UK racing venues: the definitive list

Edited by RS2000, 04 July 2011 - 14:00.

Noticed this outstanding question when the thread was bumped.
Watton was used for sprints and stage rallies, at least to about 1995 I think. There was a (freak) fatal accident on a rally (nearside door ripped off on concrete block and co-driver's seat belt cut at same time).

 

...

An old message by RS2000, about RAF Watton.

Does anyone know more information about this fatal accident? the date? what rally? any bio notes about the deceased co-driver?

Thank you.

Edited by Nanni Dietrich, 23 October 2018 - 07:46.

An old message by RS2000, about RAF Watton.

Does anyone know more information about this fatal accident? the date? what rally? any bio notes about the deceased co-driver?

Thank you.

The co-driver who was killed at Watton was Mark Brickstock, he is already listed on Motorsport Memorial, but the details are incorrect. The site has the accident as happening at Snetterton on Sunday, 17th July. This information is sourced from Motor Sport magazine of September 1994, but that original information is incorrect. On 17th July 1994 Snetterton circuit hosted a 750 Motor Club race meeting and not a rally.

The accident occurred at Watton on Saturday, 16th July during the Watton Stages Rally - a single-day event which was the fifth round of the Clubmans Tarmac Rally Championship. 

From Autosport Magazine - 21st July 1994, Page 99

"Mark Brickstock was described as critical by staff at Addenbrokes Hospital on Monday evening following an accident during Saturday's Watton Stages Rally. He was co-driving with Ray Cook when the Escort crashed heavily and rolled several times. Brickstock was taken immediately to Norfolk & Norwich Hospital and then on to Addenbrokes."

From Autosport Magazine - 28th July 1994, Page 91

"Mark Brickstock succumbed to injuries sustained in a multiple roll on the recent Watton Stages single venue rally near Thetford, having spent two days in intensive care at the Addenbrokes hospital in Cambridge. Last Monday evening, the hospital said that 30-year Mark was still in a critical condition. Later that night, he died. 

The Epping man was co-driving in Ray Cook's 1300cc Mk2 Ford Escort when it rolled and he was thrown from the car."

The National Probate Register confirms the date of death as 18 July 1994, and states he was living at 72 The Meadows, Sheering Road, Sawbridgeworth.

The England and Wales Civil Registration Death Index confirms his date of birth as 4 July 1963, which means he was actually 31 years old when he died.

Attingham, Saturday, 28th June, 1952

Attingham Airfield, near Shrewsbury, North Staffs Motor Club, described as 2nd speed trial, 600 yds.

BTD Ted Lloyd-Jones, 21-litre "Flying Saucer" 17.2 secs

RGDS RLT

Attingham, Saturday, 28th June, 1952

Attingham Airfield, near Shrewsbury, North Staffs Motor Club, described as 2nd speed trial, 600 yds.

BTD Ted Lloyd-Jones, 21-litre "Flying Saucer" 17.2 secs

 

RGDS RLT

AKA RAF Atcham/USAAF Station 342. Abandoned 1946 but runways not broken up until 1958.

http://shropshirehis...y/airfields.htm

https://en.wikipedia...wiki/RAF_Atcham

Attingham, 5th August 1951, North Staffs Motor Club: Speed Trial. (Source: Motor Sport.)

RGDS RLT

I wonder if - despite the spelling difference - Atcham is the local pronunciation?

https://www.bbc.co.u...pshire-32453413

A similar one which comes to mind is Woolfardisworthy in Devon - pronounced 'Woolsery' (I kid you not!)

The co-driver who was killed at Watton was Mark Brickstock, he is already listed on Motorsport Memorial, but the details are incorrect. The site has the accident as happening at Snetterton on Sunday, 17th July. This information is sourced from Motor Sport magazine of September 1994, but that original information is incorrect. On 17th July 1994 Snetterton circuit hosted a 750 Motor Club race meeting and not a rally.

 

The accident occurred at Watton on Saturday, 16th July during the Watton Stages Rally - a single-day event which was the fifth round of the Clubmans Tarmac Rally Championship. 

