51 replies to this topic

[bradbury west]

Does anyone have access to programmes or race entries and reports from Croft around 1972/75?. I am looking for details for Bob Bingley's racing activities there .
Roger Lund

[BillBingley]

Does anyone have access to programmes or race entries and reports from Croft around 1972/75?. I am looking for details for Bob Bingley's racing activities there .
Roger Lund

My Dad was Bob Bingley, he had a Titan F3 car around that time IIRC. I can ask my Mum to look through my Dads stuff for any details.

Bill

[bradbury west]

Bill, welcome to TNF.
Father was kind enough to speak to me years ago, but I was a little apprehensive about contacting your mum after Bob died, then I could not trace her address. My DRW research continues, with some very pleasant discoveries in recent months. I will pm you with my contact details
many thanks
Roger Lund

[ChequeredFlagRacing]

The Neasham Circuit

[john aston]

So tell me more ...please

[john winfield]

From what I gather, John - and you probably know more than me - Neasham was an alternative name for RAF Croft, and the name of the pre-1962 circuit. The website linked below suggests that none of the Neasham track formed part of the new circuit opened in 1964.

 

https://www.racingci...ml#.XUq1LY5Ki1s

Edited by john winfield, 07 August 2019 - 11:30.

[2F-001]

Curious...

Hadn’t heard that before. Peter Swinger’s book has a different take. There, he says that the original motorsports use grew up after a lease was taken on the old RAF Croft by a local businessman, John Neashem (not Neasham, a village to the NE of the Croft circuit). I don’t see a reference in Peter’s acccount to the place being referred to as Neasham; it was, after all, already known as (RAF) Croft, wasn’t it?

Edited by 2F-001, 07 August 2019 - 12:30.

[john winfield]

No idea who's correct but this newspaper article refers to Neasham's garage and John Neasham.

 

https://www.thenorth...lington-garage/

 

..and this 'forgotten airfields' website explains the Croft/Neasham issue, and adds a bit of Dalton on the side!

 

https://www.forgotte...-croft-970.html

Edited by john winfield, 07 August 2019 - 13:07.

[2F-001]

Thanks for those links, John. They do fill in some gaps - though I had oversimplified (and maybe misinterpreted a little) Peter’s account in that Neasham’s intended usage was aviation.

However, do we know how the ‘Neaham’ track layout relates to the Croft site as we w know it now or to former runways and taxiways?

Edited by 2F-001, 07 August 2019 - 14:08.

[Michael Ferner]

The Neasham Circuit

 

Looks more like Aznom to me...

[john aston]

It looks very like the 60s Croft too, but with some key differences- Halnaby  looks like Tower , but with  a different approach , and Walmire must be Sunny . The essence of the   60s  format was also used for a short tine after the 1996 renaissance before  becoming the circuit now used . most famously,  for BTCC.

 

Frankly, it isn't used for much else of any profile as both F3 and British GT  are far too puffed up with self importance to visit any more .Having seen Hunt , Pace and Sato in F3 , Raikkonen and Hamilton in F Renault, Button and Danica Patrick  in FFord and , wonderfully ,John Nielsen in a McLaren F1 GTR I mourn its passing as a premier league venue . 

 

There are still many signs of both the old circuit and of the RAF/ RCAF  presence if you know where to look .   

Edited by john aston, 07 August 2019 - 16:32.

[Steve99]

I like Croft, was my 'local' circuit when I lived 'up north' though a bugger to get to on public transport. Now just 20 minutes from Cadwell I'm in my element! Great reading btw.

[Dick Dastardly]

Are there any books, even if just photos, on Croft?

Some other circuits have them eg Motor Racing at Thruxton [in the Those Were the Days series].

Would be good to see & buy one, especially if it included the rallycross meetings.

[Geoff E]

Are there any books, even if just photos, on Croft?

 

There is a Facebook group with many photos and memories https://www.facebook...1403082/photos/

[john aston]

There is .was also a brilliant website of Croft's past. I spoke to the guy who was doing it  at Croft itself, shortly after it reopened and let him have some pictures from early 70s meetings and I also did some text on marshalling back then .. His aim was to feature every single car which ever raced there - and he had a lot of them already . .

 

I can't remember its name, or his name  - but search on here and it may be mentioned. It may even have been a TNF-er who did it? 

 

I think the web domain included 'wide blue yonder ' in its title .

[Rob Ryder]

John, it used to be at http://www.racing70s...ueyonder.co.uk/ but I think the website disappeared about a year ago.

[ensign14]

Although thanks to the wayback machine there's an archived copy here.   Not checked all the links but the few I've clicked on seem to work. 

