Strange question

Minnreefer · 12-09-2003, 05:38 PM

I was wondering, why do most races on a track go counter-clockwise? is there any reason?

Is it to go back into time?

Why, why, why???

gregt · 12-09-2003, 05:42 PM

Because the driver is on the left and turning left is easier with the extra weight distribution on that side of the car.

PS> I completely made that up, I have no idea for real.

Minnreefer · 12-09-2003, 06:12 PM

It is a good theory, but I think horse races were going in that direction before cars.

Doug1 · 12-09-2003, 11:10 PM

you mount from the left, seems natural to head that way

Alice · 12-10-2003, 12:01 AM

Most people are right handed...it doesn't matter if you're "steering" a horse or a car, the driver uses the right hand to turn to the left...and if you're riding you use pressure with your right knee to go to the left.

I have no idea why it would be the same at the dog track though...other than out of habit

SouthernReefer · 12-10-2003, 04:02 AM

minnreefer has it right, its actually a carry over from horse racing. i use to work as a racetrack firefighter for a local clay oval speedway. long before they race cars there, it was orginally a horse track long ago. but still there other reason why also, the driver sits on the left side so he has a better view of the lower line around the track. if the driver loses control of the car and smacks the outside wall, the driver is on the inside of the track away from the wall, and less chance of being killed by the scrap metal that is torn away by the safety wall. also, we read and write left to right. so when the cars go racing by, the go left to right as well.

found this tidbit on the internet:
Q: WHY IS IT THAT ON ON RACETRACKS ALMOST ALL RACES GO IN A COUNTERCLOCKWISE DIRECTION?

A: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND IT HAS SEVERAL ANSWERS. THE U.S.A TRACK AND FIELD ORGANIZATION TELLS US THAT IN 1912 THE INTERNATIONAL GOVERNING BODY OF TRACK AND FIELD MADE AN ARBITRARY DECISION THAT RUNNERS WOULD RUN COUNTERCLOCKWISE AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY EVER SINCE.

NASCAR TELLS US AUTO RACETRACKS WERE SET UP COUNTERCLOCKWISE IN THE TRADITION OF HORSE RACING, AND THE THOROUGHBRED RACING ASSOCIATION SAYS AMERICAN RACETRACKS WERE FIRST SET COUNTERCLOCKWISE IN 1780 BECAUSE AMERICAN BREEDERS WERE STILL ANGRY AT THE BRITISH, WHOSE HORSE RACING TRACKS RAN CLOCKWISE.

mjsandbe · 12-10-2003, 04:49 PM

A toast to things I never thought I would know because I did not realize I did not know about them

Minnreefer · 12-10-2003, 07:24 PM

Thanks

So we can blame the brits for another thing

Minnreefer · 12-10-2003, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Doug1
you mount from the left, seems natural to head that way

Why???

I am not a horse rider if you could not tell

Alice · 12-10-2003, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Doug1
you mount from the left, seems natural to head that way

Because that's the way my Grandpa taught me, LOL

I have no idea why; probably has something to do with the ancient horse warriors or the Celtic Horse Goddess following her knife hand

Thanks for digging for that answer, Southern Reefer. It inspired me to dig a little too and I came across several names of horses and horse breeders that I remembered from books I'd read as a child.

Alice · 12-10-2003, 09:55 PM

LOL! I wasn't too far off.

I went to askjeeves.com and came up with this response to "Why do we always mount a horse from the left?"

"...tradition. When warfare was conducted from horseback, people tended to carry around great, huge sabers and swords for the purpose of slicing up other people. These weapons generally were worn on the left hip because it is easier for a right-handed person to draw a blade from across the body as opposed to straight up from the right side."