 

 

From Autosport Magazine - 21st July 1994, Page 99

"Mark Brickstock was described as critical by staff at Addenbrokes Hospital on Monday evening following an accident during Saturday's Watton Stages Rally. He was co-driving with Ray Cook when the Escort crashed heavily and rolled several times. Brickstock was taken immediately to Norfolk & Norwich Hospital and then on to Addenbrokes."

 

From Autosport Magazine - 28th July 1994, Page 91

"Mark Brickstock succumbed to injuries sustained in a multiple roll on the recent Watton Stages single venue rally near Thetford, having spent two days in intensive care at the Addenbrokes hospital in Cambridge. Last Monday evening, the hospital said that 30-year Mark was still in a critical condition. Later that night, he died. 

The Epping man was co-driving in Ray Cook's 1300cc Mk2 Ford Escort when it rolled and he was thrown from the car."

 

The National Probate Register confirms the date of death as 18 July 1994, and states he was living at 72 The Meadows, Sheering Road, Sawbridgeworth.

The England and Wales Civil Registration Death Index confirms his date of birth as 4 July 1963, which means he was actually 31 years old when he died.

One could try to ask. Within a few hours the TNFers usually give the answer! 
Great, Carl R.S. !      

I've just been reading Richard's fascinating story of Salome in 'Historical Research'. One post reminded me of a question I meant to ask. Are the two former hillclimb courses of Aston Hill and Dancer's End one and the same, or are they two different climbs less than a mile apart?

If you leave Tring towards Aylesbury, taking the old road past The Crow's Nest, the Wendover turn is towards the foot of the hill. Immediately left, I think, is a road up to the hamlet of Dancer's End, whereas the left turn up Aston Hill is further on, nearer the old RAF camp at Halton. This is from memory - I haven't been around there for years. From what I remember, both roads would make good climbs, and they both finish quite near each other up on the Chiltern ridge. Were they entirely separate venues, or have both names been attributed to the same climb?  Anybody know?

https://www.google.c...75445,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x6fa5213a69e02574!8m2!3d51.782763!4d-0.709176

Edited by john winfield, 26 October 2018 - 17:08.

Remembering that early public road hillclimbs were illegal, it was quite common to have courses that were close enough that you could migrate from one to t'other if the police turned up - e.g. nearer where I live, Gravel Hill was the alternative to Pegsdon, being about two miles apart.

However Julian Hunt (Op. cit. above) tells us that Aston Clinton Hill (public roads) held its last event in 1925 whereas Dancers End which was on a private estate didn't start until 1930

Edited by Allan Lupton, 26 October 2018 - 17:46.

Remembering that early public road hillclimbs were illegal, it was quite common to have courses that were close enough that you could migrate from one to t'other if the police turned up - e.g. nearer where I live, Gravel Hill was the alternative to Pegsdon, being about two miles apart.

However Julian Hunt (Op. cit. above) tells us that Aston Clinton Hill (public roads) held its last event in 1925 whereas Dancers End which was on a private estate didn't start until 1930

Thanks Allan. That would explain it. I can picture a lodge house at the foot of the Dancer's End lane but I can't remember for certain whether that is now a private or public road.

Remembering that early public road hillclimbs were illegal, it was quite common to have courses that were close enough that you could migrate from one to t'other if the police turned up - e.g. nearer where I live, Gravel Hill was the alternative to Pegsdon, being about two miles apart.

However Julian Hunt (Op. cit. above) tells us that Aston Clinton Hill (public roads) held its last event in 1925 whereas Dancers End which was on a private estate didn't start until 1930

Although it's not really explained in Nicholson's Speed, it seems very likely to me that the illegality or otherwise of hillclimbs on public roads was more down to the willingness of individual Chief Constables to turn a blind eye. Some counties were definitely more amenable - Buckinghamshire being among the more 'Nelsonian'.

