Why are track races run anti clockwise?
596032
When you run around a track, you have two choices. They picked one and standardized it.\n\nIt may be based on a predominantly right-handed populations preference for running with their dominant leg on the outside of a turn. I have no scientific backing for that, only personal preference which may be skewed from years of running around tracks in an anti clockwise direction.
1164215
The inner lane.\n\nThe official measurement for a track is taken 30cm (about a foot) away from the curb.\n\nThe only time you run in the middle of the track is if you run a race like the 400m where you run the whole race in your assigned lane or one where you run in an assigned lane for one turn before you are allowed to break to the curb.
846143
hey skip,\nin fact they do!!!\nThere are 2 road courses in Nascar\nInfineon in CA   and Watkins Glen in NY\nthey are road courses, run in the opposite direction to what the drivers are used to, so, in theory these tracks are run with more right turns than left.\n\nHope this helps, check the links\n\nHave a good one, dude
34373
It's both a horse race and a human track and field event.  Both races still exist.  Horse races can be found in any "steeplechase park" and human races can be found in almost any collegiate track event.  Basically the concept is the same regardless of the athlete (horse or human).  The athletes race against each other, jumping barriers, including one barrier that has a water pit that also must be crossed.
409056
With fully automatic timing, the clock is wired to the gun and starts when the gun is fired. It's all electrical, so sound or smoke doesn't make a difference.\n\nIf you are manually timing, you go by the smoke or muzzle flash, not the sound.  Sound travels about 1 mile every 5 seconds. for a 100 m race, the timers are about 1/16 of a mile from the start. That means it will take about .3 seconds for the sound to get from the start line to the timers at the finish.\n\nThe hurdles, 200m and 1500m are all started across the track from the finish line, so the same rule applies.\n\nIn other races run around the track, the starter and timers would all be at the finish line, so it wouldn't make any difference in the time.
1129920
because they run on rails.. not roads.. they have the same traction on each rail.. roads can vary.. they also don't make as tight of turns as cars do.
73865
yes, well it is in some parts. People love running but hate track because it is boring (I run track, I must agree)...so they like cross country b/c its a better view then a rubberized track and going in circles. :)
286805
Stock car races are run counter-clockwise because the "outside" of the course is on the right of the grid and the pits on the left.
503822
A velodrome is a stadium, usually indoor, where cycling races take place. Unlike an ordinary race where all the competitors start and finish on the same line, velodromes allow for cyclists to start at opposite sides so that they don't interfere with each other. At the very fast speeds they travel it would be easy for a serious accident to take place, hence this ruling. Team races start together. The reason for the enclosed space is so that external influences, such as high wind speeds, do not affect either the speed that the cyclists travel at or the risk of blowing one into another.
674901
They aren't backwards. Flags on uniform are sawed on as if "the flag is waving from the breeze." Meaning, if it is on the right (arm) side, the stars would be toward the front of the soldiers, making it look backwards. On the other hand, if it is on the left (arm) side, the stars would still be toward the front of the soldier, but it would look "normal."\n\nImagine running with a flagpole with the American flag. If somebody sees you on your left, it looks "normal." If someone sees you on your right, it looks "backwards." It is the same concept.
1129958
Left side to right side? If you mean from the inside lane of the track to the outside lane, that's exactly why. Lane one is always the lane that's closest to the infield.\n\nIf you mean as you're watching from the stands, that's not true. I've seen races run from "right to left". Also if you're sitting in the opposite stands.
239174
well, if its "turf" horse race tracks, that usually means they use turf (fake grass) and not real grass. then it would be called a "grass" horse race track. but i know nuthin about horse racing.
705306
none they work eccentrically in the down phase
1113510
The reason is so that racers are crossing the field of vision going left to right, which is standard convention for western societies (just like reading). BTW, counter-clockwise is the standard in Europe as well as for the Olympics (a European invention) and only the kooky British drive on the right side of the road while the rest of Europe is on the right like us.
234240
Because if it went counterclockwise time would be going in reverse? :)
1041485
Well, First of all they don't turn left in every race...They do have road races which are left and right turns and again not all races are repeated 500 times so get your facts straight before you down something.....But if you don't like it don't watch it!!!!!!
353639
they do not turn clockwise....... clocwise is a term that was coined after the invention of a clock.......the inventor decided to make the hands move in the same direction as the sun dial of the past.....