R v LHD

[Pottree@domain.elided]

In a message dated 11/13/2001 8:52:41 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:


> Until the 40s, most cars in continental Europe were built with right-hand 
> drive. Allthough 
> after the WWII left hand became almost standard, there was a trend or 
> fashion for luxury 
> or elegant cars to be built with right -hand drive. Perhaps this was due to 
> the strong 
> english influence to the particular market segment.
> 

A good friend who is also a race driver once explained to me over too much 
wine (so excuse the sketchy nature of the recollection) that there is a 
slight advantage on certain type of tracks or road courses to having a RHD 
position, I believe owing to the % of turns in a certain direction.  I don't 
really recall the details, if any, or know if he was pulling my leg, but it 
sounded right at the time and he had a RHD GTA sitting the garage a few feet 
away which he went to great lengths to get from the factory and schlep home 
for USA campaigning, so there must have been something in it, at least in his 
mind.

Perhaps someone else can explain this better, but it was a practical 
consideration having to do with driving fast and not a fashion statement that 
promoted the RHD scuderia.

Charlie
LA, CA, USA

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