While the Kop Hill crash is cited as the trigger for the 'ban' - actually theoretically self-imposed by the RAC and ACU but never rescinded - I believe their hand was forced, as a Parliamentary answer of July 15th 1926 reveals that the Home Secretary, Sir William Joynson-Hicks, had “issued a Circular last year to chief constables advising them that no facilities for motor races on public highways should he granted and that it was the duty of the police to take the necessary steps to prevent the use of the highway for that purpose.” This was actually in response to a question about illegal bike races. The circular was probably prompted by the request from High Wycombe RCC, mentioned in WB's article in Motor Sport, April 1955. However, he doesn't seem to have been aware of - or ignored - the Joynson-Hicks connection.

https://www.motorspo...nt-events-1920s

'Jix' had been a founder member of the Motor Union and had served as its chairman from 1908, taking up the same position with the Automobile Association in 1911 when the two amalgamated and remaining in post until he joined the government in 1922.

Thanks Allan. That would explain it. I can picture a lodge house at the foot of the Dancer's End lane but I can't remember for certain whether that is now a private or public road.

In the 30s, Dancer's End was owned by the wife of Alan Good, chairman of Lagonda.

I wonder if - despite the spelling difference - Atcham is the local pronunciation?
 
https://www.bbc.co.u...pshire-32453413
 
A similar one which comes to mind is Woolfardisworthy in Devon - pronounced 'Woolsery' (I kid you not!)

In the 30s, Dancer's End was owned by the wife of Alan Good, chairman of Lagonda.

Google Street View suggests that Dancer's End Lane is now a public road; there seems to be open access at the foot of the hill. 

Although I grew up in Tring I have no real recollection of Dancer's End. I thought of it as a hamlet up in the woods. Presumably, in the 1930s, Alan Good's wife owned the land, given Allan's point about it being a private estate, and maybe a sizeable house? 

Edit. A bit more research shows the land to have been part of the Rothschild Estate. No surprise there as Nathaniel, Walter etc owned lots of land around Tring, and built many of the houses, usually half-timbered, as well as the splendid Natural History Museum. Was Alan Good's wife a Rothschild?  And was it Walter who gave permission for the hillclimb perhaps? He died in 1937 after which I believe land and property were sold or bequeathed. In 1939 the Rothschild Mansion became the Arts Educational Trust, now the Tring Park School for the Performing Arts.

And from the 1950s Alfred, Aileen, Stirling and Pat lived just around the corner from the museum, in White Cloud (Home) Farm, again built by the Rothschilds.

Edited by john winfield, 26 October 2018 - 19:50.

Google Street View suggests that Dancer's End Lane is now a public road; there seems to be open access at the foot of the hill. 

 

Although I grew up in Tring I have no real recollection of Dancer's End. I thought of it as a hamlet up in the woods. Presumably, in the 1930s, Alan Good's wife owned the land, given Allan's point about it being a private estate, and maybe a sizeable house? 

 

Edit. A bit more research shows the land to have been part of the Rothschild Estate. No surprise there as Nathaniel, Walter etc owned lots of land around Tring, and built many of the houses, usually half-timbered, as well as the splendid Natural History Museum. Was Alan Good's wife a Rothschild?  And was it Walter who gave permission for the hillclimb perhaps? He died in 1937 after which I believe land and property were sold or bequeathed. In 1939 the Rothschild Mansion became the Arts Educational Trust, now the Tring Park School for the Performing Arts.

 

And from the 1950s Alfred, Aileen, Stirling and Pat lived just around the corner from the museum, in White Cloud (Home) Farm, again built by the Rothschilds.

Doreen Good's maiden name was Cory. Father shown as a steamship owner on the 1911 Census. Looks like my info may have been duff as they are recorded living at Northurch Farm, Berkhamsted on the 1939 Register.

Dancer's  End is/was on private land. If I can post a photo (doubtful) then you will see the awful warning to the public not to enter the site. 

The hill, which wasn't hard surfaced, is barely more than a path covered in years of overgrowth an leaf mould. One thing not mentioned so far is that the Bugatti Owner's Club tried to buy the Estate before taking on Prescott. They believed that local opposition would limit their use and withdrew the idea.

