112 replies to this topic

[Stephen W]

Rallies, not being races or speed tests, are permitted on public roads. Even special stage rallies use the travel from stage to stage on public roads as part of the event.

All speed limits etc are still in force unless as in Scotland there is an act of parliament which allows for the suspension of the Road Traffic Act during the running of the rallies.

[David Lawson]

Curiously this sign is on the A27 east of Chichester and it's not an old sign as the road is a dual carraigeway.

I would guess that possibly it could be travellers in that area who race those little horse drawn buggies on the public road.

We get them in the part of Essex where I live and the traffic congestion behind them has to be seen to be believed.

David

[nicanary]

I would guess that possibly it could be travellers in that area who race those little horse drawn buggies on the public road.

We get them in the part of Essex where I live and the traffic congestion behind them has to be seen to be believed.

David

These are Trotting Races. Quite why the travellers don't use the numerous permanent trotting tracks around the country is beyond me. Something to do with tradition, I suppose.

[Geoff E]

A (now deceased) former workmate of mine had a trophy won by his father (Stanley Careless, 1901-68) which he claimed was the last race/speed event on a public road in England. I seem to recall it was something like the Hereford Speed Trial 1923 and SC had been on a motor bike. My recollection is near enough correct, I can't guarantee the accuracy of what I was told.

[Vitesse2]

A (now deceased) former workmate of mine had a trophy won by his father (Stanley Careless, 1901-68) which he claimed was the last race/speed event on a public road in England. I seem to recall it was something like the Hereford Speed Trial 1923 and SC had been on a motor bike. My recollection is near enough correct, I can't guarantee the accuracy of what I was told.

Incidentally, Nicholson notes that there were two events held after Kop - both on April 4th - at Hereford and Tavistock ...

The Hereford meeting was a sprint organised by the ACU Western Section on a half-mile stretch of Whitecross Road, AKA the A438. Nicholson gives only the FTD for the car classes (F Taylor (Bugatti)), but not the bikes.

[Geoff E]

Thanks Richard, I confess I had missed your earlier post. I was just recounting something that came to mind.

[mike faloon]

Concerning Anglesey Circuit, the original circuit did follow the Army camp roadways, complete with kerbs, grids and a short section of what appeared to be narrow gauge rail track in one place. This was gradually upgraded over time before being re-placed by the new circuit which I am sure does not use any of the original circuit, does this qualify Anglesey to be a 'new circuit'?

[Stephen W]

Concerning Anglesey Circuit, the original circuit did follow the Army camp roadways, complete with kerbs, grids and a short section of what appeared to be narrow gauge rail track in one place. This was gradually upgraded over time before being re-placed by the new circuit which I am sure does not use any of the original circuit, does this qualify Anglesey to be a 'new circuit'?

I believe that you are right, all of the new ARC track is on virgin ground with all the old bits either part of the pit lane or spectator access roads.

[Rupertlt1]

Bulstrode Park, near Gerrards Cross, proposed late 1953.

Includes track map.

Autocar, 25 December, 1953, Pages 995, 996

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 22 January 2022 - 05:07.

[Geoff E]

A (now deceased) former workmate of mine had a trophy won by his father (Stanley Careless, 1901-68) which he claimed was the last race/speed event on a public road in England. I seem to recall it was something like the Hereford Speed Trial 1923 and SC had been on a motor bike. My recollection is near enough correct, I can't guarantee the accuracy of what I was told.

 

The Gloucester Echo of 8 April 1925 concludes its report with,

 

"... and S.C. Careless, the Leckhampton lad, on winning the Amateur Class on his fine Sunbeam."

 

Fastest time for the half-mile course was said to have been 19 seconds (94.5 mph), so I'm guessing it was a flying start speed trial.

 

FTD was by I.P. Riddoch of Reigate (1898-1972) on a 998cc Zenith.  He also won the sidecar class in 24.2 seconds.

 

The venue was "on the Hay-road at Whitecross, Hereford".

 

EDIT: Map reference https://maps.nls.uk/...8&right=BingHyb

Edited by Geoff E, 22 January 2022 - 09:31.

[Jon Saltinstall]

I recall reading that when the RAC was considering sites for its first British Grand Prix in 1948, before finally deciding on Silverstone, one of the sites looked at was the former airfield at Drakelow near Burton-on-Trent. A power station was later built on the site, though this has now been demolished.

[Dave Roberts]

I recall reading that when the RAC was considering sites for its first British Grand Prix in 1948, before finally deciding on Silverstone, one of the sites looked at was the former airfield at Drakelow near Burton-on-Trent. A power station was later built on the site, though this has now been demolished.

We have Silverstone, Snetterton, Oulton, Castle Combe - all ex RAF/USAF bases, but there must've been dozens of other airfields made redundant in the 40s. But what of Germany? They will have had just as many unused Luftwaffe bases but I can't find a German ex-airfield circuit. Nearest is Zeltweg in Austria.

 

["JAMES HUNT, COMMENT!!!" - attrib. M.Walker]

[Alan Lewis]

We have Silverstone, Snetterton, Oulton, Castle Combe - all ex RAF/USAF bases, but there must've been dozens of other airfields made redundant in the 40s. But what of Germany? They will have had just as many unused Luftwaffe bases but I can't find a German ex-airfield circuit. Nearest is Zeltweg in Austria.

["JAMES HUNT, COMMENT!!!" - attrib. M.Walker]

There were several in the Cold War era - the DTM calendar was full of them in the eighties: Wunstorf, Diepholz, Mainz-Finthen,...

None of them active anymore as far as I know.