Ask The Apex

[Incubus]

Alboreto at the 1986 Austrian GP?...

Fisichella didn' t manage a podium when he replaced Badoer in 2009 did he? Don't think he did anyway...

Come to think of it there were harly hardly ever any italians at all at Ferrari from the mid-60's onwards...

 

[cider_and_toast]

I think it was Alboreto at the 88 Italian GP.

Fisi didn't get a podium.

 

[Incubus]

Ah no hold on what am I talking about he was still at Ferrari in 1988 and he finished second at the italian GP that year.

 

[Incubus]

Oooops, too late.

 

[teabagyokel]

Would Alboreto also be the last Italian to win for them then?

 

[Galahad]

Would Alboreto also be the last Italian to win for them then?

In F1, yes.

 

[teabagyokel]

Nice qualification, Galahad!

 

[Incubus]

Is there any particular reason why the great majority of tracks used for F1 (and most european-based series) run clockwise? To the point that those that run anti-clockwise are viewed as unusual?

 

[FB]

Well, I hunted about and it would appear there is no rational or logical reason for circuits running clockwise or anti-clockwise. Apparently in Roman times chariot races were anti-clockwise, something to do with holding the whip in their left hand and if they went clockwise they would blind spectators.

It's health and safety gone mad I tells yu. Nuffin wrong wiv a good blindin' at the chariot races.

Anyway, all NASCAR oval races are anti- (or counter for our US friends) clockwise so if the car hits the wall the driver is on the other side. Usually about to be it by another car...

 

[vintly]

Anti-clockwise is more natural, for humans at least. Think running tracks, baseball, ice-skating. Why this is I know not. Is it a right-handed thing? Or brain hemispheres?? And whether that stretches to motorsport circuits or not, again, I don't know. If anyone needs something unanswered, I'm your man.

 

[Titch]

Maybe it has something to do with the way water runs down a drain, clockwise in one hemisphere and anti clockwise in the other.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Which actually isn't true

 

[Dartman]

It was a good enough reason to explain our weapons inaccuracies in the Boer war

 

[RasputinLives]

It is true. But you Don't see it unless it's a lot of water like a bath.

 

[TR]

It is true. But you Don't see it unless it's a lot of water like a bath.

Even then the influence of other factors (such as the bath not being quite symmetric or level) are likely to dominate.

 

[RasputinLives]

Well the bath me and my pals tried it on in Melbourne then must have been one that leaned anti clockwise. Or perfectly level.

Aussie's - they build perfectly level baths!

 

[FB]

The moon is upside down in the southern hemisphere. Trust me, I can see it out of my window as we speak.

 

[cider_and_toast]

The water goes down the plug hole in which ever direction the plug hole swirls it. Sadly, it's simply not true on the scale of toilet flushes and baths.

Coriolis Force Effect on Drains

 

[Titch]

What are you doing in the Southern hemisphere FB. Has no one told you it's dangerous.

I mean it's not even the same season there as it is here.

 

[FB]

Business trip to South Africa Titch. It's late spring and lovely, wouldn't' want to be here at the height of summer though.