Ahh rats I can't post the image. I will post it on Facebook perhaps some kind soul can capture it and post on here. 

Dancer's  End is/was on private land. If I can post a photo (doubtful) then you will see the awful warning to the public not to enter the site. 

 

The hill, which wasn't hard surfaced, is barely more than a path covered in years of overgrowth an leaf mould. One thing not mentioned so far is that the Bugatti Owner's Club tried to buy the Estate before taking on Prescott. They believed that local opposition would limit their use and withdrew the idea.

 

Ahh rats I can't post the image. I will post it on Facebook perhaps some kind soul can capture it and post on here. 

Thanks Julian. So, looking at the Google Maps link above, I assume that the straightish road starting very near the junction between the old A41 and the Wendover road (The Upper Icknield Way), leading to Dancer's End on the map, isn't the hillclimb course? Streetview shows it (Dancer's End Lane) with a tarmac surface, narrow but accessible. Or did you mean it wasn't hard surfaced back in the day, but is now?

No, Dancer's End Lane is a public road. I was standing on that road when I took the "Private Woodland - Keep Out" sign. dancer's End House is at the crossroads just beyond the old course.

The climbs there were primarily organised by the Berkhamsted and District Motor Club (aka "Berko") and their website fills in some more of the history. 

The photos are now on Facebook on the "Personal Photos of Historic Racing" group.

Edited by fuzzi, 27 October 2018 - 08:22.

No, Dancer's End Lane is a public road. I was standing on that road when I took the "Private Woodland - Keep Out" sign. dancer's End House is at the crossroads just beyond the old course.

 

The climbs there were primarily organised by the Berkhamsted and District Motor Club (aka "Berko") and their website fills in some more of the history. 

 

The photos are now on Facebook on the "Personal Photos of Historic Racing" group.

 Thanks for the help Julian.

The photographs referred to in fuzzi's post, which have been posted on Facebook

Circa May 1936, I think the source is Autocar.

Hill-climb at Dancers End

Quite the largest crowd, certainly

exceeding 2,000 people, which has

ever watched one of the Berk-

hamsted's club's hill-climbs at Dancers

End, near Tring, attended last Sunday.

The hill has not yet been altered in ac-

cordance with future plans, and its

existing form consists of a narrow track,

with a fairly firm surface, leading up

gently through a wood, round a sharp

corner, and so more or less straight to

the finish.

BTD: F.R.G. Spikins (Singer) 25.5 sec

Edited by Rupertlt1, 28 October 2018 - 05:09.

Thank you Alan for doing the honours.

The top photo is self explanatory, the start of the hill was off to the right of the sign. The paddock was at the top of the hill and competitors drove down in classes, or batches to the start.

Photo 2 is the view up the straight from the famous hairpin right turn

Photo 3 is the view back down the starting straight from the hairpin right

Photo 4 is looking back at the hairpin from the track up the hill. The tree which stood at the apex seems to have been felled years ago.

The photos were taken way back in the early noughties. 

For a plan and description of the hill see "Would Suit Enthusiast - L.M. Williams and his Austin Seven Specials"  by Stuart Ulph, published by the Pre-War Austin Seven Club.

An excellent read.

PS there was a barrier made of something like scaffold poles close to the warning sign. It was firmly set into the gound to stop any possible vehicular access.

Edited by fuzzi, 28 October 2018 - 09:14.

The Berkhamsted and District Motor Club held a speed trial at Studham, 26 June 1938. Described as parkland, 300 yds.
Source: Motor Sport, July 1938, Page 253.

Thanks Rupert, Julian and Allan - interesting stuff.

Parkland in Studham. I don't know that village well enough to guess where the trial would have been.  Is next-door Kensworth considered a racing venue? I think car trials and/or bike scrambling events have taken place there since at least the early 1960s, probably longer.

I missed Studham and I'm afraid Kensworth is not coming up in my notes as a hard-surfaced speed event venue. It could, of course have been used for motorcycle trials or scrambles (as we used to call motocross) and I didn't try and find those sites - there are too many!

