Abandoned/dis-used tracks

[ghinzani]

Just talking about Matchams in another thread, got me thinking about how many abandoned and dis-used tracks there are around and about. In my area the two tracks closed down last winter - Forest Edge is as far as I know still a part of the Qinetic (b*stards they are - they stop letting Motorsport happen as an activity on their land 'cos its dangerous and then start to sponsor a Le Mans team..) complex on Avon heath, and just over the hill Matchams Kart track has closed after insurance became too high (10k for a year apparently), altho the track is still there tree roots and all. The moto-x and banger tracks also still in operation, altho I hear the owners want to build houses on the site if they can get planning so are attempting to run it down.

So any other gems sitting sorry and dis-used near you? There was a track down at St Day in Cornwall that my great uncle was succesful on in the 1960's but sadly thats been long gone also.

[Mackmot]

Langbaugh (sp) near Middleborough was a mega track now its just used for corporate and fun karting.

[ghinzani]

Oh yeah I remember that one in MN one time - partly funded by the council was'nt it? had big plans to include f3 etc

[#15 tkm 4/]

Forest Edge has deffently not shut, its just moved to a differnt location (barton stacy, I think) the new track is very nice i think, as it has a mixture of a LONG straight a couple of slow corner two double apex right hander's and a tricky chicane section... once this years super1 has finished were gonna be doing winter testing at forest edge, in ready for next years super1.

And as for matchem's that is a right shame that it has shut down i have only been there once before for a race and i can say that it was brilliantly run and the people were extremly friendly (we were in pro-karts at the time, and the other pro-karts let us use all the there stuff and helped us out a ton) it's a shame that, it has shut down as we were planing a return there later this year in our TKM 4/'s

[Revracing]

I used to love racing at Langaugh, had some excellent racing and wins there.... shame it was lost...

There's a track in Rochester (kent) that never really got going, was a good circuit too.

I also remember a track in Serberton, it was right in the middle of a housing estate.

Is the kart track at Snetterton still there? I seem to recall it shutting down..

[The SpeCTator]

Originally Posted by Revracing

I used to love racing at Langaugh, had some excellent racing and wins there.... shame it was lost...

There's a track in Rochester (kent) that never really got going, was a good circuit too.

I also remember a track in Serberton, it was right in the middle of a housing estate.

Is the kart track at Snetterton still there? I seem to recall it shutting down..

I raced at the first meeting at the Rochester track, I think it only had a couple of meetings before a noise complaint was upheld and it closed down. You are right it was an excellent track and I recall figures of £100k being banded around to launch it.

As for Surbiton it was virtually in people's back gardens!

[ghinzani]

Surbiton is still there, in fact its virtually in my Nans backyard as she lives in Cromwell rd http://www.surbiton-raceway.co.uk/

[crossle51f]

Eelmore Plain near Aldershot springs to mind.

rkl

[ghinzani]

Originally Posted by crossle51f

Eelmore Plain near Aldershot springs to mind.

rkl

Is that the military base where they run rallys nowadays? Just down by Liphook roundabout there?


ah no its not,nearer to M3, Ive seen it before think they do driving lessons etc there now

[speedy king]

I'm certainly not aware of there being one at Snetterton now. So guess thats gone, heard it was pretty dangerous somewhere

[ghinzani]

Originally posted by #15 tkm 4/
Forest Edge has deffently not shut, its just moved to a differnt location (barton stacy, I think) the new track is very nice i think, as it has a mixture of a LONG straight a couple of slow corner two double apex right hander's and a tricky chicane section... once this years super1 has finished were gonna be doing winter testing at forest edge, in ready for next years super1.

And as for matchem's that is a right shame that it has shut down i have only been there once before for a race and i can say that it was brilliantly run and the people were extremly friendly (we were in pro-karts at the time, and the other pro-karts let us use all the there stuff and helped us out a ton) it's a shame that, it has shut down as we were planing a return there later this year in our TKM 4/'s

I know, I race at the new track, its cool! Matchams was great tho - the track was awfully bumpy but everyone was so helpful, great place to start.

[ghinzani]

We are having a little discussion on getting slung out of ex-MoD tracks here if you all are interested.

http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...58#post1110558

Grass roots motorsports rules!

[Alex Hodgkinson]

Two tracks from the midlands which have closed recently are; Chasewater at Cannock Chase, and Donnington Park's own kart circuit.

Chasewater was yonks old, and closed because of the building of the Lichfield bypass (I think it was that) however the circuit still stands.

