Oulton Park's History

[The Shrew]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ghri1Wrhf0

When I was a kid I was dragged up around Oulton. Pretty much went to every meeting with my Dad.

Ive seen footage of probably the 60's before with loads of trees and half tyres sticking out of the ground etc but I didn't realise the track layout started off like that.

Ive seen what I presume was the old track used for rally X in the early 80's I think ( I was only a kid and might be wrong )

So when did the track changes get made ?

[thetool]

That video is round the Fosters layout - and it has barely changed in 60 years.

[paulSenna]

It's not the Fosters layout, the original circuit cut inside Fosters.

The Fosters circuit was first used in 1975.

[Kylegibson]

This website might help with the history of the track

[garcon]

I remember marshalling at a club rally event at Oulton in the late 80s. Various routes around the different circuit layouts and gravel support tracks were used to ceate a single day, multi stage event. We manned a couple of tyre chicanes somewhere out past Island.

From memory the overall circuit layout, with Foster's, Island and International (Shell) was largely as it is today, except for the much more recent opening out of Lodge.

High Moor Rally Club I think it was, seem to remember it being an annual event in November. I definitely remember it being properly frosty!

[Dave Brand]

That's the original circuit, which went right after the Avenue, with the lake at what is now Cascades to the left of the track, rather than to its right as on the Fosters circuit.

That part of the old circuit is still clearly visible as a road off the track just before the Cascades gravel trap & alongside the lake. It's been taken out at the far end by the widening of the run-off to the right of the circuit between Knickerbrook & Clay Hill - it would have rejoined the exisating circuit somewhere around the top end of the Knickerbrook gravel trap.

[VIVA GT]

With all the trees in the surroundings (and right next to the track) the original Oulton circuit certainly justified it's 'Park' status.

[exflagman]

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

It's been taken out at the far end by the widening of the run-off to the right of the circuit between Knickerbrook & Clay Hill - it would have rejoined the exisating circuit somewhere around the top end of the Knickerbrook gravel trap.

It actually joined the later circuit about 3/4 the way up Clay Hill.
I think the last time it was used for competition would have been for one or possibly more RallyCross meetings, probably in the '80s.
From memory the RallyX circuit started about Dentons, ran down through Cascades, part way along Lakeside before veering off to the right behind the Foster's Box, joining the track on the run down from Hill Top, then ran round Knicker and most of the way up Clay Hill before, hairpinning right onto the original circuit and then right again to rejoin the tarmac at the entrance to Cascades.