12 replies to this topic

[Vitesse2]

It occurs to me that very few (if any today) road circuits are (or ever have been) raced in an anti-clockwise direction. I know that the first meeting at Brands Hatch was run anti-clockwise but all subsequent meetings were clockwise and that early races at Aintree were also run anti-clockwise, but why are most circuits run clockwise? And what other circuits were run anti-clockwise?

Ovals, on the other hand, are run anti-clockwise - have there ever been any clockwise ovals?

[Wolf]

Vitesse2, here's another thread on the subject. Hope it helps...

http://www.atlasf1.c...&threadid=20168

[Mike Argetsinger]

http://www.atlasf1.c...t=anticlockwise

This general subject was treated relatively recently on the above thread. It's worth a read although I'm not sure a definitive or concensus answer was ever arrived at.

The first year NASCAR came to Watkins Glen (1957) we ran them counter-clockwise because they were in the habit of turning left. In subsequent years they ran clockwise. That 1957 race - won by Buck Baker - was quite spectacular with the cars approaching the esses at the end of a long downhill straight and then plunging steep down hill and sweeping left just before start finish. At this point they had just a brief window of time to look at their pit board while trying to stop for the 90 degree left that was turn one for them (normally the last turn). I'll never forget how impressed I was at not only how brave these guys were - but at how quickly they got on about the business of adapting to this unusual (for them) road circuit. This by the way was the first ever professional race we ran at Watkins Glen - preceding by one year the first (of three) International Formula Libre races that brought the first contemporary Formula one Grand Prix cars and drivers to America and ultimately led to Watkins Glen being awarded the United States Grand Prix in 1961. But that's another story. By the way we also ran the professional motorcycle races counterclockwise.

I seem to also recall that occasionally at the Nassau Speedweeks that they would run a race counterclockwise - I suppose just to add some variety.

I'm also certain that there are at least a few road racing circuits that are counter-clockwise by design - maybe even one or two that have hosted a Grand Prix. I just can't think of which ones at the moment. Darren Galpin probably knows!

[cabianca]

Laguna Seca is run anti-clockwise as is Imola. As far as America & Europe go, it probably has something to do, once again, with horse racing. It's weird that Brooklands was run anti-clockwise. But then, so was Avus. Meadowdale (US road circuit), also with a high banking, was anti-clockwise. The Daytona road circuit is anti-clockwise, but the road circuits within Indy and the old Ontario oval are/were clockwise.

[Bernd]

Reading this it just occured to me that nearly all the time if a circuits first turn is clockwise or counterclockwise that is how the circuit goes.

An example against this theory would be the Nordschleife which is clockwise but T1 was a left hander. I would be generally right though correct? Other examples?

[Marcel Schot]

Bernd : Circuit Gilles Villeneuve : first turn is to the left and the circuit is clockwise.

[Vitesse2]

Thanks guys - any more thoughts anyone?

[Marcel Schot]

Maybe the fact that ovals are run anti-clockwise has something to do with those guys who are running around in circles (aka athletes). Most people are righthanded and in general have a physically slightly stronger developed right side. This makes it easier to move towards the left, since they have more power to put off (?) in their right leg. Could be that it's the same with eyeballs too : one could easier concentrate longer towards the left than towards the right. At least we're used to be on the inside of a lefthand corner in our regular streetcars (except the Brits ofcourse ). Were ovals ever run with cars that didn't have the cockpit in the center of the car? In that case, weight distribution could have played a part : a car stays low in the corner easier with the most weight on the inside.

Yeah, yeah, mindless rambling I know

[LittleChris]

Another track where the first turn is in the opposite direction is the current Phillp Island.

Interlagos is also run anticlockwise

[FEV]

And there's a road track in Texas (I forgot its exact name, Texas
Motorsport Park or something) wich can be raced in both ways,
clockwise OR anti-clockwise. The Barber-Dodge Pro Series will
visit it this year. There must not be many tracks in the world
where this is possible! But it's a good idea no ? Two tracks for
the price of one:) . Why don't they do same on others. Imagine
Spa (no not Spa, the Raidillon he other way around would be a
suicide) or Suzuka...

[Gil Bouffard]

If they ran Spa the other way round, they could use the old pits and start up hill. They would have to take La Source as a hard left!

Of course we could then do away with Bus stop. It would also make Eau Rouge a real thrill!

Gilster

[FEV]

PC F1 simulations allow you to do such things. Monaco is funny
the other way round !

[Timekeeper]

Some random thoughts on the topic. In the original thread karlcars pondered if it was something to do with horse racing and I was thinking along the same lines. IIRC horse races are run clockwise in France and counter-clockwise in the US. I also think that Marcel's 'ramblings' might be quite near the mark. I wonder about the contribution of left/right hand drive and driving on the left or right side of the road, which in the early days weren't mutaully exclusive. Quite a number of road cars in the early days of motoring were right hand drive and drove on the right hand side of the road. Handy for the driver when parked.

Of course the reasons why some countries (almost 70 and about a third of the worlds population) drive on the left and others on the right are pretty involved ie right handedness, mounting a horse from the left, jousting and fighting from horses, the Roman Empire, Napoleon, British Empire etc etc blah blah blah.

Back to motor racing, Las Vegas in 1981-82 was another of the counter-clockwise circuits. A problem for drivers on these tracks is with their neck muscles, particularly the tracks with tight corners like Interlagos and Vegas. The G forces from usally doing right handers tends to build up the neck muscles more for those corners and causes big problems when they are suddenly doing mostly left handers. In his autobiography, Alan Jones said he had to have a masseur at Interlagos to work on his neck after each session. I can remember him winning the 81 Vegas race with his head rolling about in cockpit at the end of the race.