[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

That was really nasty. Really nasty. Particularly from a GTG Staff member.

I'm sure you'll delete this response before it hits the public, but let's see if you are man enough to let my post stand. You are coming off as someone who doesn't like the fact that your explanation of "the driver wants to be on the inside of a turn" might be challenged and or disproved.

Counter-clockwise is a physiologically "natural" thing. That's all I was trying to convey. How water goes down the drain was simply an example. Yet, you turned this discussion into an insult of my intelligence.

You also seem to be proud of the fact that I was offended by your comment "Penny thinking .. more than once in an hour .. and starts using big multi-syllable words .. that she found on the internet". Obviously, you have no respect for my opinion, therefore, I no longer have any respect for yours. I'm glad you find joy in that.

Go back to making your bird compasses. However, you'd be better off taking a lesson in sentence punctuation and structure, but we've been over this, right? Your juvenile example and insulting visualization of the rotation of the Northern vs. Southern hemisphere is a stretch to prove your point that I don't know what I'm talking about.

I refuse to reduce myself to your level. So I'll just leave it at that.

Your closing of "Happy Trails" insinuates the message of "So Long". Well, So Long to you and GTG.

I'm sure I'll see the word "Banned" under my name ... so be it.

Gosh Penny, I was just having some fun. But I guess I took it too far. I'm sorry I offended you, it was not my intention at all. Please accept my apology.

Whatever you do, don't leave GTG. You are more a part of this place than I'll ever be. Your wit and banter are part of what brings me here every day. Do not punish the GTG members for my mess up.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bette

The thing for car racing makes sense. But I believe you are wrong about the wagon drivers in American westerns. I think they sat on the right. At least they did in a couple of John Wayne westerns when he was walking alongside Maureen Ohara.
Do you always answer questions you dont know the answers to with "I've been sworn to secrecy by LSC?"
And you guys were really rude to Penelope. You owe her an apology.
The rest I will simply ignore. I understand you are under the influence of LSC because you have been working with him too long.

you know, you're right. BUT, I also remember seeing movies where the driver sat on the left and some that sat in the middle. It appears that the driver sat wherever the brake was placed unless he/she had a "brakeman". I guess it had more to do with how the wagon was made than any convention.

Apology given. I did not intend my post to go where it did. And I apologize to you and the other GTG members who were exposed to it.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Bottom line: I don't think there's any tangible explanation as to why racers go counter-clockwise. Theories? Absolutely! But no hard-core facts.

Still a great question!

actually i like thunder's reply the most of all .... makes the most sense to me

before they had person to person radios they did indeed use pit boards and hand signals .... makes sense to me for the cars to go in the direction that would best suit the drivers seeing the team members

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by simple simon

actually i like thunder's reply the most of all .... makes the most sense to me

before they had person to person radios they did indeed use pit boards and hand signals .... makes sense to me for the cars to go in the direction that would best suit the drivers seeing the team members

yeah, but when and where did the meeting happen before the first race where they decided which direction they were gonna race? I think it goes back to some older times .. chariot races or something.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

yeah, but when and where did the meeting happen before the first race where they decided which direction they were gonna race?

it was at the Best Western in Kingsport Tn.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by simple simon

it was at the Best Western in Kingsport Tn.

I bet they have a plaque on the wall commemorating the meeting. I'll have to stop by next time I'm in the area.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by simple simon

actually i like thunder's reply the most of all .... makes the most sense to me

before they had person to person radios they did indeed use pit boards and hand signals .... makes sense to me for the cars to go in the direction that would best suit the drivers seeing the team members

Just stop me now! Bette ... what have you done?

I also can agree with T-Foot ... makes sense ... however ... I Googled again ... hold me back!!! Google is another Demon!

Expert: Dan Liddy
Date: 7/25/2006
Subject: Counter Clockwise races

Question
This is just a silly question, but maybe I can finaly find an answer. Why are all car races, disputed on oval tracks, raced on a counter-clockwise motion? I notice the same happens for horse, and dog racing. Is there a good explanation for it?
Thanks,
Pericles

Answer
Probably because it makes spectating more comfortable for those of us that read the Roman alphabet languages. Left to right. [PPS: Huh? The Roman alphabet?]

I should point out though that road races are almost universally run in a clockwise direction. That would be sports car races, Formula One, Champ Car, American Le Mans, and so forth. And the most popular spectator areas at these events present the viewer with the left to right direction as well. One exception that I know of would be road races run at the Daytona International Speedway, they are run in the counter clockwise direction, while the Formula One at Indianapolis is run clockwise.

Dr. Erik writes on 2007-06-17 18:28:51
According to broncoracing.com, it may have more to do with a) the fact that many other forms of racing (running, dog, horse, speed skating, etc.) have traditionally run counter-clockwise; and b) the first horse racing track in the United States 1791 was opened in Kentucky by a staunch supporter of the American Revolution who ran his horses in a counter-clockwise direction because British courses (different from most of Europe) ran their races in a clockwise direction. This seems the best answer I have come across

That's it! I'm done with this topic ... or I'll lose my mind. This is getting WAY too deep for me! Good luck, Bette!

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Probably because it makes spectating more comfortable for those of us that read the Roman alphabet languages. Left to right. [PPS: Huh? The Roman alphabet?]

that actually makes a great deal of sense to me as well

when you are reading it is natural to look from left to right ..... along the page or from page one to page two

seems only natural it would be comfortable to translate this to watching a race ....... as the cars (or dogs or horses) go by you, you are also looking left to right

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

.
Apology given. I did not intend my post to go where it did. And I apologize to you and the other GTG members who were exposed to it.

I was just kidding. I knew you were and I assumed Penelope knew too.
At any rate, got no definite answer on the question but a lot of possible answers. That only goes to show you that no matter what, someone in the GTG forum knows the answer!

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by simple simon

that actually makes a great deal of sense to me as well

when you are reading it is natural to look from left to right ..... along the page or from page one to page two

seems only natural it would be comfortable to translate this to watching a race ....... as the cars (or dogs or horses) go by you, you are also looking left to right

Come now Simon .. a worldly man such as yourself must be aware that reading left to right isn't natural, it is taught. Showing my ignorance again (as usual) there are people in the world today that read just the opposite of the way we do. Those must be the ones who race clockwise ?????

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Come now Simon .. a worldly man such as yourself must be aware that reading left to right isn't natural, it is taught. Showing my ignorance again (as usual) there are people in the world today that read just the opposite of the way we do. Those must be the ones who race clockwise ?????

now you've don it! you left out the folks who read vertically!!!

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

now you've don it! you left out the folks who read vertically!!!

W ......
h
o

M
e

?
?
?
?

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

now you've don it! you left out the folks who read vertically!!!

Originally Posted by LSC9901

W ......
h
o

M
e

?
?
?
?

that's where drag racing comes from

and i suppose crosswords is where figure 8 racing comes from

[thunderfoot]

I must say to you Penelope that I apologize for teasing you. But it is so much fun to read what you write.

As for the "swirly theory" Clutch would be the one to experiment and answer that for us since he resides down there.

If I must go to the trailer I'll have to take a mess of refreshments for all, but mostly for myself so I can choke down the crow I'll have to eat.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by simple simon

that's where drag racing comes from

and i suppose crosswords is where figure 8 racing comes from

cross8words