21 replies to this topic

[Alfieri]

Does anyone know why the corners at Silverstone and Goodwood are named Woodcote?
As far as I know there are no places in either locality with that name.
Race programmes show that the corner at Silverstone was so named from the first meeting in October 1948, whilst the Goodwood corner is shown as Woodcote from the Easter 1949 meeting, but may well have been so named from the first meeting in September 1948, but just not shown in the programme.

My own guess would be that Woodcote refers to the Royal Automobile Club's Clubhouse, Woodcote Park, near Epsom, Surrey, which had been owned by the Club since well before WW2, but I cannot find any definite proof of this connection.

[RWB]

Does anyone know why the corners at Silverstone and Goodwood are named Woodcote?
As far as I know there are no places in either locality with that name.
Race programmes show that the corner at Silverstone was so named from the first meeting in October 1948, whilst the Goodwood corner is shown as Woodcote from the Easter 1949 meeting, but may well have been so named from the first meeting in September 1948, but just not shown in the programme.

My own guess would be that Woodcote refers to the Royal Automobile Club's Clubhouse, Woodcote Park, near Epsom, Surrey, which had been owned by the Club since well before WW2, but I cannot find any definite proof of this connection.

At Goodwood, the house at Woodcote Corner is called "Woodcote" and pre-dates the airfileld and the circuit. The farm on which the circuit was built may even have been Woodcote Farm.

[D-Type]

I don't know if it constitutes "definite proof" but that's what Maurice Hamilton says regarding Silverstone's Woodcote in his book about the British GP.

The OS map shows Woodcote House adjacent to Woodcote corner. In The Glory of Goodwood by Mike Lawrence, Simon Taylor and Doug Nye say that Woodcote was named after Woodcote Farm which had abutted Westhampnett Farm.

Edited by D-Type, 08 July 2011 - 19:58.

[Vitesse2]

Duncan beat me to the Silverstone one, but we discussed all the Goodwood corners a while back:

http://forums.autosp...amp;hl=Woodcote

[Alfieri]

Thank you Robert, Duncan and Richard.
So the naming of two corners on two different circuits both of which opened in Autumn 1948 was purely coincidental.

Good to see that TNF can still "come up with the goods", in less than a hour.............despite all the rubbish that is often posted here nowadays.

[Geoff E]

There is no ("easy") evidence of the existence of a Woodcote Farm at Silverstone http://www.old-maps....s=467125,242425

Select (on right) a map, perhaps 1900 1:10,560.

You can increase the size of the "map window" by pressing Ctrl + a few times.

A 1940s 1" map is here (Sheet 146) http://maps.nls.uk/o...pular_list.html
A great map but no Woodcote on it.

Edited by Geoff E, 08 July 2011 - 20:08.

[Allan Lupton]

There is no ("easy") evidence of the existence of a Woodcote Farm at Silverstone http://www.old-maps....s=467125,242425

Select (on right) a map, perhaps 1900 1:10,560.

You can increase the size of the "map window" by pressing Ctrl + a few times.

A 1940s 1" map is here (Sheet 146) http://maps.nls.uk/o...pular_list.html
A great map but no Woodcote on it.

Quite so - I have just looked at my 1946 copy of 1" 146 and there are a lot of Woods (including a Wild Wood (as in Wind in the Willows!) in more or less the right place) but no Woodcote.
There is a hamlet about 3 miles NE of the corner in question called Wood Burcote and I have long assumed that it had been shortened to make "Woodcote" and I now wonder if that's how the elusive farm got its name first, and then the corner.
When they last added corners to the circuit they could have named one after Buttockspire Wood (SP 655412).

[Tim Murray]

Select (on right) a map, perhaps 1900 1:10,560.

Great find, Geoff. That 1900 map shows Maggot's Moor, which I've not seen on any other map, and explains the name of another corner.

[Geoff E]

Great find, Geoff. That 1900 map shows Maggot's Moor, which I've not seen on any other map, and explains the name of another corner.

