Abandoned race circuits

[ss_collins]

So more for the book,

what are the must haves in the project?

Sitges, Brooklands, Crystal Palace, Kiemola and the Sudschliefe are all in (the last four are now written).

But where else - Spa and Monza will probably make it in... Solitude is a possible. Brno is looking promising.

Are there any others that must feature?

[josvandeperre]

What about the old Enna - the flat out dash round a lake - maybe the Targa Florio ? Rheims - flat out dash round some trees & countryside - wonderful concrete pits remain - Rouen - as above without the concrete - in view of your flexible interpretation of abandoned how about Hockenheim ?

I accept Longridge doen't really cut it.....

[Muzza]

Ops, I don't get it...

ss_collins, what book are you talking about? Are you writing one on defunct tracks? (sorry, I was out of the forum for a while. Can you please point to a thread or something like a website of yours?)

If so, I strongly recommend (if you don't have them yet):

1.) "Lost Race Tracks, Treasures of Automobile Racing", by Gordon Eliot White, published by Iconografix, P. O. Box 446, Hudson, Wisconsin, 54016, USA, ISBN 1-58388-084-4;

2.) "The History of America's Speedways - Past & Present", 2nd. Edition, by Allan E. Brown, Comstock Park, MI, United States, 1994, ISBN 0-931105-42-0.

And, of course, a visit to Daniel King's excellent Racing Circuits website, http://www.racingcircuits.net.

josvandepierre, Enna cannot be considered an abandoned race track - it is pretty much active! Actually, with the cancellation of the Bahrein race (as announced earlier today) the European F-300 championship will start its 2004 season at this very Sicilian track.

Cheers,


Muzza

[Rob29]

Syracuse,Rome (several circuits) Turin,Milan,Albi,Montjuich,

[krt917]

Agree woth jos that Reims and the Targa should definitely be on. Maybe Bremgarten and Clermont Ferrand as well.

[listernoble]

Rouen-les Essarts in Northern France,I have a book on this circuit written in French
I have a recent book by Peter Swinger "Circuits in England-Then and Now" on old and new UK circuits many of the old ones are now out of use.
Lister

[Muzza]

Hello, Lister,

Watch out - Peter Swinger's book has a few innaccuracies.

[listernoble]

Thanks Muzza,
I must admit I have not read all of it,I'll see if I can spot the errors!
Lister

[graeme]

Ooh - go on - what are the inaccuracies - I use that book as a bible

[ss_collins]

Oh there are quite a few errors in the swinger book, got a few things wrong on Crystal Palace and Brooklands.

Muzza yes I have book coming out called Autodrome: Europes lost circuits.

Yes I forgot Riems

The book is very much then and now but not like the swinger book, this one will be stuffed with previously unseen photos, and new ones of the citcuits today by our own Gi_Gav. Also I'm doing some through digging on each circuit - ie. 1899 was the first Crystal palace event for example which hasn't been noticed by anyone.

[gi_gav]

I was hoping i could post on this without my bias being obvious!

Targa Florio would certainly be photogenic, and Solitude is just phenomenal.

[ss_collins]

Solitude is a must I think.

Targa Florio - would like to do it - buts its a long old way!

[Williamp]

What about the old, very long part of Le mans?? When the two sides met up somewhere in the centre of town...

[Aysedasi]

Pontlieu.....

[Aysedasi]

Definitely Rouen. This is good

http://www.lugnutsracing.com/rouen.html

but the trip dates back 5 years. I gather there isn't much sign there was ever a race track there now....

[MGCooperman]

Has anyone mentioned Aintree and was there not a circuit at Llandow in Glamorgan once I haven't been aware of that being used recently and is Ingliston still used? Is Lydden Hill used as a proper circuit not just Motorcross?

[cirrus]

Although Llandow is not currently used for racing, it is far from inactive.

http://www.llandow.com/

Lydden still hosts race meetings and sprints, but I am not sure about Ingliston. There's no racing there, but I think there may be some sort of driving school

[Rob29]

Aintree still has a sprint on 2004 calendar.

[diz]

Originally posted by ss_collins
But where else - Spa and Monza will probably make it in... Are there any others that must feature?

Sam,
I assume you mean earlier versions of the above two, as they are obviously still active.

In that case, any limited activity still going on at Aintree is all held on the 1.64 mile club layout. Don't forget that the British Grand Prix was held five times on the 3.0 mile full circuit between 1955 and 1961. I'd consider that a 'must have' for your book.

[Gnomex]

In answer to MGCooperman - YES - Lydden is very much still active as a race and rallycross circuit, in addition to any bike orientated meetings there.

In fact, Lydden is probably more busy than ever with SEMSEC, BARC, BRSCC and 750MC meetings every year. Its popularity has seemingly grown since the onset of increased track hire charges at the more major circuits.

It's said to be a very challenging circuit - come and check it out yourself.

[ss_collins]

its my home track - love it!

[Mark Mitchell]

What about Jurby in the IOM?
Don't know a great deal about this venue - I've only been once with the BARC a few years ago!

[ss_collins]

I'm guessing Jurby isn't abandoned as its still in the Blue book.

[graeme]

I've been trying to get racing at Jurby the last couple of years to complete my UK circuits "bingo", but there doesn't seem to be any car races organised. Still lots of bikes races though...

[ss_collins]

yeah its still licenced I think... just no-one goes