[john aston]

Brilliant , well done.  It does seem a little incongruous to have a Facebook page  covering the same ground as this gem , if not as well 

[MCS]

I came across this terrific piece of film the other day whilst looking for something else:  https://player.bfi.o...nal-1971-online.

 

I keep replaying it!

[pete53]

There is a Facebook group with many photos and memories https://www.facebook...1403082/photos/

An excellent snippet. Hunt, Maskell and Walker on the podium for the F3 race?

 

There used to be a bit of film on Youtube taken at the 1967 (very wet) International. I think I posted it once before but I can't locate it at the moment.

[john aston]

I came across this terrific piece of film the other day whilst looking for something else:  https://player.bfi.o...nal-1971-online.

 

I keep replaying it!

 Terrific - even if the narrative is a bit wonky(it sure isn't Rufforth, and that car isn't aT330 ) . Some bits of Croft actually have not changed much - although  girls in hot pants were noticeable by their absence on recent visits . The big (and I mean BIG ) guy in the pits was Mike Wilson  I think ,  BARC stalwart ?  

[2F-001]

That description (re. Rufforth and T330) clearly belongs to a different film...

At the bottom of that page are links to a collection of other clips (including the one that I presume that description relates to).

Edited by 2F-001, 01 November 2019 - 09:05.

[F1matt]

The title of this thread is now misleading, Croft is secure (although with added restrictions) and appears to be thriving and investment has been made. This thread is now a nostalgic look at the circuit, cars, and drivers who competed there. 

[MCS]

That description (re. Rufforth and T330) clearly belongs to a different film...

At the bottom of that page are links to a collection of other clips (including the one that I presume that description relates to).

Absolutely correct, Tony.  So also see the YouTube thread.

 

A number of searches on the site throw up all manner of weird and wonderful films!

[john wood]

Pete - the link to the wet Croft international meeting, 1967 is: 

 

http://www.brianwats...ftSpinsi.html  

 

There are two other Croft videos on Brian Watson's site - both rallycross.

 

John - the big bloke is definitely Mike Wilson of the BARC. Seeing him sparked happy memories of him hosting entertaining prize-giving ceremonies at Harewood.   

[pete53]

Pete - the link to the wet Croft international meeting, 1967 is: 

 

http://www.brianwats...ftSpinsi.html  

 

There are two other Croft videos on Brian Watson's site - both rallycross.

 

John - the big bloke is definitely Mike Wilson of the BARC. Seeing him sparked happy memories of him hosting entertaining prize-giving ceremonies at Harewood.   

Thanks John. It's somewhat surprising, considering the conditions, that the race ran the full 50 lap distance, although the Autosport report indicates that the rain did ease off in the latter stages of the event. I recall that the previous year's event also suffered from bad weather.

[Tim Murray]

This thread was split from the Croft circuit may face closure... thread.

[ceesvdelst]

My memories of Croft are only of rallycross, when Wally and George ran it, it was a lovely, friendly little place, very club, very basic but great racing, very fast and the driver all loved it. George was a lovely man, I chatted to him lots of times and a nicer fella you could not find. 

 

Sadly it also was hard to look after even then, one year the loose would be smooth as silk, the next it would like a ploughed field, and the same is true now. But for its biggest events they always got it right. 

Sadly rallycross seems to be on the way out up there, but it has never really been the same since the new layout was opened. 

[john aston]

Agreed ,  racing's gain has been rallycross ' loss at Croft . The old course was fantastic, the new one is too far away and rather dull , with (ironically ) only the Tarmac bit being any good. The glory years of the Inter Nations Cup in the 80s were brilliant but national rallycross now  mainly comprises old guys driving supercars and young ones driving ..err ...Suzuki Swifts  . 

 

That said,  the best young driver I've seen in any discipline in  the last decade was young Dan  Rooke, who was humbling the old guard in their WRC cast offs in a 200bhp , 2wd Citroen AX , thanks to his utterly sublime car control

[ceesvdelst]

The AX is still about, it was basically made of plastic!!  Dan is still around, commentates, but has no money and the sport in the UK is in decline sadly.

 

The first few years of new Croft RX were fine, but since then, politics have taken over.

 

I would guess the sad part is about Croft that they lost BSB, with Palmer owning the series there is no really North East pull for bSB anymore, so losing that is harsh.

 

I know they have BTCC, but is that not struggling next year too or am I confusing it with somewhere else?  If so that would easily explain this decision drop two or 3 loss making RX events to have more track days.

[ChequeredFlagRacing]

It looks very like the 60s Croft too, but with some key differences- Halnaby  looks like Tower , but with  a different approach , and Walmire must be Sunny . 

 

  

It's the Neasham Circuit from 1948-63. Your corners are a mile out I'm afraid

 

Here's how it looks on google maps for a facebook group

https://www.facebook...iXQXAf5Dd&ifg=1

 

Can pictures be uploaded rather than links for those without facebook?