See page 74 of Motorsport Explorer.  

Bushmead Speed Trial, 25th April 1954.

Two-thirds mile course.

BTD Henry Taylor, Cooper-Vincent, 54.75 sec

(Source: Autosport, 7 May 1954. It says "Results published in last week's issue.")

Edit: "a disused airfield about four miles from St Neots."

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 05 November 2018 - 23:42.

Thank you Alan for doing the honours.

 

The top photo is self explanatory, the start of the hill was off to the right of the sign. The paddock was at the top of the hill and competitors drove down in classes, or batches to the start.

 

Photo 2 is the view up the straight from the famous hairpin right turn

 

Photo 3 is the view back down the starting straight from the hairpin right

 

Photo 4 is looking back at the hairpin from the track up the hill. The tree which stood at the apex seems to have been felled years ago.

 

The photos were taken way back in the early noughties. 

 

For a plan and description of the hill see "Would Suit Enthusiast - L.M. Williams and his Austin Seven Specials"  by Stuart Ulph, published by the Pre-War Austin Seven Club.

An excellent read.

 

PS there was a barrier made of something like scaffold poles close to the warning sign. It was firmly set into the gound to stop any possible vehicular access.

This little bit of Pathé footage from 1931 was posted on the forum some years ago, but the link now appears broken.

https://www.britishp...ubs/query/tring

"Lancashire Auto Club are organising a hill climb meeting, open to the car clubs of the N.W. area, at Hurstwood, near Burnley, The course is 4/10ths of a mile, 10 feet wlde. with a left bend, and there are 20 classes. Including vintage cars up to 1930. Entries on Monday to P. Rothwall, 41a Queen Street Great Harwood."

Above refers to the 14th June 1964 Meeting.

See also Autosport, 27th March 1964, Page 426 - report of meeting 15 March, described as new venue - with thanks to Steve Wilkinson.

Meeting also scheduled for September.

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 24 December 2018 - 17:40.

Add Cricket St Thomas and Pestallozzi School to lost hill climb venues and Barnesfield Heath, Boscombe Down and Lee on Solent (HMS Daedalus) to sprints.

The Pestalozzi site is for sale: https://www.ryeandba...combe-1-8640234

Motoring News, Thursday, July 10, 1969

Borras Hall Sprint, Saturday June 28, 1969, Liverpool M.C.

Add to Welsh list.

Previously mentioned as Boras?

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 26 April 2019 - 22:28.

Steve W - when I saw your list I thought I would catch you out with "Shibden Park". Respect!

My local club - Yorkshire Sports Car Club - held just one event there (1970?). Shibden Park is the municipal park in Halifax, and the club had to seek local authority approval. IIRC the RAC would only licence single seaters upto 1600cc due to the confines of the track. Unfortunately there was a serious shunt on the day & the venue was never used again.

This event was held 2 August 1970. 

FTD R. Blackmore (Terrapin Mk 2) 19.43 sec

The accident involved John Bosomworth (McLaren M10A), car shared with Chris Tipping, with the car reportedly written-off by Bosomworth against a tree.

Perhaps they should have restricted single-seaters to 1600 cc.

Source: Motoring News, Thursday, August 13, 1970.

RGDS RLT

This event was held 2 August 1970. 

FTD R. Blackmore (Terrapin Mk 2) 19.43 sec

The accident involved John Bosomworth (McLaren M10A), car shared with Chris Tipping, with the car reportedly written-off by Bosomworth against a tree.

Perhaps they should have restricted single-seaters to 1600 cc.

Source: Motoring News, Thursday, August 13, 1970.

 

RGDS RLT

Fascinating, as ever, Rupert.

And perhaps another jigsaw piece for Mr Brown's wonderful ORC site of course...

Fascinating, as ever, Rupert.

 

And perhaps another jigsaw piece for Mr Brown's wonderful ORC site of course...

I've already alerted Allen Brown.

Also found:

Edited by Rupertlt1, 25 April 2019 - 22:28.

