32 replies to this topic

[Auroraf1]

There used to be an Esso sign on the Oulton Park pit straight. It hung from a bracket on a pole, just like the old petrol station ones.

The bracket has been recovered from the woods in which it has spent many years and with a thought of putting it back in place, the following questions have arisen.

When did it first go up?

When did this disappear?

Who has the earliest / latest pictures with it in place?

[Giraffe]

Well Phil, this is the one from 1970, so the old hanging one was more than 40 years ago!


By giraffe138 at 2010-03-08

[Auroraf1]

Thanks Tony, that is an interesting twist.

[Giraffe]

Ok, I've found it in Derek Lawson's "More Sun etc..." on page 23 in 1961 to open the bidding!

(Oops! page 9, 1955!) ....It's still there in 1964 (page 36) but the new one as pictured in 1970 is there in 1967 (page 44), so it came down between 1964 & '67!

Edited by Giraffe, 08 March 2010 - 18:09.

[Auroraf1]

I have flicked through Eddie Whitham's photos and the type of sign seems to change between 1965 and 1967.

[hansfohr]

There used to be an Esso sign on the Oulton Park pit straight. It hung from a bracket on a pole, just like the old petrol station ones. The bracket has been recovered from the woods in which it has spent many years and with a thought of putting it back in place, the following questions have arisen.

When did it first go up? When did this disappear?

I guess the sign was placed when the track was significantly extended in 1954 - Esso Bend being one of the new corners - and removed in 1973 when that bend was renamed Shell Oils corner.

[Giraffe]

The old one is pictured at the start of the 1966 Tourist Trophy in the "Oulton Park - 25 years" publication (page 36), so odds on it was taken down at the end of the 1966 season, and replaced with the newer version for 1967.

[Phil Rainford]

The sign is clearly visable in this film of Jim Clark at the 63 Gold Cup.....




PAR

[MCS]

I guess the sign was placed when the track was significantly extended in 1954 - Esso Bend being one of the new corners - and removed in 1973 when that bend was renamed Shell Oils corner.

1973? As long ago as that? How very depressing.

[Giraffe]

1973? As long ago as that? How very depressing.

It will always be Esso to me; end of story.

[Auroraf1]

I don't think Shell Oils corner came about until that stretch was reopened in the eighties?

[Giraffe]

Who has the earliest / latest pictures with it in place?

Summarising, the first pic I have found so far is June 1955, pictured at a VSCC meeting in Derek's companion photo book, page 9. (& the "Motor" bridge is the "Motor Cycling" bridge!)
The last pic I have of it is in the "Oulton Park, 25 years of car and motorcycle racing" publication (which is quite superb!) and features the start of the 1966 Tourist Trophy race on page 36.
The first pic of the new sign that I can find is also in Derek's book, and is of the 1967 Gold Cup start on page 44, and also the same start on page 18 of the Cheshire Circuits publication.
Doubtless someone can narrow it down further between these two meetings.

[Stephen W]

It will always be Esso to me; end of story.

I agree!

I don't think Shell Oils corner came about until that stretch was reopened in the eighties?

I seem to remember there was a lot of talk in the late 70s about them reopening the Esso loop. Then when they finally did it was as Aurora says renamed Shell Oils - doesn't exactly trip off the tongue!

[Auroraf1]

Is it me or have Esso stations disappeared from our road sides?

[alansart]

Is it me or have Esso stations disappeared from our road sides?

They are still around. I used one in Altrincham yesterday.

[Rob]

If Donington can have the Dunlop Bridge, I don't see any reason why Oulton's Esso sign couldn't go back up.

[Giraffe]

If Donington can have the Dunlop Bridge, I don't see any reason why Oulton's Esso sign couldn't go back up.

Yes, but it couldn't go anywhere near where both of them were previously sited for reasons of safety. I'm amazed nobody collided with them in the past, but I never gave it a thought at the time! (And seemingly, neither did anyone else!)

[BrendanMcF]

I'm sure Esso would have kept the sign up if it was commercially viable to do so.

Shell Oils Bend used to be Esso, maybe MCD had a tie-up with them, or does it pre-date Webb's ownership?

[Stephen W]

Shell Oils Bend used to be Esso, maybe MCD had a tie-up with them, or does it pre-date Webb's ownership?

The tie-up with Oulton Park and Esso was pre-John Webb however the Shell Oils tie-up would have been in the John Webb era.