Edited by ChequeredFlagRacing, 28 June 2020 - 06:57.

[ChequeredFlagRacing]

Does anybody have pictures or video of using the tunnel at Croft?

[Derwent Motorsport]

Andrew Smith has got a very good FB page going for photos of the great days and it has a lot of input from the then current drivers.

 

I am thinning out my collection of programmes and have about 20 Croft ones if anyone is interested. 

[pete53]

Andrew Smith has got a very good FB page going for photos of the great days and it has a lot of input from the then current drivers.

 

I am thinning out my collection of programmes and have about 20 Croft ones if anyone is interested. 

Do you know the name of the Facebook page? The only one I have located is strictly for the two and three wheel brigade.

[bradbury west]

 
I am thinning out my collection of programmes and have about 20 Croft ones if anyone is interested.

Please pm me with any dates from 1960s.
Many thanks
Roger Lund

[ChequeredFlagRacing]

Do you know the name of the Facebook page? The only one I have located is strictly for the two and three wheel brigade.

Try this one https://www.facebook...68885790874580/

[pete53]

Try this one https://www.facebook...68885790874580/

Many thanks. I've submitted my application to join. I hope I got the test question correct

[Dick Dastardly]

Ditto

Edit: Am now in the group

Edited by Dick Dastardly, 03 July 2020 - 13:08.

[Derwent Motorsport]

Here we are: https://www.facebook...68885790874580/

[Derwent Motorsport]

The Croft programmes I have for sale are:

Croft Aug-64 Mar-65 Jul-65 Mar-66 Jul-66 Aug-66 Oct-68 Dec-69 Sep-69 Mar-70 Jul-70 Oct-70 Jul-71 Mar-72 Jun-72 Aug-72 Aug-73 Oct-74 May-75 Oct-76 Jun-77 Sep-77

[Rob Ryder]

For those interested, there are a number of Croft images in the REVS archive May 2020 update

[bradbury west]

For those interested, there are a number of Croft images in the REVS archive May 2020 update

Very beneficial, and in colour, too.
Thanks for the link.
Roger Lund

[Dick Dastardly]

Taken from Facebook....

https://www.darlingt...agsxLhmrY5IF0j8

[MCS]

Some time ago there was a website called "blueyonder" (or something like that) which had various Croft pictures.  Has that disappeared?   I couldn't find it.

[Rupertlt1]

What is this?

 

https://library.revs...ion=p17257coll1

 

RGDS RLT

[john aston]

Some time ago there was a website called "blueyonder" (or something like that) which had various Croft pictures.  Has that disappeared?   I couldn't find it.

It has - but somebody clever on here found a way to access it still and gave us a link. An excellent website ,which also features some old git with my name wittering on about his experience of being a marshal in the Pre Cambrian era.

 

I bumped into the founder of the site at Croft's re-opening in 1996 (God , 24 years ago ) hence the contribution, but can't remember seeing him for years. 

[Rupertlt1]

Another what is this? Chevron in the foreground? Purple #32 Ford GT40.

 

https://library.revs...-paddock/622911

 

Could it be here? 13 August 1967.

 

https://www.racingsp...08-13-4476.html

 

Terry Drury in the Ford GT40?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 21 May 2021 - 15:43.

[john aston]

Chevron B1 ? 

 

What a reminder of the strength of National racing in that era. Croft last hosted British GT  about 15 years ago - the poor darlings had to move away to tracks more befitting their status ...

[Rupertlt1]

Ref a car show, opened by Innes Ireland, in Walsall, at the Wolverhampton Road showroom of Reginald Tildesley Ltd.

"Racing enthusiasts who attended the first such show last year will be interested to see one of the main exhibits. the Le Mans Racing G.T. 40 ex-Terry Drury car, now owned by George Humbell. Already booked for 12 Continental races next year. The car was successful at Oulton Park in the £1,000 British National Meeting in the middle of October and was third in the B.O.A.C. 500 at Brands Hatch this year.

Walsall Observer, and South Staffordshire Chronicle, Friday 10 November 1967

 

Presumably third in class at Brands Hatch:

 

https://www.racingsp...1967-07-30.html

 

Special GT at Oulton Park, B.R.S.C.C., 21 October 1967?

 

Is the Chevron the B2 of Howard Heerey (Midland Garage)? Possibly Andrew Smith (same car). Holbay 1500 c.c.

 

https://www.motorspo...ton-performance

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 21 May 2021 - 07:59.

[Dick Dastardly]

Also in the GT40 / Lotus 7 photo is what looks like a Fraser Imp, presumably competing in the BSCC race at that meeting.