19 replies to this topic

[HistoricMustang]

While doing research on the Twin City Motor Speedway (seperate thread) I begin to wonder how many tracks do infact reside under airports.

Another that comes to mind is the Atlanta Motordrome under Atlanta -Fulton County (Hartsfield) Airport.

I landed at both of these airfields numerous times during the '70's and '80's without knowledge of what was under the wings or under the "Crown Room".

And, I believe one former track in Charlotte, North Carolina (USA) may be covered by runways.

So where can we ignor "Seat trays and backs in their upright and locked position" and toast former tracks and drivers as we land.

Henry

[ggnagy]

tyrone, PA airport was built on top of the Altoona Speedway, and then in a bit of a reversal, became a drag racing venue.

Then of course there is a small venue called Brooklands.

[David McKinney]

Brooklands was never an airport, and its track was certainly not under anything

[elansprint72]

Originally posted by David McKinney
Brooklands was never an airport, and its track was certainly not under anything

I suppose it depends how you define an airport:
"In 1911 the world's first flight ticket office was built at Brooklands close to the Blue Bird Restaurant. This consisted of a simple brick hut operated by Keith Prowse Ltd up to World War 1. Here passenger flights in biplanes around Brooklands cost about a pound."

I thought that parts of the track were under many aviation production buildings constructed for the Second World War effort.

[Vitesse2]

There were sprints at Gatwick in the 1930s, but I have no idea whether the course is now under the airport ....

[speedman13]

Tripoli Grand Prix circuit. Melhalla Libya.

[HiRich]

Originally posted by elansprint72
I suppose it depends how you define an airport:
"In 1911 the world's first flight ticket office was built at Brooklands close to the Blue Bird Restaurant. This consisted of a simple brick hut operated by Keith Prowse Ltd up to World War 1. Here passenger flights in biplanes around Brooklands cost about a pound."

OT, but I was surprised that that seems to be THE Keith Prowse, still selling tickets. I always assumed it was a much younger company, probably because the only other Prowse I know taught me the Green Cross Code.

[fuzzi]

Originally posted by Vitesse2
There were sprints at Gatwick in the 1930s, but I have no idea whether the course is now under the airport ....

As far as I can tell so far the Sprints at Gatwick (run by the Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club) took place on the approach road to the old Gatwick (horse) race course, which is under the north side of the airport towards Povey Cross (former home of Malcolm Campbell). The sprint course started down by the grandstands and led up towards the entrance gates. Noel Pope famously got his Brough up to quite a rate of knots and couldn't slow down enough so he ended up riding out of the gates and finally managed to pull up on the grass verge of the main road.

[Derwent Motorsport]

Ingliston was very close to Edinburgh Airport and Donington is close to East Midlands.

[alansart]

At one point over a GP weekend Silverstone had more flight movements per hour than any airport in the UK.

[fines]

In the US, I believe the old Mines Field road course is now Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and the Atlanta Motordrome (Candler Field) is now the Atlanta International Airport.

[HistoricMustang]

Originally posted by David McKinney
Brooklands was never an airport, and its track was certainly not under anything

Interesting, if true.

Henry

http://virtualglobet...view/?service=0

[HistoricMustang]

And, it appears at least one airport was closed to build a race track!

Henry

http://virtualglobet...view/?service=0

http://virtualglobet...view/?service=1

[Cris]

Minor, but the remains of Gilford Bowl (a VERY short track) in Laconia, NH reside at the end of the main runway of that town's airport.

Gilford Bowl

I also recall one morning landing at Pittsburgh, PA's airport and just as we were coming in I swear I saw what looked to be an old, somewhat miniature road course of some sort but I've never been able to find anything on it. I suppose it could have been a go kart track. Anyone have any idea?

Cris

[Ray Bell]

Public roads made up the one-time-only circuit at Benalla in Victoria. It was a simple triangle which surrounded the airfield IIRC. Expansion of the airfield, today popularly used for launching gliders as well as other small aircraft flying, led to the third leg of the triangle being 'buried' beneath the grass of the airstrip and its surrounds.

[275 GTB-4]

Schofields Aerodrome in the western Sydney Australia suburb of Quakers Hill hosted many motor sport events.

[Catalina Park]

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4
Schofields Aerodrome in the western Sydney Australia suburb of Quakers Hill hosted many motor sport events.

The thread is about race tracks under airports. Schofields was an airport first and then used as a race track. You could hardly say that there was a racing circuit was under Schofields Aerodrome. (Or Marsden Park, Pitt Town, Castlereigh, Mt Druitt or other WW2 airstrips)

Talledega is an example of an airport under a racing circuit.

[rx-guru]

Sturup Raceway in Sweden is under Malmö Airport.

Gardermoen Motorpark in Norway is under Oslo Airport Gardermoen.

Ring Djursland in Denmark is under Tirstrup Airfield.

Former Keimola Moottoristadion in Finland is under Vantaa Airport.

And in Germany former racing at Diepholz, Kassel-Calden, Mainz-Finthen, Speyer, Wunstorf, Zweibrücken, Lahr and Siegerlandflughafen (some forgotten?) took place on airports or airfields.

[fines]

Originally posted by rx-guru
(some forgotten?)

No, but that all of these race tracks were on airfields, rather than under!;)

[rx-guru]

Originally posted by fines

No, but that all of these race tracks were on airfields, rather than under!;)

As I mentioned it.;)