l'Ancienne Douane?

Hello TNF-Experts,

I just returned from my visit to the DTM-race at Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The site racingcircuits.net shows a chicane called "l'Ancienne Doune" it was used until 1939 - at least for automobile racing. The next pictures shows the track layout from 1921-1929:



Well, I took a closer look during my recent visit. The chicane still exists ... it is no real chicane though,
more like a hill climb section. Eau Rouge was build to replace l'Ancienne Doune, but it does not explain
following mysteries:

- Why is the tarmac still in good condition?
- Why is there still an official panel about the track-section-name within the Apex of l'Ancienne Douane?
- The entry/exit of l'Ancienne Douane looks small, the tarmac modified for suiting the current
grandstands in Eau Rouge, I would assume it was only 5-6 years ago?
- When was l'Ancienne Douane used last in racing? There are still old tires of tire barriers there!

I did not find any information about this chicane, only one sited mentioned that l'Ancienne Douane
was currently used in rallye racing. Anyway, it is a hell of curve -not as good as Eau Rouge- but better
than many other curves at new Spa-Francorchamps-circuit!

Regards,
Omegas

PS. The panel with the section-names look like this one but with the name written on it:

Why is the tarmac still in good condition

This was public road till only a few years ago. The stretch from la source upto les combes was public road and Eau rouge is a bit too steep for road cars so l'Ancienne Doune was the detour to get passed it.

Originally posted by Omegas
- Why is the tarmac still in good condition?

MCH is right, this was public road until a few years ago. Cars coming from La Source would go up the Eau Rouge, cars coming from the other direction, the Kemmel straight, would take the L'Ancienne Douane hairpin instead of going down Eau Rouge. In other words, Eau Rouge was a one-way section.

Originally posted by Omegas
- Why is there still an official panel about the track-section-name within the Apex of l'Ancienne Douane?

Because it was part of the circuit once, and the officials of the Spa circuit have some sort of historical consciousness, apparantly. The sign was there when the section was still public road, I have a pic of it somewhere.

There was thread Spa Francorchamps before 1939. Unfortunately, pictures links in it are dead.

I don't understand any of thee references to Eau Rouge, which is the left-hander at the bottom of the hill

Originally posted by David McKinney
I don't understand any of thee references to Eau Rouge, which is the left-hander at the bottom of the hill

Yes, David. I have always understood that "Eau Rouge" was only the left-hander at the bottom of the hill (across the bridge over "eau rouge"), and that the run up the hill, a right-hand sweep, that by-passes the old road to "l'Ancienne Douane" was "Le Raidillon".

I am fairly confident that is what the president of the car club there told me when I first went there in the early 1980s (when the steep linking section of road was actually blocked off with barriers and the public cars were using the old Douane road).

But I see by this map that there was an original "Raidillon" that was actually a left-hand corner.

Some modern references have been to the "Eau Rouge complex" or "Eau Rouge corners".

I think that most people - even those who have raced there - think of the uphill sweep as part of Eau Rouge. But that doesn't mean it is the correct name.

Who do we go to for a definitive answer to this?

If the left hander over the bridge is the only "Eau Rouge" and "Raidillon" is what remains of the original as shown on the map above, what is the link that has been added between them? Is it part of Eau Rouge, part of Raidillon, or something else?

In the latter part of 1938 a major change was made to the Francorchamps circuit for the 1939 season, shortening the course by 364 m to exactly 14.500 km or 9.010 mi.

I confirm that as of 1939 after the start, instead of turning left past the Eau Rouge bridge, a new wide right hand turn was leading up the hill, bypassing the old right-hand Frontier hairpin "Virage de l'ancienne Douane". So, the left corner just past the Eau Rouge bridge was called Eau Rouge bend and was left out from 1939 on and the new wide uphill turn was called "Raidillon".

So, today one would come after the new Start & Finish location through the right hairpin "Virage de la Source" then downhill crossing the "Eau Rouge bridge" to blast full speed through the spectacular right "Raidillon" into the forest.

Eau Rouge (red water) is of course referring to the small creek running underneath this corner. I always look at it when I am passing by and the water indeed looks a little red due to the clay/sand on the bottom.
In fact in the old days there was a small bridge to cross as part of the corner. THAT part is Eau Rouge. Through the years the formerly very tight crossing/corner has widened and the left-right effect softened a bit.

Spa a fantastic track. One highlights of my year is a walk around the track during the 1000 kms (which I missed this year).

Here you can find some more

http://forums.atlasf...0&highlight=Spa

I did some scanning, enjoy:

L'Ancienne Douane, ca. 1995-1996-1997:

http://home.arcor.de...leife/spa01.jpg

Eau Rouge /Raidillon, 1996:

http://home.arcor.de...leife/spa02.jpg
http://home.arcor.de...leife/spa03.jpg
http://home.arcor.de...leife/spa04.jpg
http://home.arcor.de...leife/spa05.jpg
http://home.arcor.de...leife/spa06.jpg

Looking down Eau Rouge/Raidillon, ca. 1995-1996-1997:

http://home.arcor.de...leife/spa07.jpg