Why clockwise racing?

[Mich. Maniac]

Hey I just got to thinking today "at work" why do they race oval in a clockwise oval unlike all other racing and the known way to drive around a lake is counter-clockwise? Does anyone know other than thats the way its done?

[NorthernBoater]

One reason I have heard is because of the prop walk to the right.

[Rex R]

its all about motor rotation, whether you're talking model boats, fullsize boats, or full size race cars. with our boats the prop walk tends to push the stern left...fullsize boats its the tother way. race cars turn left because of the way the motor torque unloads the right rear wheel(turning left this helps keep the car from transfering the weight to the out side wheel)(I've read where racers would change the motor rotation for road courses when there were more right turns than left)

[ReddyWatts]

The counter clockwise rotating props make it alot easier to turn right than left.

My question is: why counter rotating props? Where did this come from?

[Fluid]

It all goes back to airplanes. When R/C boats started organized racing in the 1960s they used converted airplane engines, which spin counterclockwise when viewed from the PTO end (this because most flyers are right-handed and it was easier for them to flip the motor over when starting by hand). Octura started making props for these engines - and the rest is history.


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[Steven Vaccaro]

It all goes back to airplanes. When R/C boats started organized racing in the 1960s they used converted airplane engines, which spin counterclockwise when viewed from the PTO end (this because most flyers are right-handed and it was easier for them to flip the motor over when starting by hand). Octura started making props for these engines - and the rest is history.


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Thanks for the bit of history. Met Tom at the 2005 nats, nice guy to talk to. Once he starts talking he will keep someone intrigued for quite a while. :)