I suspect my 17 year old self was there at both events. Rufforth- the only pop up circuit (to use a non period term ) left in the UK by 1970 ?  

Would "pop up" refer to weeds coming through the tarmac?

I seem to recall a "Catchpole" strip featuring a collection being held to renew the (sole?) fire extinguisher, or some such slur...!

Thanks guys.  Website updated.

I spoke to Bosomworth about his car.  It was a McLaren M4A (Formula 2) chassis, extended by six inches to fit the Buick/Rover engine.  The 3580cc engine was built by Alan Smith.  Bosomworth said "the car was utterly lethal and on a circuit could snap out of control in an instant", and at Shibden Park "it had a mind of its own and snapped into a crash". 

It was repaired and it was later mistaken for the Formula 1 M4B.  I suspect it's now in New Zealand and that another attempt will be made to pass it off.  Anyone who buys a "barn find" F1 car without due diligence can only blame themselves.

Sprinting at East Kirkby, Lincolnshire?

Event on 22 June.

Motoring News, 19 June 1969.

RGDS RLT

This event was held 2 August 1970. 

FTD R. Blackmore (Terrapin Mk 2) 19.43 sec

The accident involved John Bosomworth (McLaren M10A), car shared with Chris Tipping, with the car reportedly written-off by Bosomworth against a tree.

Perhaps they should have restricted single-seaters to 1600 cc.

Source: Motoring News, Thursday, August 13, 1970.

 

RGDS RLT

There was another event at Shibden Park - from memory in 1978 as i got FTD there in my Mallock. It was a very scary venue and I remember that we had to reskin the bottom of the car afterwards due to all the bottoming.

I've also got a vague memory of an event in a public park in Sheffield around the same time.

Sprinting at East Kirkby, Lincolnshire?

Event on 22 June.

Motoring News, 19 June 1969.

 

RGDS RLT

I was at East Kirkby yesterday. It's a few minutes from me. It was used in '69 for a couple of meetings - according to Hunt's 'Motor Sport Explorer' on 4th May and 21st June. If 1/4 mile drag sprints are permitted, it's now back in use as the old runway hosts the 'Straightliners Championship' on five occasions this year. I attended the first and it was great fun with a good mix of eclectic machinery, and a hail storm to boot.

I was at East Kirkby yesterday. It's a few minutes from me. It was used in '69 for a couple of meetings - according to Hunt's 'Motor Sport Explorer' on 4th May and 21st June. If 1/4 mile drag sprints are permitted, it's now back in use as the old runway hosts the 'Straightliners Championship' on five occasions this year. I attended the first and it was great fun with a good mix of eclectic machinery, and a hail storm to boot.

Here is the full story from Motoring News, Thursday, 19 June 1969:

Sprinting at

East Kirkby

AN EXTREMELY fast sprint

circuit at East Kirkby, Lincoln-

shire, will be used for the first

time on June 22. The Peter-

borough  and Boston Motor

Clubs will be joint-promoting

meetings at this airfield venue,

and the 1.75 mile course consists

of two runways and a concrete

link road. Regs for the first

meeting are available from V.E.

Beck, 34a Priestgate, Peter-

borough.

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 07 May 2019 - 22:33.

Kinkell Braes Hill Climb, 9 October 1977

LANARK driver Norrie

Galbraith in a Mallock U2

made certain of the Scottish

Hill Climb championship

title in the last round at

Kinkell Braes, St Andrews,

yesterday.

Arch-rival Jim Campbell,

Bothwell, had to win in his

John Young Brabham to get

a share of the title, but he

was 0.41 sec slower and was

placed second."

Aberdeen Press and Journal, 10 October 1977.

RGDS RLT

Dunkeswell Sprint, nr Honiton, Burnham-on-Sea/Weston-super-Mare Motor Clubs, 9 May 1971

FTD Geoff Inglis, (Brabham BT14/21 Ford S/C 1.6), 2m 21.1 secs

Motoring News, 13 May 1971

RGDS RLT