I agree that having rediscovered the ESSO sign it should be re-instated as part of the history of the venue.

[alansart]

The tie-up with Oulton Park and Esso was pre-John Webb however the Shell Oils tie-up would have been in the John Webb era.

I agree that having rediscovered the ESSO sign it should be re-instated as part of the history of the venue.

Was the Esso (Shell) section reinstated in the Webb or Foulston era?

[Andrew Kitson]

It wasn't just Oulton. Snetterton had Esso signs everywhere too. See this pic from ca. 1954



Circuit bosses Oliver Sear and Fred Riches also operated the adjacent Esso filling station on the A11. Not only would leaving spectators or competitors fill up there on the way home, it was built there in 1954 as a 'stopping' point to help promote the circuit that they ran. I would guess the Esso signage at the circuit was tied in with the filling station deal.

A friend of mine has owned that old bridge since the mid 60s. It was cut up and recycled for use as his farm gates, still in use today!

Edited by Andrew Kitson, 09 March 2010 - 14:06.

[Phil Rainford]

Was the Esso (Shell) section reinstated in the Webb or Foulston era?

Surely the Foulston era

Wasn't John Foulston testing out the viability of the full layout of the circuit in his Can-Am car and found that the car became airborne at Hilltop …..so creating the need for the chicane bearing his name?

PAR

[alansart]

Whatever it's name it's still an excellent part of the circuit, although I didn't always get it right

Edited by alansart, 09 March 2010 - 14:32.

[BrendanMcF]

Surely the Foulston era

Wasn't John Foulston testing out the viability of the full layout of the circuit in his Can-Am car and found that the car became airborne at Hilltop …..so creating the need for the chicane bearing his name?

PAR

When I tried the old layout in rFactor using a F1 car, the same thing happened...

[Giraffe]

The bend that we knew as Esso first appeared in August 1954, but I've yet to discover when it was named as such.

[Stephen W]

The bend that we knew as Esso first appeared in August 1954, but I've yet to discover when it was named as such.

1959 Oulton Park Gold Cup & the programme has it designated as Esso Bend.

[Phil Rainford]

I don't think Shell Oils corner came about until that stretch was reopened in the eighties?

Phil

You will be the man to ask ....... Are the press still allowed to stand on the grass area on the inside of the corner?

PAR

[Giraffe]

My pal John Love related an interesting tale regarding an incident he had in his Lotus 7 in the late 60's.
John told me how a pic of him did make the national press when he left the track at the Esso hairpin at some considerable speed, clearing the banking and dropping down into a field. The only way he could get back was to drive across the field and back into the circuit via a gate, and the photographer gave him his wallet with which he was pictured so as to appear as if John was paying to re-enter Oulton!!!

[elansprint72]

Ok, I've found it in Derek Lawson's "More Sun etc..." on page 23 in 1961 to open the bidding!

(Oops! page 9, 1955!) ....It's still there in 1964 (page 36) but the new one as pictured in 1970 is there in 1967 (page 44), so it came down between 1964 & '67!

And what an excellent book that is too; some wonderful photographs clearly taken by top-level photographers. I have a spare copy which can be had a for a small consideration; to a deserving home only, of course.

I always thought that the sign in Mr Giraffe's picture was something of a hazard; it certainly would not have done a single-seater any good at all.

[Auroraf1]

Phil

You will be the man to ask ....... Are the press still allowed to stand on the grass area on the inside of the corner?

PAR

I think that would be a resounding no these days Phil

[alansart]

I always thought that the sign in Mr Giraffe's picture was something of a hazard; it certainly would not have done a single-seater any good at all.

This footage of Jim Clark at Oulton not only shows the sign but also some of the more natural track side obstacles going down the Avenue

[Phil Rainford]

I think that would be a resounding no these days Phil

Pity.....although having had a Formula First car pass over my head there, I can understand the reasoning behind the decision.

A shot of Mr Foulston from the inside of the corner......



.....while AA Member and future TNF Member Alan Cox is one of the first people to try out the resurfaced track as he has a sneaky pre-season blast around the new layout, before missing his braking point and finding himself in the car park of the Red Lion



PAR

[BrendanMcF]

This footage of Jim Clark at Oulton not only shows the sign but also some of the more natural track side obstacles going down the Avenue

Superb video, didn't Mark S use some of this in his documentary?

And as for the trees down the Avenue...