Racing airplanes are fast. They aren't very quiet. And racing involves flying around yourself, four airplanes at a time. All of this makes it look at the casual observer that pandemonium has broken loose and disaster is imminent.
However, the apparent danger is mostly an illusion.
First of all, the pilots and callers are positioned in the infield, where centrifugal force (I know there's no such thing, but work with me here) protects them from any falling bits or errant aircraft, except in the most unusual cases.
Second, AMA rules require a separation of at least 300 feet between the racecourse and the sideline, where the judges sit. It's another 150 feet to the spectators. This buffer zone contains vast acreage into which the Laws of Probability usually suck any stray models that don't impact right away.
Third, racing airplanes are the most airworthy models out there, thanks to rigorous preflight inspections and the aforementioned Laws of Probability weeding out the weak models during practice.
I can say categorically that I have had more close calls at Sunday afternoon sport-flying sessions and contests of other kinds than at all the races I've attended.
