A silly place to run a race

Indeed. Jim never mentioned the course. Coincidentally, it was at the Roosevelt raceway (then a horse track) in 1959 that I met Walt Hansgen and Ray Cuomo. It was an event to show off cars and give people a ride around a course with a racing driver. Ray gave me a quick ride in a Fiat-Abarth around a short, twisty circuit set up in a parking lot. Ray later arranged for me to get to Bridgehampton for my first race with Team Roosevelt.

Yes, that adds up. A greatly diminished circuit at Roosevelt Raceway was used in 1960 for an attempt at reviving the Vanderbilt Cup using Formula Juniors (won by Harry Carter in a Stanguelini)

Two words: Nelson Ledges

Nelson Ledges? Silly? An expansion of your opinion would be appreciated, fbarrett.

I've been there...and done that.

Doesn't look too bad to me

What about the Dallas circuit as used for the GP in 1984? Perhaps not inherently daft as a venue - the stupidity seems ti have been sheduling a GP in Texas in the middle of summer...

It was based around the Buxton-Ashbourne road and featured a four mile straight on that road. Two courses were considered: one a 12-mile circuit through Monyash, the other 8 miles long through Hartington. The proposal was made in the summer of 1955, not the best time to be considering a race circuit on public roads. THe project was abandoned later that year. According to Autosport, one of the main reasons was that racing was certain to restart at Donington Park in 1957.

Within a month of Simon Taylor resurrecting/reporting the story in C&SC I had the opportunity to try out the shorter route, mentioned somewhere on TNF IIRC, and it seemed to be very much in keeping with what road circuits were all about at that time. Perhaps a missed opportunity by the authorities with the potential for visitors etc. at a time of austerity.
Roger Lund

How about the FF1600 races that were run at Wimbledon stock car track in the late 70s? The lap was less than a quarter of a mile and was enclosed (I think, maybe wrong)by steel rope-and-post barriers intended to keep bangers and stock cars contained.
MOTORING NEWS ran a few photos. The initiative didn't last long.

How about the FF1600 races that were run at Wimbledon stock car track in the late 70s? The lap was less than a quarter of a mile and was enclosed (I think, maybe wrong)by steel rope-and-post barriers intended to keep bangers and stock cars contained.
MOTORING NEWS ran a few photos. The initiative didn't last long.

Presumably this was after they surfaced the track? When I used to go to Wimbledon it was at least partly shale. Mind you, a FF on shale might have been worth seeing - shades of US midgets!

I recall that Jenks used to reckon that Nivelles was a silly place to race.
Roger Lund

Yes just not big enough and quite frankly boring! Although 1974 was- a thrilling race according to Bill Broddy

http://www.28dayslat...ead.php?t=13299

Interesting link to what it looks like today.

Here in Australia there seems to be some sort of double-standard. On one hand, we have government people trying to stamp out 'street racing', and on the other hand they are encouraging [and even funding] racing on 'steet' circuits. Surfers Paradise and Sydney streets, IMHO, are certainly silly places to race.

Here in Australia there seems to be some sort of double-standard. On one hand, we have government people trying to stamp out 'street racing', and on the other hand they are encouraging [and even funding] racing on 'steet' circuits. Surfers Paradise and Sydney streets, IMHO, are certainly silly places to race.

both of those venues stage perfectly good demolition derbies. No racing at all!!

You forgot Adelaide and Townsville.