10 replies to this topic

[Cardenas]

Some days ago I saw this video .

At the minute 02:10 there's a racetrack where cars go through some columns. Does anyone know which one is that circuit??

thanks.

[Vitesse2]

It's the one-off World's Fair Grand Prix, held on the New York World's Fair site in 1940.

[Bloggsworth]

It's the one-off World's Fair Grand Prix, held on the New York World's Fair site in 1940.

Thanks for that, my brother asked me exactly the same question 3 weeks ago!

[Rob Semmeling]

Did they seriously race through that columnated building? Classic case of "what were they thinking"!? Is there a track map for this circuit?

[wenoopy]

Did they seriously race through that columnated building? Classic case of "what were they thinking"!? Is there a track map for this circuit?

They did indeed race. At 10.30 am on 6 October 1940, a 75 minute duration race on a .75 mile circuit in the World's Fair Grounds, organised by the ARCA. Winner was Frank Griswold in an Alfa-Romeo. Google would probably find more information. Automobile Racing Club of America was active in road racing in NY state from mid 30's until US entry into WW2. Leading lights were the Collier brothers and George Rand.

[Ray Bell]

This is not the only case of a circuit where something weird was a part of it...

No passing zones were commonplace at one time. Even the Australian Grand Prix at Southport in 1954 featured one of those (on a road that is now six lanes wide) and Parramatta Park had quite a long one alongside the river.

A train brought a race to a halt at Longford in Tasmania about 1963, there was a level crossing on the circuit. I seem to recall something strange about a circuit in Ireland somewhere too.

[Rob Semmeling]

Below is a description of the 1940 World's Fair Circuit from the Norwald Hour of October 9, 1940:

"The course is seven-tenths of a mile in length, protected by barricades and bales of hay at strategic points. Driving counter-clockwise, the racers will start in front of a judges stand at the Southwest corner of the Court of Peace, drive in a roughly northward direction around the Polish Pavillion, eastward to a point near the Boy Scout encampment, and thence south to re-enter the Court of Peace at the eastern end."

Frank Griswold (Alfa Romeo) won the 56-lap race at an average speed of 34.5 mph.

Looking at the below map of the World Fair grounds, it's possible to get an idea of the circuit, but does a genuine track map exist?

http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream

[Vitesse2]

Did they seriously race through that columnated building? Classic case of "what were they thinking"!? Is there a track map for this circuit?

I've never seen a map Rob, but there is a description in John C Rueter's "American Road Racing". It was held in the International Area of the World's Fair and described as "encircling the Court of Peace and the Netherlands, Polish, Swiss, Peruvian and Finnish Pavilions. The start and finish will be in the Court of Peace, facing the United States Building."

Map of the pavilions:



There's also a virtual tour of the World's Fair if you want explore further: http://www.1939nyworldsfair.com/ Don't miss the "NTG Congress of Beauty & Sun Worshipers Colony"

[pete53]

Is the driver being ejected from his car at Silverstone at about 3:16 Roy Salvadori? I remember seeing his crash, which was in 1951(?), in an old newsreel film a number of years ago and this looks very much like it.

[ryan86]

Interesting that the the British and Italian pavillions are next to each other seeing as how they were at war against each other at that point.

[Cardenas]

thanks for your answers!