Donnington Park's kart track was opened just beyond Redgate's (1st corner of car track) gravel trap. However it was only open for a month, because the track owners gave up on it cr*p eh? Tis for me - I only live 4miles away...

[ghinzani]

Ive got Chasewater in a karting book from the mid 60's and it was well established then! Didnt know there was one at Donington - maybe they should convert the old loop that was part of the original circuit. I recall a team I worked for taking a Group A Sierra Cosworth down there to systems test it and it getting very squirrelly over the top bit! Imagine karting there....

[Alex Hodgkinson]

Yeah, Chasewater was a fantastic little (emphasis there!) track. It also was where Nigel Mansell first raced. The lap record was something stupid like 21 seconds, but it had a beautiful fast, flowing, undulating far end section which I just loved!

Yeah they should really establish a kart circuit at Donington park, it really would be excellent, seeing as there are so many karters from the midlands and my nearest circuit now is Fulbeck, which is 45 miles away!

I would LOVE to fly up and down the old loop. I'd be really great to have a kart track there. Especially if the start was up the hill... Jesus that'd be steep

[Nigel Wilson]

Felton in Northumberland closed many years ago but is still there if a little overgrown. Langbaugh in Middlesborough is still in use and has had a recent extension and now hosts car driving tuition and track days.

[speedy king]

Isn't there now a Sunday market behind Redgate at Donington? Is that where the track used to be? Was there last Sunday when i went to see the BTCC and just saw some rough concrete where a market normally is

[Superliner II]

Originally posted by Alex Hodgkinson
Yeah, Chasewater was a fantastic little (emphasis there!) track. It also was where Nigel Mansell first raced. The lap record was something stupid like 21 seconds, but it had a beautiful fast, flowing, undulating far end section which I just loved!

Yeah they should really establish a kart circuit at Donington park, it really would be excellent, seeing as there are so many karters from the midlands and my nearest circuit now is Fulbeck, which is 45 miles away!

I would LOVE to fly up and down the old loop. I'd be really great to have a kart track there. Especially if the start was up the hill... Jesus that'd be steep

Karts do go around Donington. Mainly long circuit 125 and 250 gearbox karts. They are having a day soon for Karts. Contact the track for details. The British Superkart Association is involved in organising it.

[Karting_jenny]

There is Nuthampstead(sp?)

Which was closed down long ago. Dunno what is happening in the area now.

jenny

[speedy king]

Originally posted by Superliner II
Karts do go around Donington. Mainly long circuit 125 and 250 gearbox karts. They are having a day soon for Karts. Contact the track for details. The British Superkart Association is involved in organising it.

Will that include most types of karts? Like the Junior classes of Rotax's etc.?

[Superliner II]

Rotax senior used to be allowed out on the track but only on the Melborne loop thats behind the paddock, not on the rest of the track which was only for the gearbox karts. I'm not sure if Rotax is still included. Last I heard, take up on the idea from direct drive kart owners was poor so they are not allowed anymore.

A man who will know is Clive Freke at Century Race Preparation. He goes there every time its on with his son. Tel: 01562 632032

[Alex Hodgkinson]

Karts do go around Donington. Mainly long circuit 125 and 250 gearbox karts. They are having a day soon for Karts. Contact the track for details. The British Superkart Association is involved in organising it.

lol yea I know I'm running James Rolley's (maybe you know him?) ex-125 kart now. He raced long circuit national champs. Think I'll be going to the kart day at the long circuit.

However, what I actually meant to begin with was that I wish that there was a purpose-built kart circuit on the location.

[#15 tkm 4/]

i think mainly the only kart's which are allowed to race on 'long circuit's' i.e. donnington, knockhill, brands etc.... are Rotax Max (snr only) RM1 (that gearbox max thingy mijgy :P)all 250 class's and i also think some 125 gearbox's race there..

SOme picture's of the type of karts which race there.....

picture! picture

[Mackmot]

The very first kart race in Britain was on the start finish straight at Brands Hatch in November 1959. I just found it in an old Autosport. No one knows who won because Graham Hill decided to cause chaos on the first lap and confuse everyone by nipping through the straw bails.

[Alex Hodgkinson]

http://www.superkart.org.uk/

Is the homepage for all the long circuit karting in this country.




lol thanks for that Mackmot, but that must be the 1st msa event or something, because there was tonnes of karting in the 40's & 50's on airbases (remember, that's how it originated)