Yes, I find it useful for my genealogical research.

A hint: If you wish to look at a place "in the old days", first find the co-ordinates that you need on a modern website. Move your "X-spot" to the map centre, then scroll down to see the co-ordinates. Then use the co-ordinates at www.old-maps.co.uk ... it's easier than trial and error.

e.g. http://www.streetmap...7...p;A=Y&Z=120

Use 467570 241875 on Old-Maps.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Duncan beat me to the Silverstone one, but we discussed all the Goodwood corners a while back:

http://forums.autosp...amp;hl=Woodcote

Yes, that was a very nice and informative thread. Thank you again for your responses. The Brits certainly have (or had) a more charming way of naming corners than we typically have in the States, where corners tend to be named for their configuration or a commercial interest (someone will be here shortly to prove me wrong).

Jack.

[David McKinney]

The American practice of 'Turn 1, Turn 2' etc seems to be taking over the world

[Jack-the-Lad]

The American practice of 'Turn 1, Turn 2' etc seems to be taking over the world

Inspiring, isn't it?

[Catalina Park]

It was forced on us by the FIA (via Tim)

[Allan Lupton]

The American practice of 'Turn 1, Turn 2' etc seems to be taking over the world

Is it really, or just in the TV commentators' shorthand?
Muddly Talker used to try at places like Imola and Monza (and Monaco of course) but who could expect him or his successors to learn the names of the look-alike Tilkedrome corners.

[David McKinney]

The commentators seem to use corner names where they exist (eg at Silverstone, Monaco, Spa etc)

But AFAIK the Tilkedromes tend not to have named corners

[ryan86]

I'm sure the corners in Malaysia have names. I'm not sure some of the younger drivers know what some of the more famous corners are called nowaday anyway, referring instead to their FIA track maps. Though I'm sure I read a story about a GP2 driver briefing at Monza where one driver referred to the 2nd chicane at which Pantano stood up and told him it wasn't the 2nd Chicane, it was the Roggia.

Edited by ryan86, 10 July 2011 - 09:17.

[Vitesse2]

There was an exchange on the pit-car radio yesterday when (I think) Button was told it was raining on the south of the circuit. I know there are some unusual gadgets on the steering wheels these days, but I don't think they have a compass! It was followed by the more helpful information that south meant Stowe and Vale!

[Mal9444]

Quite so - I have just looked at my 1946 copy of 1" 146 and ...

As one does...

Allan, your post has made my day. Where else on the web - or anywhere - does one have a bunch of friends who just happened to have 1946 OS maps, 1952 race programmes, Autosport for September 1954, workshop manual for a 1936 Austin 12 etc etc etc just happily and casually to hand?

What a wonderful place is TNF.

Edited by Mal9444, 10 July 2011 - 10:01.

[Vitesse2]

I have a 1936 Who's Who if you should ever need it

[kayemod]

I'm not sure some of the younger drivers know what some of the more famous corners are called nowadays...

It's not just the younger ones, the same problem affects the oldest man out there. In a press conference following one of his many on-track excesses, he'd stopped on the racing line just before the end of the qualifying session, in a pathetic to deny Alonso Pole at Monaco, that great sportsman Michael Schumacher failed totally to explain away his actions, but referred to the site of his cheating as "...I believe it's called Rascasse..." Almost all true fans could have told him exactly what both the corner and his actions were called.

[Stephen W]

The American practice of 'Turn 1, Turn 2' etc seems to be taking over the world

Inspiring, isn't it?

It really is inspiring to think that the people responsible were at least numerate!

[Bauble]

Thank you Robert, Duncan and Richard.
So the naming of two corners on two different circuits both of which opened in Autumn 1948 was purely coincidental.

Good to see that TNF can still "come up with the goods", in less than a hour.............despite all the rubbish that is often posted here nowadays.

Oy! I heard that!

bauble