Why We Race on Ovals By: John E. Aibel

Have you ever wondered why the predominate form of auto racing in the United States occurs on an oval-shaped track? And why most of the rest of the world prefers to race on simulated or actual road circuits?

To find the answer to this question we must go back to the Roman Empire. These wonderful people realized that good roads were one of the key elements in maintaining their empire. These early roads were steadily improved upon during the ensuing years.

By the end of the nineteenth century European roads between leading cities were the norm. The United States was a relatively new nation by the end of the nineteenth century as compared to Europe.

The United States’ major cities had relatively good roads, but roads between cities were not much more than old deer paths improved to carry the mail. The distances between cities and natural topographical obstacles in the US were much greater barrier to good roads than was the case in Europe.

Automobile racing developed as soon as two different car owners wanted to prove that they owned the fastest or most dependable vehicle.

In Europe the natural test was a race between two cities. Paris to Bordeaux and back or Rome to Brescia would soon prove who had the best and fastest car.

In the US when owners wanted to boast who owned the fastest car the easiest place to go was the local horse racing track. Now almost every county had a fair and a horse track so this was where automobile racing in the United States started.

Of course there were exceptions to this. In the hilly sections of the country hill climbs were the early sites of racing.

And, William Kissam Vanderbilt II, the great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, actually built his own road on Long Island, NY in which cars could be raced.

Vanderbilt Cup Races

Those people living near the coast had access to smooth long beaches, while still other Americans who lived in the far western reaches of our nation would race on dry lake beds.

Racing at Daytona Beach

Now you know why we in the US race on circular tracks and the rest of the world use the European over-the-road form of race track.