knows this, but their kryptonite is the sound of approaching mountain bikes.
You’d think competition engines would do the trick too, but you’d be wrong.
Groundhog
It’s groundhog day!
NASCAR safety workers clearly spend their days training to extract drivers from race cars, rather than focus on animal control.
Practice makes perfect, but this was far from perfect…
Horse
Bathurst: does it again.
Kangaroo
Hang on, it’s Bathurst again.
Skippy genuinely set purple sectors in practice at the 2020 12 Hour in this uber-viral clip that lapped the internet.
Elsewhere, Morgan Park Raceway has developed a special kangaroo flag to warn competitors of animals on track – which is a smart ploy, as waved yellows condition drivers to seek out stationary objects, rather than erratic, unpredictable natives.
Lizard
Even though it is the third most densely populated country in the world, Singapore has animals too, and in 2016 lodged this very solid entry for this article.
Godzilla lives…
Owl
If the bees didn’t do a number on Auto Club Speedway, an owl also brought proceedings to a close at the Californian venue.
Sadly, we can’t identify the food in its talons for inclusion in this countdown.
Rabbit
Question: How many safety workers does it take to catch a rabbit?
Answer: All of them.
Here at Pocono 1989, the NASCAR world was significantly outpaced by a rabbit, who even evaded the Winston cigarettes eagle in the opening sequence of this classic Benny Hill chase…
Skunk
You know you are in a NASCAR garage when Pepé Le Pew rolls in…
Snake/ Magpie
You know how motorsport is dangerous?
Well, Australian motorsport is incredibly dangerous.
It will eat your cat then peck your eyes out.
Hat tip to the photographer who captured this moment of sheer terror for karter number five…
Squirrel
Firstly, Kevin Harvick needs animal identification classes.
But squirrels seemingly are regular race track invaders in parts of the world where kangaroos don’t dominate.
Turkey/Chicken
This debris caution from Pocono 1991 came with a potentially tasty twist.
Fortunately, the fowl escaped before dinner, although, the bird was removed in the direction of a campsite, which is known to have grilled up worse…
Tortoise
Champagne Bathurst.
How on earth did old mate get lost? Was he a pet going for a wander?
There are no creeks nearby to Mountain Straight… another wild chapter in the history of Mount Panorama.
Wallaby
More from Phillip Island.
Wallabies have had an increasing presence around the circuit in recent years, with the soft little friends inhabiting the bushland around the scenic venue.
Wasp
Who wouldn’t want to hang with Daniel Ricciardo?
Mark Walker (administrator)
A vastly experienced Motorsport Public Relations operator, journalist, commentator and photographer, Mark brings his unique angle to The Race Torque in both words and imagery. As well as serving as our key photographer on the ground at major events around Australia (and overseas), Walker will often chime in with his unique and pin-point sharp viewpoint of the racing world via the keyboard too.
