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Croydon Autodrome


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#1 marksixman

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Posted 05 May 2022 - 16:57

Does anybody know anything about the Croydon Autodrome ? It was apparently a driver training facility, pre WW2, that was also used by car clubs for 'driving test' events. Any idea where it was located ?

 

Just interested as I have a photograph of my late father, as passenger, at an event there in 1938.



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#2 68targa

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Posted 05 May 2022 - 17:22

Julian Hunt's excellent Motorsport Explorer book mentions Croydon Autodrome. Apparently laid out as a driving school course (following the compulsory driving test in 1935). He mentions an event held in September 1937 by the VSCC on a 600yd course. According to The Autocar it included a steep uphill section and a roundabout. John Bolster managed 32.2 sec in 'Bloody Mary'.
He mentions the location now overlaid by the Twin Bridges Business Park on Selsdon Road (B275).

#3 Vitesse2

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Posted 05 May 2022 - 18:46

Julian Hunt's excellent Motorsport Explorer book mentions Croydon Autodrome. Apparently laid out as a driving school course (following the compulsory driving test in 1935). He mentions an event held in September 1937 by the VSCC on a 600yd course. According to The Autocar it included a steep uphill section and a roundabout. John Bolster managed 32.2 sec in 'Bloody Mary'.
He mentions the location now overlaid by the Twin Bridges Business Park on Selsdon Road (B275).

And a Belisha beacon! Report from Motor Sport: https://www.motorspo...ials-at-croydon



#4 Geoff E

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Posted 05 May 2022 - 19:03

I imagine it would have been here https://maps.nls.uk/...0&right=BingHyb



#5 fuzzi

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Posted 06 May 2022 - 05:31

Quite right Geoff. One of the main car dealers (Doves?) had workshops on the site until the late 90s and kept cars awaiting sale on the land. Bits of the track were visible from the railway off to the East. Now sadly overlaid by new buildings.



#6 marksixman

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Posted 06 May 2022 - 09:45

Thank you everybody. I knew you would know !



#7 Vitesse2

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Posted 06 May 2022 - 10:11

Google Earth's historical imagery option has a rather indistinct aerial photo from 1945, which looks to conform to the road layout on the map Geoff linked above.